When Your Dreams Seem Unreachable ( + How to Keep Going)

Do you ever just feel tired? I mean really, truly, overwhelmingly tired? Tired of the struggle. Tired of the uphill battle. Tired of feeling like you are behind everyone else. Tired of unreached goals, unmet expectations, and the anxiety that comes with feeling like a failure?

Ask pretty much anyone and I guarantee you they'll tell you that they've felt these things before. Some may have only had a small time with these struggles, while for others, it's been a lifetime. But regardless of how long they are felt, these feelings cut deep and can become incredibly stifling if we let them.

I think a lot of people just stop once they feel this emotional exhaustion. They decide it's better to just settle in to "their lot in life", instead of continuing to fight against the exhaustion. And believe me- I get it. I get the tears, the frustration, and the seeming-hopelessness. I get what it's like to feel you'll never make it to your goals. I get what it's like to not know what to do next.

But friends, there is so much more to life than giving in, giving up, and succumbing to the exhaustion. And just because our dreams *feel* unattainable, doesn't mean they are. So if you want to know what to do when your dreams feel unreachable and you feel tired in every way imaginable, keep reading. Today's post is for you!

Remember Your Why

I've said it over and over again, but this first point will never be outdated! Remembering your why when you feel like giving up is a complete game-changer! It's one thing to work hard at something that we feel like we want at the time. It's another thing entirely to have a true purpose to what we are doing- a purpose that goes beyond taking the easy road or giving up after a few months.
Knowing our why is the thing that will give us momentum and keep us going even when we are at our weakest. When we truly know our "why", dreams that feel unreachable won't stop us from getting back up and continuing to work hard.

If you don't know your "why", now is the time to re-evaluate. Are you on the path you are on for a reason? Do your dreams and goals have a higher, more important core? Or is this just a whim that you could easily replace with something else and be just as happy?
If the answer is the former, I think you will realize why you need to keep pushing forward. If it's the latter, then maybe you should take the time to find your something that does have a higher purpose.

Stay Disciplined

My friend Marsha of Faith and Fitness with Marsha Apsley said it well in her Instagram post a few days ago, that the truth of the matter is, knowing our "why" is only half of the puzzle. Knowing our why is the reason we should keep going, but we still have to take action and actually move forward. Knowing our why but not taking action will mean staying right where we are- in a hopeless, "I can't reach my dreams" state- for the rest of our lives.

In order to reach those dreams and goals that mean so much to us, we have to put in the effort. We have to take the next step, even if the next step is small. We have to put one foot forward and keep taking action on top of our why.

Maybe you haven't been taking action for a while because everything was feeling oh-so-very-pointless. But if you really want to reach your dreams, and your "why" really matters, then it's time to get back up off your butt and start taking action again. You will only reach your dreams if you work for them.

Don't Conform

The truth of the matter is, everyone's dreams look a little different.
I want to be a blogger like millions of others do, and yet my "why" is very specific and requires me to be myself and to utilize the gifts and quirks that God has given me. No matter how many people out there want to blog full-time, I still have to be me.

Conforming to other people's goals will not get us where we want to be. We can (and should) take advice now and then, and we should always be willing to learn, but at the end of the day, we have to stay true to our calling- not someone else's.

It can be tempting to cut corners, do what everyone else is doing, or try to find a "quick-fix", but when we know our "why" and decide to take action, it will often be very clear what directions, methods, and tactics we should and should not use.

Do not conform to how everyone else thinks you should be achieving your dreams. Be open to wise advice, but don't let advice from others be the only thing that matters. Stay true to your dreams and your why, and take action in ways that align with that purpose.

Friends, I know it is so tough to keep moving when all your goals and dreams feel like they are standing still. And I know that it would be easier in a lot of ways to just quit. But guess what: if you love what you do, have a deep passion for your goals, and have a clear "why" attached to them, it's going to be really tough to get those dreams off your mind. And personally, I would rather work hard for what I love than spend my time fighting off and trying to stifle a passion for the dreams I've chased for so long. But you have to choose for yourself- no one can do it for you.