Welcome to "Surpass Your Dreams". The goal of this newsletter is to help you recognize your potential and surpass your dreams. This month's issue will focus on not waiting to be perfect before living your dreams.

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Living Your Dreams, One Year Later
Top Reasons People Do Not Live Their Dreams
Are You Ready to Live Your Dreams?
Last Month
Great Resources

I. LIVING YOUR DREAMS, ONE YEAR LATER

I can't believe it's been a year since I began this newsletter. I am amazed and awed at the tremendous response and support that I have received from you, my readers. This newsletter is still here because you want it to be here. Every month I take in your comments, and I write each issue for you. You are my inspiration, and I am grateful for that.

Because I write each month about taking chances and living your dreams, I wanted to share one of my dreams. I've always wanted to write something inspirational, but was afraid to do so. It seemed like a lot of work, and I didn't think anyone would be interested anyway. What else was I afraid of? I was afraid that there were so many inspirational newsletters out on the market today, that who would want to read another one. I was afraid that no one would subscribe, and that the people who did subscribe would send it their cancellations. I was afraid that people would know who I really was, and they would reject what they saw.

Then the popularity of e-mail grew. I knew there were no more excuses. How much easier could it get. I could send my message electronically ..

So what made me forge ahead even though I was afraid ? Knowing that I would not have the right to help others live their dreams if I were not living my own. How could I expect you to respect someone who could not get pass her own fears?

I started this newsletter with 18 subscribers, all people that I knew personally. I asked them to read it, tell me what they thought, and pass it on to someone else if they felt it was worthwhile. I also posted it to the Internet, so the people who visited my site could decide for themselves if this was something they wanted to read. This month, we've reached our 300th subscriber. This is your win, because I could not have done it without you.

In addition, this year my best friend, and boyfriend Brian Volkman joined me as editor. Each month I have the pleasure of sharing something that I enjoy doing with someone I love. This was a gift that I did not expect. This is what you have to look forward to when you take steps towards living your dreams; unexpected gifts that provide happiness and fulfillment, beyond what you could have imagined.

Lastly, this year I want to start a "dreams into action" column and I would love these stories to come from you. If you would like to have your story published in this newsletter, please send your name, e-mail address and story to info@surpassyourdreams.com.

So keep sending in your incredible e-mail's and keep sharing your dreams. I look forward to another awesome year together.

II. TOP REASONS PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE THEIR DREAMS

We sometimes read and hear about the people who are living their dreams; people doing what that they love. These people aren't just "lucky". They took a chance and this led them to their dreams. These are ordinary people like you and me. The only difference is they said no to fear and forged ahead anyway even though they were scared.

The list below describes the top reasons why people don't live their dreams. See if something rings true for you.

1. You don't believe you can live your dreams. Either your belief system has you believing that you can't do what you love, or you don't believe it can happen to you.
2. You aren't clear about what would make you happy, so rather than starting on any path, you do nothing out of fear of making a mistake.
3. You don't think you have a dream. Everyone has a dream. Some people keep their dreams locked up inside and never see it, or don't allow themselves to find it.
4. You are afraid of failure, rejection, or being different. We are all afraid of something. But don't allow your fears to keep you from getting what you want.
5. You don't believe you can make enough money living your dreams. This is the biggest obstacle that keeps people doing work that they don't find appealing or exciting. You say, "the work is not that bad", or your "getting paid a lot", more than you could make doing something you love.
6. You think you are destined to live a less than fulfilling life, and as a result, you do not take action towards what will fulfill you.
7. You don't think you have the time to live your dreams. Many people are so caught up in the rush of today's world, that they don't think they have time to add one more thing in their lives.
8. You still believe hard work will pay off. I'm not saying don't work hard, but at least put your heart and soul into something that is meaningful to you!
9. You don't think you deserve to be happy because so many people in the world are unhappy.
10. You are not ready. It requires a significant investment in yourself to get your life turned around, and sometimes we are not ready. But, why not look at what's holding you back and reach for the stars?

Based on a list created by Susan Kennedy. Susan can be reached at coachsk@onramp.net

III. ARE YOU READY TO LIVE YOUR DREAMS?

Living your dreams takes courage and a belief in yourself. If you are ready live your dreams, then Personal Coaching may be right for you.

For a Free 30-minute Telephone Coaching Session, call me at (516) 432-2440, or send an e-mail to info@surpassyourdreams.com. This session will give you the opportunity to see first hand if a personal coach is right for you. My web-site is at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com

Last month's newsletter focused on not having to be perfect before you can live your dreams.

Do you have to be perfect first before you can live your dreams. The answer is NO. You are fine the way you are. There is not going to be that mystical moment "one day" in the future when you will be able to finally start living your dreams because you will be "perfect".

So, what do you do? You allow yourself to see what a great person you are and what you have to offer to the world. We all have a gift that was given especially to us, and this it's what makes us special. You have a lot to offer to the world, you just have to not be afraid to offer it.

So get out there and go for your dreams. You only have one life to live, so it might as well be awesome!

To read this issue, as well as other past issues, check the newsletter archive list at the top of the page.

Would you like to have your newsletter, e-zine or resource listed here? Please send your name, e-mail address and 1-2 sentence description of your resource to info@surpassyourdreams.com. If I feel it will benefit my readers, I will be happy to list it here.

1. Tried self-help books, tapes and seminars but didn't get what you wanted? FREE five lesson class reveals why self-help works when it works, why it doesn't work when it doesn't work, and what you can do to improve the results you produce. To enroll, visit: http://www.lifechangetips.com/t.cgi/102366

2. Are you reaching for greater success AND balance? Get help by subscribing to The Business Woman's Advantage, a free, e-mail newsletter for women with entrepreneurial spirit. To subscribe send an e-mail to: bwa-request@listhost.net. Put subscribe in the body (not subject line) of the e-mail or visit the Business Woman's Advantage web-site at http://www.womansadvantage.com/bwa.

3. Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, a full-time Professional Speaker, one of the foremost experts on Time Management & Personal Productivity, and the author of "Beat the Clock" would like to know if you would like to receive a free copy of his article, "The Five Top Time Management Mistakes". If you do, email your request for "mistakes" to: ctsem@msn.com. Would you like to receive Donald's free "Timely Time Management Tips" on a regular basis so you can increase your personal productivity and get more out of every day? Sign up now at his "TIME MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION LIST". Just go to: http://www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement and select "subscribe". Donald welcomes you aboard!

VII. GIVE THIS NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND!

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Have a great month!

Deborah Brown-Volkman, Author and Writer
Brian Volkman, Editor

Copyright © 2000, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute text from the newsletter or the content in its entirety so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author (Deborah J. Brown) is attached.

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