1 Surprising, 1 Sneaky, 1 Subtle, 1 Super Obvious Sign It’s Time to Dream Bigger

Ever wonder what finally got your friend to start their business? What lit their desire to take the leap?

A few years ago, I had to face the truth: I was drifting—through my career, my life, everything. What do I mean by drifting? 

Picture this: I was living without any clear purpose. Going through the motions. Doing just enough to check the boxes. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. 

What finally woke me up? 

Annoyance. I got fed up with playing the victim to my circumstances. 

So, I took stock, got help from coaches and mentors, and realized it was time to dream bigger. That’s when I noticed these four tell-tale signs. 

The Surprising Sign 
Focusing solely on “making things happen.” 

My life had turned into a never-ending to-do list. At work, at home—I was running on adrenaline, always chasing the next checkmark. 

At first, I loved the rush. But eventually, I felt exhausted and trapped. Worst of all, I wasn’t inspired by the results. Sound familiar? 

The Sneaky Sign 
Spending a lot of time learning. 

Don’t get me wrong—I love learning. It’s a core value of mine. 

But here’s the thing: I wasn’t learning to grow. I was chasing novelty. Podcasts, books, documentaries, you name it. It felt productive, but it was really just dopamine chasing. 

At some point, I looked at my Kindle and realized: I could barely remember half of what I’d read. It hit me—I was just passing time, drifting along.

The Subtle Sign 
Delaying action. 

You know the drill: dithering on a decision until you drain all life out of the desire. Writing it off as “your process.” 

Here’s what’s really happening: your brain resists change to keep you comfy. It’s called homeostatic balance—your biological drive to save energy unless something’s really worth it. 

If you’ve ever put off a decision or action just because it wasn’t a “hell yes,” you’ve felt this in action. 

The Super Obvious Sign 
Wanting a bigger impact but feeling stuck on the “what.” 

I wanted to make a bigger impact in my life for years—years. Promotions, bigger projects, building expertise — I tried it all. 

Nothing resonated. Eventually, I gave up because burnout took over. Staying in my comfort zone felt like the best option. 

Looking back, I was stuck in a cycle of “drifting” all over again. 

What Now? 
If any of these signs hit close to home, here’s what helped me start recognizing my life was passing by: journaling. 

Every morning, I spend a few minutes writing down what’s on my mind. No filter, no judgment, just words on paper (or in my phone). 

Try it yourself for 5 days*.

1. Set a timer for at least 5 minutes.  You’ll write for longer as you do it more. 
2. Use these prompts to get started:  What’s happening right now? What’s top of mind?
3. Write whatever comes up – grammar and sense don’t matter. 

Pro Tip: Patterns will emerge. Pay attention. 

These four signs told me it was time to dream bigger. I wish I’d noticed them sooner — I’d have made a change years earlier (like starting my business.) 

*Note: If journaling works for you, try another 5 days. Keep adding 5 days until it feels like a habit.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay