Today is the perfect day to reconnect with your goals and revisit the ideas you have for your life. Not just revisit them, though—get excited about their potential!

I’ve been reflecting on the book Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It by John Maxwell, and it’s a powerful starting point for this conversation.

My goal here is simple: to provoke you (in the best way) to identify your dream and take action. We’ll look at what a dream really is, the different ways people handle their dreams, and why it can be so hard to define what you truly want. Sound familiar? You’re not alone!

Identify Your Dream 

Before we dive into why people get stuck, let’s start with two beautiful definitions of a dream:

1. A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energises your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.
2. A dream is the seed of possibility planted in the soul of a human being, which calls him to pursue a unique path to the realisation of his purpose.

Both are fantastic, but the second one gives me chills. It’s grand, limitless, and pushes you to think beyond the ordinary.

The 4 Styles of Dreamers

John Maxwell breaks people into four groups when it comes to dreaming. See if any of these sound familiar:

1. The Non-Dreamers
   These are the people who don’t dream at all. They have no expectations beyond the ordinary. School, job, repeat. They settle for survival, not significance.

2. The Lost Dreamers
   These people start dreaming but never get to live it out. Tragically, my cousin was one of these. At just 22 years old, she was making changes and working toward her goals, but her life was cut short. Her story is a reminder to seize the time you have.

3. The Stuck Dreamers
   They have dreams but no idea how to make them happen. They get stuck in analysis paralysis—thinking, planning, overthinking—while envy creeps in as they watch others move forward.

4. The Achieving Dreamers
   These people decide to do whatever it takes to make their dream a reality. They understand that success requires action, faith, and a willingness to explore their potential.

So, which one are you?

I’ve been in both the “stuck dreamer” and “achieving dreamer” categories at different points in my life. My dreams have evolved over time, shaped by failures, successes, and lessons learned along the way. And guess what? That’s okay. Growth is part of the process.

5 Common Reasons People Struggle to Identify Their Dream

Let’s be real: dreaming isn’t always easy. These are five of the most common roadblocks people face when trying to define their dreams:

1. Discouraged by Others
   Sometimes, people crush your dreams before they even have a chance to grow. Their negativity can leave you doubting what’s possible.

2. Hindered by Past Disappointments and Hurts
   Failure hurts, and it can make you cautious about daring to dream again.

3. Settling for Average
   It’s easy to slip into the habit of settling—convincing yourself that the status quo is “good enough.”

4. Lack of Confidence
   Self-doubt can be a huge barrier, making you question whether you’re capable of achieving your dreams.

5. Lack of Imagination
   When you’ve been stuck in survival mode for too long, it can be hard to imagine anything beyond your current reality.

Do any of these resonate with you? If so, don’t beat yourself up. Recognising these roadblocks is the first step to overcoming them.

The Power of Owning Your Dream

Imagine the joy of pursuing something that truly lights you up—something that gives you focus, direction, and the courage to step out of your comfort zone. Dreams are powerful because they:

• Help you grow and develop perseverance.
• Give you a clear sense of purpose.
• Connect you with like-minded people who support and inspire you.

Pursuing your dream is about more than achieving a goal—it’s about becoming the person God designed you to be.

What’s Your Next Step?

So, what’s your dream? Is it big? Bigger than you think you can handle? GOOD. Dreams should challenge you. They should stretch your faith and push you into the unknown, where growth happens.

As John Maxwell reminds us in Put Your Dream to the Test, you need to ask yourself the right questions to bring your dream into focus.

• Are you ready to let go of average and embrace possibility?
• Will you take the next step, no matter how small, to move closer to your dream?

Why This Matters

Dreaming isn’t just a “nice idea.” It’s about stepping into the unique purpose God has for you. When you dare to dream, you open the door to transformation—not just in your own life, but in the lives of those around you.

There’s no better time than now to start. Take a deep breath, recognise the roadblocks holding you back, and commit to taking action.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to dig deeper into your dreams, I highly recommend getting a copy of Put Your Dream to the Test. It’s a fantastic tool to help you identify, refine, and pursue your goals with clarity and purpose.

Remember, you don’t have to have it all figured out. Dreams grow, evolve, and take shape over time. The most important thing is to start.

Let’s make it happen.

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