Dream to Action

A Coaching Model By Alana Moor, Mindset Coach, CANADA

Dream to Action Clear Vision

Everything seems impossible, until it is done. Nelson Mandela

My style of coaching is based on shifting our perspective amongst any given set of circumstances to benefit from feeling joy during stress and calm during a storm. To reduce anxiety, we need to find balance and we must create a perspective that allows us to look at any situation as a new adventure instead of a colossal tragedy or failure. Coaching is not about changing the reality of your life. It is meant to help you face your reality head-on, understand why you react the way you do and then begin to shift your perspective with a clear vision that you begin to manifest through action. Closing the gap between where they are and where they wish to be.

Stepping into our hearts and navigating our lives in confidence. Permitting ourselves to live the life we dream about and realizing that our current reality is simply a manifestation of our thoughts. When you think back on past positive memories, what does it feel like? Maybe a bit fantastical, happy, bright, possible. Anything was possible. Limits were inexistent. It was fun, light, and exhilarating. Life was but a dream, remember?

The Dream to Action Coaching Model

The Dream to Action coaching model is based on reconnecting with the side of us that sees obstacles as a perspective and not a tangible impossibility.

Vision – The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. “the organization had lost its vision and direction”

At what age did the magic of life slip away and the reality of societal norms and expectations take over?

The first part of this process begins with a vision. Usually, our vision entails something we love and enjoy doing. The first part of this model is the most important because it creates the foundation for the new trajectory of our life. Having a vision is important. It brings us out of feeling stuck and allows us to open up the realm of possibilities

• What would life look like without boundaries or doubt?
• If you knew that you could get there and the outcome was guaranteed, what could you accomplish?
• What did you believe as a child?
• What was possible?
• What is something you love to do that doesn’t feel like work?
• Where would you love to see yourself in 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 15 years?

Clarity – the quality of being certain or definite. “it was the clarity of purpose that he needed”

• Clarity- The beautiful part of any plan is that it is not concrete. It ebbs and flows with the reality of our capabilities. An example of this might be someone who desires to be a singer on stage. Well, maybe the reality is that this person has no vocal ability whatsoever however they can captivate an audience through comedy. So, the clarity is that they want to be on stage telling jokes instead of singing. No failure, just shifting the goal to meet focusing on the steps to get there and what comes first, shifting our perspective from want to will.

Creating this clarity in our lives helps to solidify what needs to happen to achieve the goal. The clearer we become about where we want to go, the more focused we become on what steps need to be taken to bridge the gap between our vision and action.

Clarity is the focused discussion part of this model where the client can become razor-focused on where they want to go. It’s important for the client to also get clear on the why of their focus. Why does it make sense for their life? Why is it important for them? Understanding the why often bridges more gaps and creates new ideas and more clarity on the goal.

Some tools we can use to become clearer are;

1. Journaling – Putting pen to paper unscrambles all of the ideas that we have in our minds and begin to get them on paper. This visualization technique can help to clarify what’s important to us.
2. Creating a mind map
3. Research helps to become clear on exactly what obstacles need to be overcome to achieve whatever it is that you desire. It also allows for shifts to happen in your goal setting.
4. Talk to people who already have what you want.

Manifestation – an act of manifesting the state of being manifested outward or perceptible indication; Spiritualism. a materialization.

This is the stage of the model where the client has the opportunity to experience how powerful their mind is. More ideas may present themselves during this process. The client begins to form the action plan in a more creative and spiritual sense. Manifestation bridges the gap between our vision and action. This is the stage where we get to step into the feelings of how it will feel to receive this dream. Creating a shift in our attitude from “If this happens” to “When this happens” … how will it feel. Acting and believing that it is already ours.

In the article The Biochemistry of Belief the authors speak more in-depth about the power of our beliefs in the formation of our current realities. “Everything exists as a ‘Matrix of pure possibilities’ akin to ‘formless’ molten wax or moldable soft clay. We shape them into anything we desire by choosing to do so, prompted, dictated (consciously or unconsciously) by our beliefs. The awareness that we are part of these ever-changing fields of energy that constantly interact with one another is what gives us the key hitherto elusive, to unlock the immense power within us. And it is our awareness of this awesome truth that changes everything. Then we transform ourselves from passive onlookers to powerful creators. Our beliefs provide the script to write or re-write the code of our reality.”Beliefs are a choice. We have the power to choose our beliefs. Our beliefs become our reality. 

The client will begin to write down the clear vision and the steps that need to be taken over a scale of time. From one month up until 5 years. They will create meditation and prayer or manifestation affirmations to complete daily to switch the trajectory of their life in the direction that they have visualized. They will decide how they would like to manifest their goals. Each individual will have the opportunity to become creative according to their character.  During their meditation, they will step into the feeling of believing they have already accomplished their goal. The term “Fake it till you make it,” can be used in this circumstance. We are essentially tricking the brain

Questions for the client to help them step into the feelings of already achieving the goal.

• What does it feel like to achieve this goal?
• How will your life change now that you have achieved this goal?
• Who is the first person you call when your goal comes to fruition?
• How do you celebrate your accomplishment?
• What changes when this goal becomes yours?
• Where do you feel the excitement in your body?

Action – the process or state of acting or of being active: 

An act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity: a crisis that demands action instead of debate; hoping for constructive action by the landlord.

habitual or usual acts; conduct: He is responsible for his actions.

Energetic activity: a man of action.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of human freedoms, to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. – Victor Frankl

It is at this stage that we want to create habitual action towards the goal, regardless of the obstacles that may present themselves. This is the last step of the model where the client finds out how badly they want to accomplish their goal. Consistency is key in this step. The client determines their attitude and perspective in each small step to be completed.

• Action- What is a dream without action? Just a dream, the action makes it a reality.

When we become clear about our vision and specific about our goals and clarity about the steps needed to accomplish each goal, the action becomes realistic instead of paralyzing. It’s all there. The energy becomes aligned with where we want to go and the puzzle pieces can begin coming together while you take the action steps to make it happen. It’s a beautiful balance that begins to work for you instead of against you.

The final goal is divided into sections that allow the client to create a one-step a day goal that results in the final goal after a pre-determined yet flexible amount of time. The client will choose methods of motivation that will help to answer the question “What might get in the way of completing your daily goals?” This may be a daily calendar list that is created weekly or monthly, or a phone reminder, etc. It is up to the client to determine what methods work best for them to move forward. The goal of the coach is to help in keeping the client accountable. The act of consistent accountability from a coach can also help move the client into creating better habits and to become more efficient in their short-term goals. This can also help move the client into becoming more confident, leading them to dream bigger and follow through on the steps needed to turn it into action later, another completed goal. This is not about a quick fix, this is about creating consistency and overcoming obstacles with a positive attitude and most importantly, never giving up, no matter what. That can be easier said than done. The only difference between two people who both had the same goal in mind and only one accomplished it? One kept walking through the roadblocks without looking at them as a sign to give up. It was all part of the learning process and experience. The other stopped trying because the obstacles were too difficult to overcome and seemed more like a sign to let the goal go. That’s it. A simple decision changed the trajectory of both of their lives. So I ask you, will you continue to take action towards your goal and choose to look at the obstacles as part of the learning experience, or give up?