All of us have dreams and passions. Many of us are too scared to even take a step towards making our dreams a reality. And the road isn’t easy for the few brave souls who pursue their passions. There will be some who encourage you, some who pull you down, some who mock you and others who will give you the “I told you so” look every single time you hit a roadblock on the way.
In his book “The Front Row Factor“, Jon Vroman writes about “getting close to what makes us come alive“. He describes an exercise each year which I think is pretty awesome. He chooses the people he wants in the front row of his life.
He says
“I want people in my front row who make me come alive. I want those who energy inspires me to be the best version of myself.”
He asks himself a series of questions to figure out his eight people in the front row of his life:
- Who am I with when I laugh the most?
- Who am I with when I learn the most?
- Who am I with when I feel most alive?
- Who shows up in my darkest hours?
- Who do I call when I’m proud and want to celebrate?
- Who do I think of when I say ‘amazing friend’?
- Who asks me about my dreams and goals?
- Who brings out the best in me?
The one question that hit me was number 7 – Who asks me about my dreams and goals?
There are people in my life who I could tell you their plans and projects, their children’s interests, their partners’ interests, but who know nothing of mine. They never ask.
One of the strongest beliefs I have is that there is always someone out there who believes in you. There’s a great, big world out there filled with people who will support you, who love what you’re doing, and who want to be a part of it. You just have to find them.
But like everything else in life, this is a two way street.
You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
Zig Ziglar
Who’s dreams are YOU supporting?
In Jon’s book, he says, “When you make your list of top eight front row people, next to their names, write their dream that makes them come alive.”
I asked myself, How many people in your life do you not even KNOW their dreams? If I listed my eight people, could I also list their dreams? The sad answer was, no.
I’m trying to have better friends, but I’m also trying to be a better friend.
Good friends ask great questions. They pose questions that, just in the asking, show how much they know and care about you. They ask questions that make you pause, that make you think, that provoke honesty, and that invite a deeper connection.
When you’re picking your eight people, choose ones who support and encourage your dreams, who actually know your dreams. Remember, too, that you may be in somebody else’s eight. Support the dreams of those around you. Know the dreams of those around you — really know them, and then, help them achieve them.
I’m not sure how to be the best friend a person could have, but I would think knowing my friends’ dreams and helping them achieve them is a good place to start.
So, what’s your dream?
Kenrick Vaz 