When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered without hesitation:
“A purple giraffe!”
I was five.
At 17, I wanted to be a psychologist. At 21, still studying psychology, I found myself captivated by plants and often wished I’d switched academic focus.
By 23, my goal was simple: get a full-time job. Survival instincts had kicked in. Slowly, my dreams of being a psychologist and plant biologist faded.
Decades later, that story has come full circle—with a few adjustments.
Dreams Don’t Die—They Hide
“Sometimes we lose our dreams to the noise of everyday life. But they don’t die—they hide.”
Dreams need time to cultivate. Sometimes we abandon them. Other times we forget them entirely. But they rarely disappear. They evolve, waiting patiently to resurface.
For me, the noise of life was the need to survive—and it drowned out everything else.
A Wake-up Call
Years ago, a series of abusive incidents at work finally woke me from the haze I’d lived in for too long. I minimized it at the time:
“This job is too important. Just suck it up.”
But the toxicity escalated: passive-aggressive remarks turned to outbursts, and eventually, public humiliation.
In a flash, I saw it all clearly—and I felt a deep, guttural rage. I couldn’t believe I’d tolerated so much.
That moment led to a quiet, powerful act of courage:
I resigned.
“It was the only decision that would give me back my dignity, my integrity, my self-respect.”
The Realisation: I’d Drifted From My Dreams—and My Values
Without a job or direction, I began looking inward.
Why had I jumped from job to job?
Yes, to support my family. But also, I was ignoring something vital. Every new role took me further from my dreams—and further from my values.
What Are Values, and Why Do They Matter?
Values are your personal guidelines—your internal compass.
Examples of values include peace, freedom, trust, honesty, integrity.
“Living out of sync with your values creates tension, even if you don’t notice it right away.”
Over time, as our values shift but our behaviours stay the same, we begin to feel stuck, lost, or misaligned. And when that happens, our dreams seem out of reach.
Reconnect with Your Values to Reclaim Your Dreams
When you reconnect with your values, something changes:
Dreams begin to gently resurface.
They might not look the same as before, but you’re equipped now—with experience, resilience, and insight.
Here’s how to start:
🌿 Internal Nurturing:
- Tell yourself you want your dream.
- Believe you deserve it.
- Accept it into your life—fully and openly.
🌿 External Nurturing:
- Talk about it—to people, pets, plants, and yourself.
- Write about it—define its shape, colour, texture, and meaning.
- Reflect often and notice how it changes.
Know What’s Driving You
Your conscious drivers are things you’re aware of—your thoughts, internal dialogue, and stories you tell yourself.
Your subconscious drivers are more automatic—emotions or behaviours that come out without explanation.
“If you’re not aware of what’s driving you, you might sabotage your own dream.”
Understanding your drivers helps you:
- Improve communication (with yourself and others)
- Make more aligned decisions
- Navigate stress with more resilience
Ready to Start? Here’s Where to Begin
The good news: it doesn’t take long to get on track.
✅ A Values Elicitation can take just a couple of hours—and be truly transformative.
✅ A Behaviour Drivers Session can take as little as 30 minutes and bring huge clarity.
Both can be done solo, but working with a coach can offer structure, clarity, and faster results.
🌱 Ready to Reclaim Your Dreams?
“If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected—it’s time to return to your roots.”
➡️ Book a FREE discovery call
Let’s talk. I’m friendly and curious, and I’d love to help you take the first step.
➡️ Book a 30-Minute Behaviour Drivers Session
Understand what drives you—and how to use it to get where you want to go.