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As you start to kick it into high gear to pursue your next BIG dream or goal, itโs super important that you understand what your dream is going to require of you.ย And what you think youโre going to need in order to make it happen, wellโฆ
Itโs NOT what you think.
In fact, I am going to share with you some of the struggles in the steps that I have taken to making my dream come true.
To be honest, itโs quite humbling for me to reveal myself to you in this way.
Especially when a BIG dream is in process (it always feels much โsaferโ to show the before and afterโฆ.not the โin betweenโ, right?)
Yet, itโs also fascinating to really see who itโs required me to become. Thatโs the real beauty of pursuing a dream
And itโs #1 thing that my dream has asked of me.
The best part of creating a dream is not the end goal.
Surprisingly, the best part โฆ. Itโs who you must become in the process. Letโs dive into a very recent example in my life.
This past year, my team and I have been working hard behind the scenes doing a complete rebrand of my company, French Kiss Life.
Creating this new image of FKL is a key stepping stone in order to create my next goal.
You see,ย my next BIG dream is for French Kiss Life to touch the lives of 1 million women in 5 years.ย
And, here is the Brand Spankinโ New brand video that I am so excited to reveal to you today.
(And, this is just a taste of whatโs around the corner)
Our new FKL brand video represents the core mission ofย French Kiss Lifeย โ living artfully and well โ and it could not have been created without you.
So, from the bottom of my heart,ย thank you.
In bringing my BIG dream to life, there are two key things that fire me up:
1. I am so excited about the thousands of women whose lives will be changed by the work weโre doing in the world.
2. However, I am MOST excited about who itโs requiring me to become.
And in this post, I am going to dive deep into the latter.
I want YOU to get fired up about who you need to become in order to create your dream.
Because if you donโt become someone new, your dream will never come to fruition.
#sorrynotsorry
Letโs start by examining some of the biggest culprits of dream crushingโฆ.
Justifying all the reasons โWhy It Canโt Possibly be Createdโ
Five years ago, my client came to me with a big dream.
She wanted to move to Paris, France.
On our very first call, I told her:ย ย โThatโs easy.โ
Her mind went crazy:ย โNo, itโs not,โ she replied.
And, she went on to give me all the excuses as to why it was so hard.
I donโt have enough money.
Iโm not sure if Iโll like living there.
What if it doesnโt work out?
My family will think Iโm nuts.
I donโt know how to speak French.
I get it.
Itโs familiar. Itโs safe. Itโs known.
But, do you know what else it is?
Boring. Disappointing. Full of regret.
Yuck.
I let my client dump all her reasons on me.ย I knew what was happening.ย She was trying to talk herself out of her own dream.
See, our reasons as to why our dream cannot possibly come true can seem very rational, and clear, and justified.
But they are actually lies.
Justifying to stay right where you are is a dream crusher. #truth
Then, I continued,
โMoving to Paris is easy. People do it all the time.โ
โThe hardest part is actually becoming the woman who moves to Paris.โ
Going after your dreams is going to be uncomfortable.ย But the woman who moves to Paris, even though it seems impossible, she is willing to feel the discomfort of creating her dreams.ย This is the most amazing part of what happens when your dreams become reality.
The BEST part of creating a dream is actually this:
Who you become in the process.
Our dreams ask us to evolve into the type of woman who can create them.
We canโt keep engaging in the same thoughts and actions and expect our dreams to come true.
Pas possible!
In working with women to help them make their dreams come true, I have identified a pattern of being that will keep you right where you areโฆevery time!
And, it has nothing to do with your circumstances.
If that were the case, Oprah would not be Oprah.ย We also wouldnโt have Jay-Z and Sarah Jessica Parker. And, there would be no French Kiss Life.ย All of us started from very humble beginnings.
Creating your dreams requires that you break addictions to certain states of being.
Every dream I have, has asked that I evolve as a woman.
And, I want to be very clear:
Iโm not evolving because I think where I am isnโt amazing. Because it absolutely is.
I want to constantly be in a state of โbecoming.โ
I want to evolve and create because thatโs part of what it means to mean to live artfully and well . . . to French Kiss Life!
During this behind the scenes rebranding process of my company + mission + movement, Iโve noticed certain states popping up for myself. The same ones that I recognize in my clients.
What you need to give up in order to remove the dream killers that reside in your mind.
Over the last several months, every time one of these thoughts reared its ugly head, Iโve switched my mindset and instead perceived it as a glorious invitation to become a more courageous and wiser version of myself.
I want to extend you the same invitation.
When it comes to your dreams, here are some 3 things youโll have to give up:
FIRST THING YOU NEED TO GIVE UP = Confusion
How many of you claim to be confused about your dreams?
Raise your hand if you can relate.
This was my favorite way to hide from my dreams.
As it relates to this FKL rebrand process, I have found myself making it so complicated in my head.
How could I combine my love of style and personal development together?
Who do I want to reach specifically with this work?
Did I really want to give up my name and create something way bigger than me?
I was waiting for a confused mind to offer me clarity.
Turns out, it doesnโt work that way.
You must decide and keep moving.
Confusion is an excuse to hide and slow progress towards your dream.
I finally had to call myself out on my own B.S.
I know my message:
Itโs where self-development meets style. Itโs about living passionately, artfully and well. Itโs about living with grace, grit, and gumption.ย And, for the love of God, itโs how I seek to live my life every day.
See, I was NOT confused.
But I was really good at pretending I was.
Now, from this rebranding process, I never say Iโmย confusedโฆever!
I donโt let my clients spin in confusion either. Because I know that this is just the minds tricky way of keeping you where you are. As long as you donโt know, you get to stay right where you are.
Just like my client, Rachel, who told me she was confused about what to eat. Her dream was to lose 20 pounds and keep it off. I assured her that she was not confused. I challenged her to verbalize what foods feel good in her body and what she needs to eat in order to lose weight. She recited a perfect meal plan that inevitably led to her weight loss of twenty-two pounds.
See, she was never confused.
She was just afraid of doing the hard work.
Guess what?
Youโre not confused either.
Sure, you may not have all the answers on the โhowโ because no one does.
Deep down, you know what you want.
Be brave enough to state it โฆ out loud.
{Tweet this}
SECOND THING YOU NEED TO GIVE UP = DOUBT
Okay, let me be clear: doubt doesnโt kill your dreams.
But, listening and believing your doubt does.
Hereโs the thing:
The bigger your dreams, the bigger your doubt.
So expect it.
And if doubt is not there sister, I am sure that youโre not dreaming big enough
(and BIG is whatever that looks like for you)
Every day Iโm filled with doubt because I am creating things that donโt yet exist.
I want to tell you that during this long and arduous FKL rebrand process, I have had many doubts arise:
Will women love it?
Am I making a mistake going to Frenchkisslife.com versus TonyaLeigh.com?
Did we choose the right designer and developer and branding expert andโฆโฆ?
Is this investment worth it?
When you are pursuing a dream, your mind will pull out all the punches to keep you scared and stuck, because the mind is lazy.
Your mind does not want to work so hard to change, so doubt will be present for any dream you have.
A Quick Tutorial on How to Conquer Doubt:
When it comes to doubt, you have two options.
Option #1:ย Listen to your doubt
When you do this, you really believe it when your mind says:
Thatโs not possible.
Youโve never been able to do it before.
Who are YOU to do something like that?
Youโre being ridiculous.
Youโre going to fail.
Why bother?
And, when you entertain these thoughts, guess what happens?
Absolutely nothing except living a life of regrets and โwhat-ifs.โ
But, thereโs another option:
Option #2: Doubt your doubt
Just this morning, I woke up full of doubt. Hereโs what happened:
I had a conversation with a potential CFO for my company. This is an area that I know I need help with. I know that having this person will alleviate so many unknowns and unnecessary stress. I know this person is essential in helping me realize my dream of having French Kiss Life touch the lives of one million women.
My mind was going absolutely nuts this morning.
But, Iโve been in this rodeo with my doubt for a long time. And, I can either get on the bull and ride my heart out. Or I can run and sit on the sidelines and watch others make their dreams come true.
This is where confidence comes in.
I had to dig deep into who Iย reallyย am.
And, I choose to believe that I a resourceful and smart woman who is on a mission to create a movement of women who are committed to living artfully and well in their lives.
How can I expect YOU to do scary things if Iโm hiding out in my house afraid to hire a CFO?
So, I began to counter every doubt I had.
*Itโs too much money.*
Andโฆโฆย Money is abundant. If I believe in my vision and want it to grow, I must be willing to bet on myself.
*Youโre going to go broke.*
Andโฆ..ย I may become the richest woman on the planet (and wealth comes in many forms).
*Youโve been doing okay alone.*
Andโฆ..ย Iโm ready to do better than okay. Imagine what I could create with an amazing team of people.
*You need to put that money away for Sarah.*
Andโฆ..ย I need to be an example to Sarah of whatโs possible.
*Why donโt you just settle for where you are. Itโs not so bad.*
Andโฆ..ย Where I am is amazing and Iโm excited to create more. My 90-year old self says loudly โGo for it, darling!โ
So, when you think about your dream, what doubts do you have?
Doubt is not a sign to quit.
Itโs a sign to evolve into the kind of womanย
who doesnโt let doubt stop her.
{Tweet this}
THIRD THING YOU NEED TO GIVE UP = OTHER PEOPLEโS OPINIONS
When it comes to your dreams, everyone will have an opinion.
Your mother will think youโre crazy.
Your co-workers will think youโre being โtoo much.โ
Your friends will be upset that you no longer want to drink.
Your adult kids will throw out the guilt trip card when you create boundaries to support your dream.
People will laugh at you.
People will leave negative reviews.
This is one of the biggest obstacles I see when it comes to making dreams come true.
Dreams require that you care more about your opinion than what others think.
I wish I could tell you that everyone is going to support you and cheer you on, but Iโd be lying.
Just like with doubt, the bigger your dream, the bigger otherโs judgments of you will be (at least thatโs been my experience.)
But, hereโs what I want you to consider:
Those people donโt have to live your life.
So, why do you give them so much of your attention?
Yeah, I know.
Itโs easier said than done, but itโs doable.
As a former people pleaser who was terrified of people thinking badly of me, Iโve had to practice this way of being until itโs become who I am.
And, while itโs very uncomfortable, I wouldnโt trade the life Iโve created for anything. And, this life required that I give up obsessing about other peopleโs opinions.
As I have been navigating this rebranding process, I have also faced other peopleโs opinions, especially when I told them Iโve decided to drop the brand name of Tonya Leigh and have the company fall under French Kiss Life.ย Including changing the actual website from TonyaLeigh.com to FrenchKissLife.com
Some people thought I was crazy.
Why donโt you brand your name?
Are you hiding?
Everyone is switching to a personal brand.
Donโt you think youโre making a mistake?
Then, there are some who are completely turned off with the name โFrench Kiss Life.โ
Thatโs so inappropriate.
Thatโs not very elegant.
I donโt like it.
Imagine if Iโd allowed these opinions to rattle me?
Iโd still be trying to decide.ย ย And, I wouldnโt have listened to my heart.ย While I will resp
ect your and otherโs opinion, I wonโt let it stop me.
(and in case you are wondering why I decided that I didโฆโฆHereโs why:ย I want to build something that extends beyond me. And, the phrase French Kiss Life makes my heart smile because it reminds me of that moment in time when this whole movement started. #agreetodisagree)
Hereโs another recent personal example:
Recently, I vacationed for six weeks in Europe.
Upon returning home, a so-called friend made a snide comment,
โWell, it must be nice. Not everyone gets toย jet-setย around Europe for six weeks.โ
Yep, oh boy did they have a strong opinion about my doings.
But imagine if I let that stop me.
I wouldnโt have ridden a camel in the desert of Morocco.
I wouldnโt have seen the stunning sunsets of Porto.
I wouldnโt have been invited to a VIP Wine tasting at all the top designer boutiques in Milan.
And, I certainly wouldnโt have had the belly laughs that almost left me with six-pack abs
(by the way, laughter = the best ab workout ever.ย Just sayinโ)
The old me would have tried to justify my dreams to this person:
โBut, I was working while there. In fact, I hosted a retreat in Paris!โ
โIโve waited my whole life for this trip.
โYou see, Iโve been unable to travel for the past two years because of my daughterโs health.
โI worked so hard for this!โ
I donโt need to justify my dreams and neither do you.
Let me ask you a really important question:
Why would you put your future into the hands of otherโs opinions?ย
And, not just your future, but your kidโs and entire familyโs future?
Really think about that.
When your friends say, โWhy are you spending so much time trying to grow a business,โ they are not the ones having to feed your family.
When your mother says, โJust eat the cake,โ sheโs not the one whoโs having to wake up each day in your body.
When your co-workers say, โI canโt believe youโre going on a retreat to Paris. Thatโs silly,โ they are not the ones who have to wonder how that trip will change your life.
But, listen.
I get it.
Itโs not easy to get over our people-pleasing tendencies.
Itโs uncomfortable to go after what you want when people are telling you that youโre insane, selfish, delusional, or incapable.
But, dream making isnโt for the faint of heart.
Surround yourself with people who cheer on our dreams, who inspire you to dream bigger and who are in the arena with you.
Stop listening to those sitting in the cheap seats.
Be more committed to your dreams than you are trying to control other peopleโs opinions of you.
You get to want what you want.
Without apology.
{Tweet this}
Ready to make your dreams come true?
These are three things you must give up:
- Confusion
- Doubt
- Other Peopleโs Opinions
And, when you do, be prepared to amaze yourself with whatโs possible.
Just ask my client.
Sheโs living in a flat in Paris.
And sheโs never been happierโฆโฆwith her flat inย Le Marais, AND with the woman, her dream required her to become.
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Incredible! Just what I needed to hear today Tonya thank you. You always seem to be able to get to the heart of what I need to hear.
And while you don't need my opinion on your video :), it's gorgeous. The essence of your brand is what my soul craves, and while the form it takes for me, will be different to yours, the essence will be the same. Living artfully and well, something for us all to aspire too. Looking forward to seeing the next evolution Xx
Hi Victoria! I'm so happy you enjoyed the video and what FKL stands for. THank you for being a part of it!
I so needed to listen to this inspirational motivational podcast. I need to creat a folder with all your podcast so that I can be boosted whenever I lose hope. Beautiful message Tonya Leigh.
Cheers ๐๐๐ธ
Thank you, Shinelle! Surround yourself with inspiration and support. It's an important part of dream making. ๐
ah- your best blog post yet!! and just what I needed to read today!!! Thank you Tonya! Words to take action by! <3 ~ Roxanne
Thanks so much, Roxanne!
Tingling ... all over! YES. โค๏ธ๐
So glad you like it, Andrina!
Amazing as always Tonya.
Love the rebranding video too
Thank you, Kylie!
Wow! Let's go and French Kiss Life!๐
Woo-hoo!!!! Let's ๐
Inspiring and a timely reminder - just as I was doubting whether I should get a dog (my big dream) because of the potential sacrifices - just fears of getting out of my current comfort zone. I love the rebranding and I think it speaks volumes. Ontogenetic - always becoming.
Oh Sophia! Dogs are the best. I cannot imagine my life without Winston. What I've discovered with every dream is that they're are always sacrifices, but do they outweigh the benefits? That's the question to ask yourself. Cheers to becoming.
Nice rebrand...let's get started! #NextPhase
Thank you, Hazel! I'm truly excited for what's ahead.
Well this was written just for me. I plan on reading this everyday until i reach my dream . Its within reach potentially within the year but colleagues and friends are filling me with confusion doubt and their opinions!!!! Thank you tonya
I'm so happy it resonated with you, Ruth!
Wonderful! This has brought me so much clarification on what I want from my life. I've been doing Slim, Chic & Savvy, but was still in a fog of confusion. Now I'm starting to see the light, and I love it. Many big dreams ahead, but the one I'm really excited about is the possibility of going on a Paris retreat with you. Merci!
Love it, Peggy! Refuse to be confused and make decisions. That's how we build momentum on our dreams.
I must admit, I joined FKL in spite of the name, but the rebranding video had me wanting to raise my hands and shout, "AMEN!" The clouds have parted, Angels are singing, and there's a bright light shining down from the heavens, sister. This has me feeling inspired- you go girl!
This is a FANTASTIC blog post Tonya! I'm bookmarking this one for sure, and coming back to it again and again! xxxx
Wow, how inspiring. Thank you for those real life examples. There's some pondering to be done on this one!
I have goosebumps, AMAZING brand video! Always inspiring and definitely a dream of mine to get a shoot like that one day.
I hope you're talking about who I think you are. Spending that night with you and her in Paris was one of the most memorable and magical experiences of my entire life. Someday, I'll tell you what happened the next day.
Thank you. Thank you for all you do.