Welcome to Visionary’s Pursuit, a podcast where we explore what it takes to turn your bold and inspiring ideas into reality. I'm Carolina Zuleta. I'm a life and business coach and your host for this podcast. I'm thrilled to have you here.
Hello, hello, and welcome to episode one of the Visionary Pursuit Podcast. Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite topics, dreaming big. I'm going to explore why we don't dream bigger, how can we connect to our deepest desires and why it's so important to have big dreams.
And where I want us to start today is remembering that as humans we were naturally born to create. All of us are creators.
In fact, take just one moment and look around. Notice the things that are around you. Books, computers, maybe your water bottle or a mug. All those things were started as ideas in someone's head, and now they're part of our day to day.
Even things that we don't even think were created, but they were, such as our calendar, temperature, politics, borders, all those were ideas in someone's head that after working through the idea over and over, they made them a reality. And now they're just part of our life.
Even you. If you look at your life, you have evidence that you are a creator. Take a moment, pause this podcast and think about the things you've created. Anything simple as your Instagram account, but the place you live, how you've decorated it, your car, the trips you've taken. Maybe you started your own business. Maybe you created a piece of art that never existed. Try to go back and remember when the idea of this thing you're thinking about first originated in your brain.
The first part of the creation act is an idea in our brain, and this is something that is fundamental to being a human being. As Rick Rubin says, it's our birthright, and it's for all of us, no exceptions.
So if creating is an innate ability to all of us, Why do we limit ourselves? Well, the answer is also in our nature. You see, a big part of our brain is designed to help us survive, not dream. In fact, the survival part of our brain sees our dreams as threats.
If the survival brain could have it all its way, we would end up being characters in Wall E, the Disney movie, being transported in lounge chairs, buying things with just one click, looking at screens all the time, drinking smoothies. Because that's what the survival brain perceives as safety.
This part of our brain has three jobs. The first is to move us away from pain. The second one is to move us towards pleasure. And the third one is to save energy.
So it makes sense, being in that lounge chair, Nothing is hurting, nothing is bothering, we're not taking risks, we're eating something delicious, we're getting dopamine from buying stuff, and we don't even have to move.
But I know that's not the life we want, especially if you're listening to this podcast. That's not the life you want. Pursuing a dream involves exactly the opposite of what the survival brain wants us to do. It means taking risks, failing, at times being embarrassed, opening ourselves to criticism and rejection. And using lots and lots of energy. And our survivor brain does not like this.
But, The survival brain is super smart, so it doesn't tell us like, hey, we need to save energy or move away from playing or move towards pleasure. It tells us stories that we all believe that seems so obvious, like, how are you going to quit your job? Look at the market. Look at the economy. You're never going to get a job this good. You're going to get old. Or look at the entertainment industry. Almost no one makes it. “Why are you even going to put yourself out there for that? You are going to fail. And, do you imagine what your mom is going to say? Or your spouse? You're going to be so embarrassed when you run out of money and you fail in front of everyone.
And those stories make us so small. And collapses. Those stories scream so loud. That a lot of times they quiet that inner voice that we all have that says things like, I would love it if I could be a film director. Would you imagine leaving my job and starting my own business? How amazing would it be to live in Italy? Or, what if I became a best selling author or famous actor or singer? What if I became the world's most known photographer? What if I change my lifestyle and only work three days a week, three weeks per month and maybe even have three months of vacation a year?
That voice that tells us about our dreams and our desires is quiet, it speaks softly. And a lot of the times we're so surrounded by the noise of the world that is telling us that what we want is not possible, that we stop listening to it.
So, If you are a visionary, if you have this calling that you want to pursue, you need to learn to pay attention to this small voice, to this quiet voice, that in fact is very powerful. The thing is that we have to build a relationship with it by listening to it every day. Even when we say, but how, how am I going to make it? Put the how on the side and continue listening to your desires. They will guide you.
And you might be thinking here, like, okay, great, yes, we have this voice that tells us our desires, but you just told us all the things that could go wrong, all the things that are going to hurt us. So why, why is it worthy risking safety for something that is unknown, for something that we don't know what's going to happen? And I think that's the most important question you need to ask yourself. Why? For you. And you have to find your own answer.
But I want to share two of my answers, in case they inspire you, and if you like them you can take them as your own.
The first one is, why I take risks, why I go for big dreams, is because I only have one life. And it's this one, and I want to experience it all. I want to get to the end of my life and know that I've used up everything I was given. Every idea, every talent, every opportunity, every inspiration. I want to know that I lived this life to the fullest.
I don't want to get to the end of my life and think “I was safe. I played it safe.” No, I want to get to the end of my life and think, “wow, I lived this life to the fullest. What a wild ride. How fun.”
The second reason is because I want to know what I'm made of. One thing I've learned from realizing multiple dreams throughout my life, some that really seemed impossible, is that the joy of getting to the goal is awesome. You feel proud and you celebrate. But it's impermanent. Couple weeks later, you're back to being you, sad and frustrated and happy and hopeful and all of the things. But what has stayed with me is understanding what I'm capable of. It's the pride I feel about myself for overcoming obstacle after obstacle, is the confidence I've built that has allowed me to reach even further. And that has no price.
So I don't only pursue big dreams. Because of achieving the goal. Of course, I want the goal, but I try to be very mindful of the person I'm becoming every day in the journey towards my goals.
I think these two reasons are very powerful. At least for me, they wake me up in the morning and give me motivation. They help me pick myself up when I'm feeling low. And if they resonate with you, take them, make them your own.
Today, you have the option to decide what type of life you will pursue. One of safety and status quo, or one of thrilling adventures, discoveries, and growth. And why not? Maybe you'll get to the end of your goals and win a Nobel Prize, or an Oscar, or be able to donate so much money to people who really need it.
So, if you're sold because of what I just told you on Dreaming Big, I also want to offer you three questions, questions I use with my clients in coaching to help them connect to their deepest desires, to their wildest dreams, to their biggest ambitions. But when you're answering these questions, there are two rules:
The first one is to tell yourself, “Hey, whatever I discover here, I don't have to act on it. I just need to know the answer.”
And the second one is, “I don't need to figure out how.” So put the how to rest and get a piece of paper and a pen and answer these three questions.
For the first one, I want you to close your eyes and imagine your life from the moment you were born and then go to the day you will die and see your life as a whole and ask yourself, who do I want to be in this lifetime?
The second question is, If you could have it all your way, what would you love to have? To create, to explore, to do, to give to others.
And the third question is, if you knew with 100 percent certainty that you would succeed, what would you take on?
Oh, and I have a bonus one that I also think it's very important.
And it comes because of a story I heard some time ago about Lin Manuel Miranda. When he was trying to make it on Broadway, and he was no one, nobody knew him, and he was failing, he asked himself, like, I could stop pursuing being on Broadway, which the probability of making it is slim, very, very small, and take a normal job and have a great life too.
So, if I knew I was going to fail, would it be worthwhile still pursuing being on Broadway? And for him, his answer was yes. So of course, now we know he created the songs for Moana and Encanto, and he created Hamilton, which was an incredible success, but for us, who are in the middle of the journey, who maybe we don't have that big success yet, I think it's important to ask ourselves.: Is it worthwhile pursuing this dream even if I don't get to the end, even if I don't become successful of it? Because if the answer is yes, then you will be unstoppable.
So here's the truth. I've met a lot of people in my life who have lived their lives by default, following what's in front of them, doing what's presented, and they have created beautiful lives too. They have been successful, made money, have beautiful families, but I always wonder, what didn't they do? What were the experiences they wanted to have but never did? What was the potential they never brought to life? What were the gifts they were born with that they never shared with us?
So we are creators. We have one life. This one. So I invite you to pursue your wildest, boldest ideas and blow your own mind as you see what you're capable of. Thank you so much for listening and much love to all of you.
If you're currently pursuing a big, bold idea and would love some support, let's talk. In my coaching program, I'll teach you how to manage yourself, your own thoughts and emotions. as well as your team and your money so you can turn your beautiful idea into a reality. Go now to carozuleta.com slash consult that is c a r o z u l e t a dot com slash consult and complete the form to book a complimentary call with me.
See you there!
