As children most of us were asked that lovely question of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And as kids who were discovering the world around them this dream job or ideal life passion would change monthly, if not weekly or daily. As we got older though, there was that one passion that seemed to stick. Yes, that one! You’re thinking of it now.

Art was that one thing that stuck for me and was a passion that helped me to get through some rougher years. It wasn’t until more than half way through senior year of high school that I realized it was something I could really truly make a successful career out of though. Finding a career that I could be happy making a living doing that late into college applications made my plans have to bump back a few years in getting to the destination of art school. However, bumps in the road should never be a reason to let go of your passion.

If you are lucky enough to figure out what brings you joy in this life, you have an obligation to yourself to pursue it. We only get one life to live and letting go of your dream because it seems perhaps too grand and unachievable is not something you want too look back on years down the road. Turning dreams into reality is possible and can be accomplished with the simple tools of planning and research. Not everyone must take the same path to get to the same destination, but you must take a path, even if that means forging your own.

If you have the destination in your mind good, go grad a piece of paper and write it down. Now the next step is to work backwards. What did someone in that position have to do to get to where they are? College perhaps? Trade school, apprentice programs, etc. Do your research and work your way back to where you are right now.

There it is. The massive undertaking that would need to happen to get you to where you wish to go. Just looking at all of this makes you feel like throwing in the towel before you’ve even begun. Do yourself a favor and just breathe for a moment. Now start to break this master guide down into steps that can achieved in one or maybe two years. Things you can get started on right away. As you break this down into manageable step you can start to see that this is something you can manage, you can do this!

It will take time, a few to multiple years even depending on your situation and where it is you’re trying to end up, but it is possible. Giving up simply cannot be an option you allow for yourself. And this doesn’t mean the plan should be an inflexible thing you live your live by even when life changes. Perhaps your goals change while chasing this dream and a different one becomes more important. Maybe the thing you think you want or want to do ends up not really being for you.

That is OKAY.

Make a new plan and bounce back. The most important thing is to never stop trying and to never stop making progress no matter how insignificant that progress may seem. Your future self will thank you for it. So that thing, that passion, that came to mind earlier? Go get it. Write it down and make it real. Go be your own biggest hero and fan all rolled into one and make your dream into your reality.