midlife dreaming — Blog — Athena Wellness

Transcending Imaginary Cages

A story I frequently share is about a white tiger named Mohini who lived in the Washington D.C. National Zoo. For years, the tiger lived in a typical 12 by 12-foot enclosure with iron bars and a cement floor, spending her days pacing the cage. When her handlers finally gave her more space, they created an enclosure that spanned several acres and included vegetation, water and hills to wander.

But when the tiger was released into this expanse, she didn't spend her days roaming throughout the new space. Instead, she found a corner of the compound where she lived out her life pacing in a 12 by 12-foot area until the grass was worn.

Doesn’t this image snap you back to the times when you felt trapped in imaginary cages that you unconsciously built comprised of old patterns, beliefs or fears?

Permission to Dream Big

How do you begin to dream bigger? It can be helpful to revisit the past by spending some quiet time reflecting on your journey. You can do this by thumbing through old journals or pictures. Think of it as research (or me-search). Look for the decision points and actions you’ve taken along the way. As you connect the dots of major life events, you’ll see how you’ve naturally set intentions throughout your life and then taken steps to create your own path in that general direction.

As we mature, we can fall into a dreamless groove, thinking we’re too old or have too many responsibilities to focus on steps toward the life of our dreams. Here are seven ideas to be more intentional and get some dream momentum going…

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