Your Past Doesn't Define Your Future: Dancing Through Life's Dreams
Tonight, something magical happened in my kitchen.
As I was dancing around the island with my daughter, singing and laughing without a care in the world, it hit me – this is what living your dreams feels like.
Not the Range Rover in the driveway or the Rolex on my wrist, but these precious moments of pure joy.
I have a saying I say to myself “My past doesn’t have to be my prison, and my life can be like a dream.”
Breaking Free from Your Past
For three decades, I let my past define who I was as a man.
It was my prison, my constant companion, whispering limitations and doubts.
Then my mentor challenged me with three questions that shook my world:
How does that feeling/thought/experience serve me?
Why do I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else?
What am I running from or covering up?
These questions weren't just conversation starters – they were keys to unlocking a cage I'd built around myself.
The Truth About Our Past
We all have chapters in our story we'd rather keep closed. Some darker than others, some more painful, some we think might change how people see us if they knew.
But here's the thing: the difference between players and spectators isn't in their past – it's in how they react to it.
I've been working hard to cut through some of my own past, dealing with things that have been eating away at me from the inside.
The hardest part?
The fear of what others would think.
But once I learned to let go of that fear, something incredible happened.
I could replace those thoughts and feelings with ones that actually serve me and my life better.
Is it a finished process?
Hell no.
I'm human, and negative thoughts will always try to creep in.
But now I know it's not about eliminating these thoughts completely – it's about how I choose to react to them.
Living the Dream
Want to hear something crazy?
Your life can be a dream.
I'm living proof.
Years ago, I dreamed of:
Owning multiple houses
Driving a Range Rover Sport
Achieving financial independence
Wearing a Rolex
Building a career I love
Helping others
Donating to those in need
Living a life of "enoughness"
While not all of these dreams have materialized yet, most have.
But here's the plot twist: the things I thought would make me happy aren't what truly bring joy.
It's the people I've allowed into my life who create real happiness.
Does money make you happy?
No – but it sure helps create opportunities for happiness.
Case in point:
My wife has been eager to take our kids to Disney World AGAIN (yes, you read that right). This time, we're doing it differently – staying on-site, spending three full days at the parks.
My one-year-old daughter has already been twice in her short life.
Some people dream of going to Disney World once, and here we are, making it a regular family adventure.
The Secret to Making Dreams Reality
This isn't about bragging.
It's about showing you what's possible.
Your life can be a dream, but it requires two key ingredients:
Action: Dreams without action are just wishes. You need to move, to take steps (even small ones) toward your goals every single day.
Positioning: Put yourself in situations where opportunities can find you. Success loves preparation.
A Personal Note
As I write this (and by the way, my first book is coming very soon – stay tuned!), I'm reminded of how far I've come from the person who was imprisoned by his past.
That guy would never have imagined dancing in the kitchen with his daughter, free from the weight of old wounds and limitations.
Your Turn
I want you to ask yourself:
What dreams have you put on hold because of your past?
What stories are you telling yourself about what's possible?
What's one action you could take today to start living your dream?
Remember, your past doesn't need to be your prison.
Those experiences – good and bad – are just chapters in your story, not the whole book.
You're still writing your story, and the best chapters might be yet to come.
The Choice Is Yours
Every day, you have a choice: let your past define your future, or use it as fuel to create the life you've always dreamed of.
Choose the latter.
Start dancing in your kitchen.
Start living your dreams.
Start today.
Because life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass – it's about learning to dance in the rain.
And sometimes, that dance happens around your kitchen island with a one-year-old who's already living a life others dream of.
To your dreams and freedom,
Mike
P.S. I want your life to be a dream too and would love to help. Please reply with your first action item then I’ll follow up in 7 days to make sure it’s completed!
