Do you know why were put on planet earth? Well, your dreams are probably your greatest clue. Perhaps there is a dream that’s been burning in your heart for years but then life happened. Marriage, kids, a mortgage, a move. You ask yourself, how did I end up here? Working  40+ hours a week at a job that I don’t enjoy. Somewhere along the way someone told you this was “the way.” Too often we pursue money, security, or status at the expense of our heart’s desire. Sometimes we fear success as much as we fear failure. Maybe that’s not you’re story. Instead you’re the mover and shake who makes it happen daily, the recent grad or the one pursuing a master’s degree working in the field that you love. But if you’re not sure about your destiny know that no matter where you are on the journey or how far away from your destination, God is always looking for someone He can partner with right now. God has millions of purposes glimmering in the purple sky above and  He wants to share them with YOU.

So, what dreams may come when we believe? Could we find a cure for AIDS, end divorce in this country, invent safer, slicker, greener school buses, or transform African economies. Point being  the purple sky is the limit. But we have to begin somewhere. For starters:

1. Look within
Many experts say just look back to your childhood. Truth be told-I used to blog when I was a child. Yes, blog and on my mother’s DOS computer no doubt. What y’all know about that!? Ha!  You see, I was and always will be a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. Loyal like it was a blood oath. I would watch Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition and EVERYTIME they did a story on Michael I was there faithfully with a VHS tape in the VCR ready to record.  If i didn’t find their crap favorable (which was pretty much the norm) I would storm off to that DOS computer, insert a floppy disk and bang away at the keys until I was satisfied my opinion had been adequately documented. That was me alright. I was only 12 years old but I had something to say about injustice baby and 20 years later I still do. So I ask, what stirred your passion as a child?

2. Get yourself a Dream Team

Having a group of folks to share your dreams with is invaluable. Theses trusted ones should believe in you, inspire you, and challenge you to do the work and take the steps. Mostly they should be able to close their eyes and see, touch, taste and smell what you’re saying. And if you can’t find a team, encourage yourself. When I was young I didn’t have access to a lot but I did have Essence and Black Enterprise. I would scour those pages looking for people who looked  like me who were successful. I decided if they could do it, so would I one day. Now blogging didn’t exist back then but I had plenty of TV producers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and humanitarians to keep me searching for that great big God dream with my name on it. You should to.

3.Pray for Direction

It pays to pray. I suggest following Matthew 6:33. It’s my favorite purple sky piece of advice compliments of Jesus Himself. He basically says look-seek my plan first and I’ll take care of all the other natural things you spend so much time worrying about.  So decide that you’re committed to helping Him with His purposes. Be willing to use your gifts, talents and yes dreams to establish the world He intended us to enjoy from the beginning.  And don’t be afraid that He’s going to send you off to some foreign land where you’ll just die of frustration, discomfort or starvation. He made you and He knows what turns you on and what turns you off. He actually delights in your fulfillment. So don’t be afraid to engage Him with the dreams in your heart. You may discover that He’s not only willing to help you but excited to have you–His friend help Him.

4. Write it Down & Do the Work

Once you’ve got your focus right do the work and enjoy it! There’s nothing like pursuing your passion. Whether its going back to school and getting that degree, volunteering, self-study, joining an organization or networking, you’ve got to partner with God and not just sit around and wait and wait. Sure you want to respect His timing but geez us. Don’t wait until your life is over. I heard teacher Joyce Meyer say once “If you miss God, He’ll find you.” Don’t die with your dreams still inside of you. Start by writing your dream down and as you gather new components from all the “work” your doing add them to the plan. You can always make amendments and adjustments. After all, a dream has details and those details need to be worked.

5. Believe

Dreams don’t come true overnight. We’ll spend our lifetime pursuing our dreams because God with His wonderfully innovative Self is always adding bigger, better, brighter elements to the equation. I think He surprises us along the way just to keep our mouth watering and our eyes toward the purple sky. So believe. When the bank says no, or the coding on your website refuses to obey you remember that He’s good, that He is on your side, and that the impossible is possible. Believe you were born to live the dream(s) He placed in your heart and that you cannot fail as long as you keep moving and you stay close to the Dream Giver.

Hope you’re inspired to Dream in Purple.

What’s your dream?