Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Effective Dreamers are Grateful.

Because their journey is long and difficult, effective dreamers understand the important role that gratitude plays in keeping them motivated and encouraged to see their goals and dreams to completion.

They have made a habit of recognizing the various “good things” that they are experiencing along their dream journey and they use those things as fuel to keep moving forward.

There are many things that an effective dreamer can be thankful for, but when they consistently take the time to appreciate the following three occurrences, the journey gets much easier to endure:

1. Gratitude for DECISIONS

Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. – George S. Patton

Effective dreamers do not underestimate the importance of the decisions that they make. Therefore, when a big decision has been made, they celebrate it. They appreciate and are grateful for the beginning as much as they are for the end. They understand that the outcome they are looking to see is not possible without first making the decision to pursue that outcome.

Key Question: What critical decisions have you made that you can appreciate and be grateful for?

2. Gratitude for PROGRESS

The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. – Joseph Joubert

The goals and ambitions of an effective dreamer are many times so lofty that their completion could be years away. With that in mind, effective dreamers understand the importance of appreciating and being grateful for milestones.

Customers/Clients served
Months/Years in business
Testimonials/Appreciation received
Gigs/Shows played

Though in a given week or month, the dreamer’s vision might not fully come to fruition, by consistently taking the time to celebrate specific instances of progress, the effective dreamer is energized and confirmed in the fact that the journey they are on is indeed the right one for them.

Key Question: What milestones have you achieved that you can appreciate and be grateful for?

3. Gratitude for COMPLETION

The little that is completed, vanishes from the sight of one who looks forward to what is still to do. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In an effort to not fall victim to the reality expressed in Goethe’s quote above, effective dreamers do not just overlook a particular project, task, event or work of art being completed. Completion is a big deal in the life of an effective dreamer. Completion motivates effective dreamers like nothing else, therefore when goals on a dreamer’s list are completed, time is always made for gratitude and appreciation.

Key Question: What have you completed on your dream journey that you can appreciate and be grateful for?