Whether you wish upon a star or quietly within yourself, you have dreams waiting to come alive. These dreams may include owning your own business, earning a college degree, driving a new vehicle, or building your own home. It does not matter what your dreams consist of, as long as you allow yourself the privilege of dreaming. Dreams inspire a person to accomplish great things.

There are two categories of dreamers in this world: there are those who dream dreams, and there are those who actively pursue their dreams. The simple dreamers talk about their particular dreams and goals, but lack the knowledge or capability to accomplish their stated goals. They simply dream for the purpose of dreaming. They lack the confidence required to take action toward achieving those dreams.

The simple dreamers often place the arrival of their dreams somewhere outside of themselves. That is, they believe that something or someone will come along and make their dreams come true. They talk of winning the lottery or landing a million-dollar contract someday. And so, they wait. And wait. And wait. Consequently, their dreams remain just that, dreams. Simple dreamers live in the hope that "someday I will be rich, will retire, or have my own business." They become lost in their hopes and paralyzed with fear at the thought of taking any action toward making their dreams a reality.

The master dreamers, on the other hand, are those who do whatever it takes to make their dreams a reality. They physically and emotionally push their dreams forward, regardless of obstacles or feelings of discouragement. They actively participate in the process of bringing their dreams into fruition.

It seems easier to wait for your dreams to happen than to take action toward making them happen. Most people are reluctant to take the risks necessary to make their dreams come true. They fear the hurt and disappointment that follows failed dreams. And so they stay where they are. They simply wait and hope for their dreams to come true and for prosperity to knock at their door. They settle for what they believe to be true rather than what could be true.

Often when we consider the promise of dreams, we think about having and accomplishing great things. We are curious about those people who have somehow found their way to "the good life." This particular brand of life is eloquently described in magazines and newspapers, with its fancy cars, extravagant homes, and million-dollar careers. The "good life" seems to portray a life of ease and comfort, in which it appears that people have made their dreams come true.

Every person has at least one dream, but problems arise because people do not permit themselves to truly believe in their dreams. They minimize or deny themselves their dreams. They convince themselves that their dreams are unrealistic, and therefore prevent their dreams from actually manifesting. You, too, deserve to have your dreams come true. You deserve to live a wonderful, exciting, and rich life. Permit yourself to dream.

Most of what exists in life originated as a dream. The process of manifesting dreams begins with imagination. Dreams begin in the invisible. "I have always dreamed of having . . ." "I always wanted . . ." "I knew someday I would . . ." We all have dreams. We all have desires. We wish upon stars while blowing out birthday candles. We throw pennies into fountains. Making wishes and dreaming dreams is fun. We like to dream, and we hope that our dreams will someday come true.

Children are natural dreamers. They dream with ease and use their imaginations to the fullest. They are not intimidated by reality, and therefore immerse themselves in fantasy. Some parents go to great lengths to preserve the wonder and excitement of life for their children. They want them to hold on to the belief, the wonder, and the spirit of life for as long as possible. They want them to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, stardust, and the man on the moon. These friends encourage childhood dreams and foster imagination and creativity.

Adults dream as well. State lotteries and scratch-off tickets offer the dream of winning and striking it rich. Adults dream about having the "good life" and basking in the land of good and plenty. They dream about owning a nice home, driving a luxurious car, or retiring at an early age. Most adults do not admit to having dreams, as they think that dreams are silly or a waste of time. The wish list is replaced by the to-do list. Adults are practical. They learn to surrender fantasy and embrace realism. They live in the "real world," where life is serious and complex. They exchange the wonder and excitement of dreaming for the fear that their needs will not be met and the belief that they must struggle. Adults abandon the wonder and spirit of believing. They surrender the most significant tool for living a prosperous life-believing in the invisible wonder of the Universe. Instead, they work hard, struggle to achieve more, and believe that they have to settle for less than what they truly desire.

There must be a better way-a simple and practical way-to accomplish your dreams and live happily ever after. If only there was a manual that told you how to make your dreams come true. You could quickly turn to a specific page and there, in print, would be instructions on how to build the life you desire. It would be easy to read and simple to apply. But even if there were such a manual, would you know what it is that you truly desire?

This important life question leads you in the direction of your life. It guides you to where you are going in life. Take a moment now to answer this question. Consider writing down your response on a piece of paper for future reference.