Microdose Your Dreams

My work puts me in front of dreamers often…artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, authors, founders. People with big, disruptive ideas (my favorite kind) doing things their way. They seek my help translating their “out there” ideas into actionable steps, my specialty.

But another subset of people also come to me, the ones who deeply desire pursuing their big dreams, dreams they often keep secreted away from even those closest to them. Perhaps they can’t even admit those big dreams out loud. 

They usually have stable careers that support their needs but perhaps they find unfulfilling. The expectations of those around them, their own fears, and the huge distance they perceive between the life they have now and their dream life feels too great. They stop before they start.

I love working with these types. 

There’s an element of imposter syndrome at play, certainly, and usually some limiting beliefs around worthiness as well. 

But these types are also level-headed, responsible and conscientious. They are discerning and intuitive and can smell bullshit a mile away. They only want to bet on a sure thing, and they’re not willing to put everything at risk for a future that may not turn out as they hope. They are willing to sacrifice and often put others’ needs ahead of their own. 

This is a very noble stance to take, and one for which I have deep respect. It’s very selfless and prudent to move through life this way, but it’s also not very fun. You’re stuck in a gilded cage of your own creation. 

You’re someone who wants MORE, to dream bigger, to create a new reality, but feels fearful of what that new life may cost. I get it. But hear me out.

You can microdose your dreams. 

Microdosing your dreams is my shorthand for giving yourself permission to play in the space where your dreams live. With small, low-consequence buy-ins, you can experiment with your dreams and see if they’re worth exploring more seriously. 

In doing so, you can shrink that vast chasm you perceive between your current life and the bigger vision you have for yourself. 

The phrase “microdose your dreams” simply entered my consciousness one day, and it has stuck with me since. It’s one of my go-to tools in working with very “Obligated” types, the sort who get stuck in the “shoulds” of their own story. 

Often, they find themselves “should-ing” their way through life, not actively making choices rooted in their desires, but doing the next thing they believe they “should” be, based on their baked-in social, cultural or religious blueprints. 

So how do I recommend they safely dip a toe into a new reality? To flirt with the big, messy wants that exist within us all?

Microdosing!

Don’t worry, this practice won’t involve any hallucinogens (unless that’s your thing). It’s so much simpler than that.

Allow me to illustrate with an example. 

Let’s imagine you’ve always dreamed of taking several months to backpack your way around the world. If you’re 18 with zero attachments, that might be a pretty easy feat to pull off. 

But if you’re married, have kids, work a full-time job or feel firmly rooted in your life, that dream may feel incredibly out of reach. 

However, nothing is stopping you from microdosing that dream. 

You can watch Youtube videos from travel bloggers who have pulled off similar trips. Research the best times of year to travel and the necessary gear to pack. Create a playlist that you would enjoy listening to on your travels. Read books on the places you’d most like to visit. Cook recipes from all the cities on your bucket list. You may even consider starting a specific savings account dedicated to this trip. The list goes on and on and on.

Microdosing your dreams is about finding low-stakes, low-cost ways to play within your dream reality, no matter how far away it feels from your current circumstances. Essentially, it’s daydreaming with direction. It’s meant to be fun and feel expansive. 

This practice is a beautiful way to honor your dreams, fantasies and desires when your circumstances feel suffocating. It replaces stagnation and hopelessness with possibility and expansiveness. 

And I believe, with repetition, microdosing your dreams will show you that what you desire is actually much closer within reach than you think. 

What are your big dreams? Are you scared to admit them to yourself? What would it feel like if you allowed yourself to microdose your dreams? Comment your big dreams that feel impossible and I’ll reply with some microdosing ideas <3