I was recently on the phone to a friend of mine telling him about my past few weeks that had involved travelling around South Africa, doing workshops and speaking engagements, meeting amazing teachers and helping people live their dreams.  The most exciting part is that I have recently been asked by Oshun Books, a publishing company in South Africa, to write a book on how to turn dreams into reality.  So I was chattering away excitedly to my friend about how blessed I am to be living my own dreams, to be on purpose and how marvellous this life of co-creation with the universe is and how grateful I am.

After my babble of excitement he commented – “when you first said you were a Fairy Godmother, I thought you were crazy – but over the last few years you have been really living and being who you are, authentically.  Even though you are a little nutty, with your wand and fairy wings, you have been living your brand of nuttiness and it is working.  It is inspiring to see how happy you are and hear about the wonderful things happening in your life.”

Living your authentic life is a key to living and manifesting your dreams.  Authenticity is the ability to be you – to be truly who you are with all your strengths and all your flaws, despite what other people think or say about you.  Authenticity is when you live your own unique brand of nuttiness so that you are able to bring your own flavour into the world.

Imagine if the only flavour for ice-cream was vanilla – a little boring right?

Well, most people are living a vanilla life – stuck in the 9-to-5; doing jobs they don’t like; earning enough money to pay the credit card debt; concerned about what other people think – and then wondering why they are bored, depressed or just not feeling fulfilled in life.

If you could choose any flavour of ice-cream which would you choose?

If you could choose any flavour of life which would you choose?

I would like to suggest that you choose the Flavour of YOU!

You have been put on this planet for a purpose and your skills, past experience, character, strengths and weaknesses have been perfectly blended to help you fulfill this purpose – to help you lead your true, authentic life.  The life that is true for you.

When you lead this type of life you bring your special flavour to the world and not only are YOU enriched, but the world and others are enriched by your unique gifts. 
Imagine if Nelson Mandela had chosen a vanilla life?  Or Bono or Oprah or Einstein or Churchill or Elvis Presley?  If they had not allowed their crazy, nutty uniqueness and authenticity to shine through, the world would be a very different place.

I love this video below which is a tribute to bringing authenticity into the world

My flavour is the sparkly magic of a Fairy Godmother and it makes my life delicious.

What flavour and brand of nuttiness do you wish to contribute to the world?
   

Samarie Smith from Die Burger recently attended a Dream Mapping and Goal Setting Workshop and then afterwards interviewed me, the Fairy Godmother. She asked some thought provoking questions and so I thought it would be great to blog the questions and answers to provide valuable tips to pursuing your dreams.

SS: What is dreaming and why should we dream?

FGM: Dreaming is the most powerful tool for creating your life – it is the time when you let your imagination wander, you get in touch with your desires, you get in touch with your soul and then you begin to see images in your mind’s eye of how you would like those desires to be fulfilled in reality. The reason why we should spend time dreaming is because everything that exists in reality is actually created twice – first as a dream in our minds and then secoundly out in reality. Everything that is and has ever been created starts with a dream, it is really the beginning of the act of creation.

SS: What is the first step/s you should take to realise your dreams?

FGM: There are many steps in realising your dreams…

The first thing is to make a decision that you want to actualise that particular dream (as some dreams always stay dreams).

The next step is to write down in graphic detail what the outcome of the dream looks like. So you actually start with the end in mind. So if your dream is for a beautiful new home for you and your family – then write down what you imagine the home looking like, who will be living there, imagine walking throught the home and the emotions that you feel, the things you hear, the smells. Write it all down like a little story as if you were there and living it.

SS: What is the main thing people have to keep in mind when they want to realise their dreams?

FGM:   That you have to take ACTION to realise your dreams – it is all vey good and well having a clear dream and then imagining it frequently, however when the opportunities arrive to allow you to access that dream then you need to take ACTION.

Many people don’t take action and are often surprised that their dreams and goals aren’t coming true – the first step is getting clear on the dream in your mind and the next step is doing action out in the world to ensure that your mental image collides with reality. Another piece of advice that helps me often when challenges arise – “Don’t give up before the miracle arrives”. Just keep taking the next obvious step and the next step and you will reach your dreams.

SS: Small steps or big steps?

FGM:   Both – just whatever you do take the step! Take the ACTION! Sometimes it will require the big step and that leap of faith and at other times it will require those small consistent actions.

SS:  What is the most important thing to keep in mind whilst striving for you ultimate dream?

FGM:  That life is meant to be fun, magical and blissful, so don’t get too serious about it. If it starts becoming serious or feels like struggle and effort then move back into the areas that feel fun and light and playful.

The other BIG thing that is the fuel for making dreams come true is GRATITUDE, when you get grateful for everything that you have and all the expriences and challenges that you face you will be amazed at how easily life flows and how quickly your dreams turn into reality.

SS:  You said fear is the biggest stumbling block if I remember correctly. How can we overcome that?

FGM:   Understand that if you are not taking action in the direction of your dreams, goals or vision then you are in fear! And the easiest way to overcome that is to
a. recognise that you are in fear and then identify what am I afraid of here?
b. then write down
if I take this action…. what is the best thing that can happen?
And what is the worst thing that can happen?

Once you have done this excercise you will realise that the worst thing that can hapen is never as bad as the fear that you feel.

SS:  How do we differentiate between conscious and unconscious dreaming does that make sense?

FGM:  Unconcious dreaming happens when you are asleep and is a means for the subconcious mind to process our experiences. Concious dreaming is lucid dreaming, the dreaming that you do when you are awake where you imagine something different to your current reality and can see that in your mind’s eye.

SS: How and when did you come up with the Fairy Godmother concept?

FGM:  I had an epiphany while on a night bus in Argentina in 2005. It was the most pheomenal and transformative experience that I have ever had, and over the course of a few hours in the middle of the night in this bus I received clear vision for my life and understood the purpose of my life – which is to be a Fantastically Fabulous and Magical Fairy Godmother and inspire and help others throughout the world believe in the power, magic and beauty of their dreams to create extraordinary lives.

SS:  What do you want to accomplish?

FGM:   My Really Big Dream and Goal is to reach 1 billion people around the world with the inspirational message that it is possible to live your dreams and to give them tools and techniques to be able to turn their dreams into reality. So that 1 billion people around the world are having the experience of living their dreams and leading extraordinary lives - filled with happiness, love, fun and gratitude.

I have a whole lot of smaller dreams, goals and intentions but the one above is really my life’s work

Last night as I was sitting at a 27 dinner at a Primi Piatti, a wonderful wizard that I know pointed out some words on the menu which said – “Work is Love made Visible” and gleefully asked – “hey, do you know where that’s from?”

It turns out that it is from “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran (and if you have never read it go out and buy it immediately!).

So before jumping into bed last night, I raided my bookshelf and found the little green book filled with Infinite Wisdom and I read the part on Work and about “Work being Love made Visible” – here is an excerpt…

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit.

Work is love made visible

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine.”

And these wise words from a man written a hundreds years ago are still so pertinent today and are probably needed now more than ever. In my work as a Fairy Godmother, I constantly meet people who are unhappy in their jobs, feel stuck in a rut or just feel trapped in the 9-to-5 daily grind that has become life… they have lost a sense of joy, of magic, of the LOVE in work.

And while Kahlil Gibran speaks of weaving cloth, building houses and crushing grapes which may seem far removed from our jobs today. The same applies when answering emails, writing proposals, dealing with clients, having meeting with colleagues – if there is not an underlying platform of love, affection, tenderness and joy then the work will be empty, meaningless and slowly the “breath of spirit” that brings magic into your life will be choked out of your body.

You see, by having love as an underlying intention in your work, that intention permeates into all that you do. People who work with you will feel it, the intention of love will change your attitude, the work itself will be good, you will feel a sense of quiet accomplishment and your work will truly become be a symbol of your love in the world.

Even if you are in a job that you don’t necessarily enjoy, from today make a promise to yourself to bring love into your work and environment – from a kind word to your colleague, to real caring when you deal with a client. Even though you may not be living your dream life or doing what you love, bring love to what you are doing. As one of my favourite friends and teachers, Mike Dooley says – “Do everything you can, from where you are, with what you are given”…. and you will be amazed at how that creates the opportunities and stepping stones to a life of your dreams.

Start today before you sit down at your desk, say out loud –

“Today I bring love and my spirit into the work that I do”

and then enjoy the magic that unfurls…

Towards the end of 2005 Verity got clear on her dream or what I call a WIG – a Wildly Improbable Goal – which is to be an international singer/ songwriter who inspires millions of people through her music and through her music is able to make an incredible difference in the world.

So the first step to realising her dream was to record an album, but in the cut-throat and difficult music industry Verity decided that she wouldn’t let the industry get her down, but instead she would do things differently to realize her dream. Instead of signing up to a record company she started an innovative and exciting project called The Lucky Packet Project where she would pre-sell Future copies of her album to “Future Owners” through her website www.iamverity.com and she would use this money to record her album. 10% of the monies raise would also go to two charities as a “pay it forward” for people supporting her and believing in her and helping her to reach her dreams.

I have been fortunate enough to be Verity’s Fairy Godmother through this project and have watched the ups and downs of the journey – because contrary to popular belief living the life of your dreams is not smooth sailing, it is a rollercoaster ride. As Verity experienced in stepping into her dream and extraordinary life - there are immense challenges and obstacles; there are days of despondency and times of elation; groundswells of support and weeks when you feel completely alone; there are skeptics and angels that you meet on the path BUT if you can hold on to the vision through all of this – at times it is really clear and at other times it will feel like you are holding on by a thread – then as Verity has experienced you will take quantum leaps, you will grow as a human being in your greatness and our dreams and goals will come to pass.

Verity has now made her album – aptly titled “Journey” with 2000 future owners from 37 countries around the world supporting her in turning her dream into reality.

After delightedly watching Verity’s own personal journey of living her dreams there are 5 key lessons that stand out clearly for me

1. Never give up – hold on to your vision and keep believing
2. Inspire the support of others to help you in manifesting your dream
3. Wherever possible “pay it forward” and serve others
4. Dreams do not turn into reality overnight – WIG’s take time – give them time
5. Dare to do things differently

Verity has been now been playlisted on most of SA’s radio stations and you will be hearing her track Angel on your radio soon. If you are a Future Owner you will be receiving your album in the next few weeks and if you would still like to support Verity on her “Journey” then go to her website www.iamverity.com and buy an album.

You can also read Verity’s blog of the Journey to living her dreams.
Verity, as your Fairy Godmother, well done on taking a giant leap into an extraordinary life and for having the courage, endurance and spirit to live your dreams! May your singing and your story inspire millions of people around the world to live their dreams too.

One of my first ever Fairy Godmothering duties was to help an actor who wanted to become a World Famous Stand-up Comedian.  The job was to wand-wave and to kick-start him on the path to his dreams.

That was a few years ago and over a number of delicious burgers at Royale in Cape Town, with many scribbles on sheets of paper and a whole lot of wand-whacking to get him into action, Nik Rabinowitz took the super courageous step of putting on his first one man show called “One Man, One Goat”.  The show was very well received in the original little theatre space that he used in Obz cafe.  And as his courage grew and he took more action and his popularity grew too (funny how action tends to yield results!).  And I flushed all over with Fairy Godmother pride when earlier this year I sat with 200 other people and watched Nik do his one man show in Jo’burg, which he packed out every night for a month!

And now Nik is back with a new show and is truly living his dreams

For those dreamers who are in Cape Town, go and watch the show and support Nik as he dares to live his  dreams. Of course, he will keep you in stiches in the process…