Lessons on Goals from 31 Dream Chasers

In December 2020 I hosted a series on social media called 31 Days of Dream Chasers to inspire us into the new year. I reached out to some amazing dream chasers, as well as accepted volunteers who wanted to contribute, to share a lesson they learned while working toward their dreams last year.

They had such great lessons and wisdom to share that I’m sure will inspire and motivate you as you start off on your own dream chasing journeys! Enjoy!

Oh and make sure to follow my coaching biz pages @PenPalCoach on Twitter and Instagram for more goal related tips, encouragement, and inspiration!

1. Molly of The Darling Revolution

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year is to listen to my body, and “be curious, not judgmental” (Walt Whitman). This applies to my own reactions as well as other people’s. I am able to be clearer in my goals and focus if I’m listening to my own body’s needs and being honest about my boundaries.”

Molly is an artist and imagination doula who helps you “alchemize your imagination for self-compassion and resilience.”

Follow her on Instagram @thedarlingrevolution and on Twitter @HeyMollyDarling.

And check out her website: https://www.thedarlingrevolution.com/

I’m lucky enough to own a painting by her, and I LOVE it! Make sure to check out her art collections on her website!

3. Abbi Rodriguez

“I started my own business this year and along the way I’ve had so many moments of feeling like things were completely out of control. In the midst of that though, my contemplative practices kept me grounded and tether me down. This season has reminded me that I’m a part of something much greater than myself.”

Abbi is an Enneagram teacher and coach. She offers both individual and group sessions to help you discover your type and guide you in your journey of growth! She’s currently selling Ennea-Tapes in her shop that are audio file teachings on each enneagram type!

Make sure to follow her on Instagram @enneagramspace for some GREAT and insightful enneagram content!

And check out her website: https://www.abbirodriguez.com/

4. Nick & Kyle of The Hero’s Journal

“Our quote for the year has probably got to be: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” It’s kind of a twist on a Voltaire quote…Whenever we are anxious or nervous about how something may end up, we just send it. Time will tell, and so will the audience.”

Nick and Kyle are the masterminds behind The Hero’s Journal, a 90 day productivity journal that makes you the hero of your own story and turns your goal into an epic quest! I’ve used their journal for the past year and I absolutely LOVE it!

Follow them on Instagram @theherosjournal.

Check out the journal here: https://theherosjournal.co/

And check out my review of the journal by clicking here.

5. Chelsey of The Pathfinder

“My biggest takeaway from this year? TRUST YOURSELF! Self-trust and following your intuition are two of the most powerful things you can do. Because once you trust YOU, you’re no longer swayed by the uncertainty of life or susceptible to the manipulations of others. It’s your biggest and best source of strength and clarity!”

Chelsey Brooke helps introverts “build self-trust and self-confidence to create healthy relationships and purposeful careers.” As a fellow introvert, her words are a constant source of insight and inspiration to me!

Follow her on Instagram @thepathfinderforyou and on Twitter @chelseybcole

Check out her website: https://www.thepathfinderforyou.com/

6. Geraldine of Geraldine Draws

“It takes a lot of time, patience and hard work to make a small business work, especially if you’re a one man company. Therefore it’s good to always hold your dream out in front of you as a reminder when times get tough, and to have a good support system so that you don’t give up in chasing your dream(s)! Expecting an overnight change is unrealistic, and it honestly may take a lot longer for us to get where we want to be. We may be tempted to follow others who suddenly made it big because we want that for ourselves, but the most important part is to do what truly makes you happy! I didn’t really see much success the first few months of my shop opening which obviously made me sad, but I just kept drawing and posting consistently. My work eventually got noticed by more people and I’ve slowly been seeing more traffic and sales come to me!

It’s very hard not to compare yourself to others, but it will only lead to depression and make you feel like giving up. Remember that everyone had to start from the very beginning, and not all paths will be the same length or lead you to the same goal. For me, my support system (aka my bf and best friend) helped me look past the hard (and sale-less) times, and so did drawing the things that I truly was interested in!”

Geraldine is an artist who focuses on kawaii animals, food, and fanart. Her style is adorable and always makes me smile! She currently sells pins, stickers, washi tape, and bookmarks in her shop! I have some stickers and bookmarks from her that I absolutely LOVE! I can’t wait to get more!

Follow her on Instagram @geraldinedraws and on Twitter @GeraldineDraws.

And check out her website! https://www.geraldinedraws.com/

7. Christian of DOPEamine

“Nothing is wasted. Take risks and make mistakes. The worst that can happen is you’ll learn something.”

Christian Rivera (aka C.Note) is a Personal Development Coach who empowers people on their personality and mental health journeys. He’s also an incredible digital producer and designer!

I’ve been his apprentice this past year and I’ve benefited SO much from his wisdom (and friendship!)

Follow him on Twitter @letsgocnote and on Instagram @letsgocnote.

And check out his website: https://www.dopeamine.life/

8. Denzel Mensah

“Learn to think of relationships as seeds, and yourself as a limited source of water. Have a vision for the garden you’re tending to. When you do this, you’ll gradually learn to prioritize which seeds you water and how much water you can afford to give with and without return of fruit. Then, your pail will never go empty again.”

Denzel is a life coach and personality profiler. He has a popular YouTube channel where he shares what he’s learning and pondering about type, interpersonal dynamics, and life. He’s also a very creative spoken word poet!

I appreciate the depth of thought and reflection he puts into his content, as well as speaking from real world experience from working with many different people.

Make sure to follow him on Twitter @deezy2_blessed and on Instagram @deezy2blessed.

And subscribe to his YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/DenzelMensah94

9. Raven of Life’s an RPG

“When you think about it, the life we choose to live is just one whole creative process. And if there’s anything I learned about the creative process, it’s that you can’t rely solely on ideas to make it a reality – you need to pick up the pen yourself and write your own story – through imagination, exploration, reflection, and continuous improvement. After all, every story worth telling, both in real life and fiction, involved a thousand crappy drafts.”

Raven recently launched an epic brand called Life’s an RPG with a 57 page pdf called The Adventurer’s Toolkit that beautifully combines personal growth tools with role-playing game mechanics!

The toolkit also comes with access to an Adventurers Guild—a growing community of geeks looking to level up in LIFE! It’s a really great place to hangout and share your progress as you work toward your goals.

Follow Life’s an RPG on Instagram @lifesanrpg

And check out their website: https://lifesanrpg.com

Use my referral link (click here) to get 15% off of The Adventurer’s Toolkit.

10. Dani of Positively Present

“Something I said years ago (Happiness vs. Positivity: What’s the Difference?) but really focused on a lot this year is this: “Happiness is a mood. Positivity is a mindset.” We can’t always choose to be happy, but we can choose to be optimistic.”

Author, blogger, and designer Dani DiPirro seeks to help others focus on the positive in every situation. If you’re needing some self-love and positivity she is a MUST follow!

Follow her on Instagram @positivelypresent and on Twitter @positivepresent.

Check out her site and latest book, Grow Through It: https://www.positivelypresent.com/growthroughit.html

11. Tessa Hastjarjanto

“Listen to your body and take a break when you need to and don’t forget that little bits add up to something big. So take a breath, check off one thing on your to-do list. Then assess how you feel. Up for the next task or some self-care?”

Tessa is a book reviewer, blogger, fountain pen lover, and published author. She’s currently working on book 2 and 3 of her fiction series, Infernal Contracts! And releasing an updated version of the 1st book soon! She’s been such an inspiration to me as she’s moved forward with her dreams despite her chronic pain.

Follow her on Twitter @endalia and on Instagram @narratesscom.

Check out her website here: https://www.narratess.com/

12. Kaitlyn of Color Me Happi

“When you feel stuck or discouraged, keep doing things that fulfill you and make you happy. You’ll get there in time even if the path you’re on doesn’t look like what you had planned. Believe in yourself!”

Kaitlyn is an amazing illustrator who creates inspiring artwork about self-care, mental health, and positivity. She also has great workbooks available to help you better manage your stress and mental health.

Follow her on Instagram @colormehappii and on Twitter @colormehappi.

Check out her website: https://colormehappii.com/

13. Your Coach Meg

“As I have worked toward my goals this year (and helping so many of my coaching clients do the same), the mantra that has been in the front of my mind and heart is: Be consistent and stay true to your vision. When you do that, magic is always just around the corner.”

Megan Smidt is a life and business coach who helps you live the confetti-throwing party of your life! She is a beautiful soul who radiates joy and positivity in everything she does! She’s also such a huge supporter of other small businesses, especially local in our St. Louis area. I attended a vision workshop with her in December and it was the best birthday gift I could’ve given myself! She’s the real deal and such an amazing and empowering coach!

Follow her on Instagram @yourcoachmeg.

Check out her site: https://www.yourcoachmeg.com/

14. Dr. Janina Scarlet

“If you are feeling like an imposter, if you are questioning whether you’re ready or good enough, it means you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

Dr. Janina Scarlet is a geek psychologist, PTSD specialist, and author of Superhero Therapy, Dark Agents, and much more! I LOVE how she uses fictional characters to relate to our own lives and struggles. I highly recommend her books!

Follow her on Instagram @drjaninascarletofficial and on Twitter @ShadowQuill.

Check out her website: http://www.superhero-therapy.com/

15. Jordan of Jordandené

“Find your community, and don’t be shy about asking for help when you need it!”

Jordan owns the fandom fashion business, Jordandené, and is a co-creator of the geeky lifestyle magazine and podcast, Sartorial Geek!

Follower her on Instagram @jordandenenyc and Sartorial Geek @sartorialgeek.

And also on Twitter @jordandenenyc and @sartorialgeek.

And check out her awesome geeky products: https://jordandene.com/

16. Sabah Kadri

“There is no reason to procrastinate when you have a dream. There are times we want to start something but hesitate because we don’t know where to begin. This year, I learned that the best time to begin is now. And the best way to begin is to tackle it one day at a time. Just take the leap.”

Sabah creates Bollywood dance workouts on YouTube. She started posting in April and has already grown to over 40k subscribers! I’ve been using her dance workouts the past couple months, and I can say it’s been my FAVORITE workouts! You’ll have so much fun with all the positive energy and enthusiasm she brings to every video!

Follow her on Instagram @workoutwithsabah and on Twitter @sabahkadri.

Subscribe to her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/sabahkadridance

17. Matt Sherman of Geek Psychology

“This year has been hard. No question. And the things that kept me pushing myself to be greater were 1) showing myself that I could come out victorious despite the circumstances and 2) that my efforts could help 1 other person come out victorious.”

Sherman creates personality and personal development content to help geeks and gamers play life better.

His YouTube videos are a great place to start learning about yourself and level up! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeekPsychology

And check out his site and services: https://www.geekpsychology.com/

18. Artsy Affirmations

“Just keep working on what you’re passionate about even if no one else cares.”

Artsy Affirmations makes bright and positive lettering and illustrations to inspire, affirm, and uplift! They are a constant source of encouragement to me and are a definite MUST FOLLOW!

Follow them on Instagram @artsyaffirmations.

Check out their website: https://artsyaffirmations.com

19. Joyce Meng

“Other people’s treatment of you isn’t an indication of your worth. You’re valuable even if no one is there to acknowledge it; you’re lovable even if no one is there to tell you that. You’re enough as you are.”

Joyce is a certified MBTI practitioner, life coach, and host of Type Talks—conversations on YouTube about the cognitive functions. She is knowledgeable, wise, encouraging, and a wonderful host! She is such a valuable member of the type community and has done great work to bring all different kinds of people of different personality types together for great discussions!

Follow her on Twitter @JoyceMeng22

Subscribe to her channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JoyceMeng22

20. Luke Bugg “The Geek of Steel”

“At the beginning of the year when everything started to slow down, no new releases, no movie news and Comic-Cons/events were scheduled I got myself into a rut. I didn’t want to create anything or make any content. One day I saw my microphone just sitting there, it almost felt alone. And in a way, so did I.

I sat down and just started recording. Then I got the desire to do more, create more and share more. I love sharing my passions online and making content and as long as one person is enjoying what I create, I’ll never stop. Not even a global pandemic can stop me from talking about #Superman and Pop-Culture!”

Luke creates great blog, podcast, and youtube content about pop culture, comics, movies, and Superman! He has some amazing interviews, including one with Zachary Levi!

Follow him on Twitter @thegeekofsteel and on Instagram @thegeekofsteel.

Check out his website: https://thegeekofsteel.com/

And his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/TheGeekOfSteel

21. Michael Neale of Prudent Gaming

“Whilst working towards my goals this year, I have learned the importance and effectiveness of structure and patience. Scheduling my work time and lowering stress through being patient has pushed me further forward than ever before.”

Michael has a YouTube channel that discusses games—past, present, and future. From his great sense of humor to his honest opinions to his thoughtful discussions, he is a MUST follow for anyone interested in gaming!

Follow him on Twitter @prudent_gaming and on Instagram @prudent_gaming.

His channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PrudentGaming/

22. Jason of Mid-Life Gamer Geek

“It took me 12 years to pluck up the courage to write again after a few rejections in my 20s made me lose confidence in my ability as a writer. Now, less than 2 years after I started writing again, I have self-published more than 600 articles on my own website and also had my writing featured on numerous other sites – as well as in print. Not bad for a 43 year old…which just goes to show, it’s never too late to pursue your dreams!”

Jason is a freelance writer and has his own blog, Mid-Life Gamer Geek, where he shares news, reviews, and opinions on games, movies, and more!

Check it out here: https://midlifegamergeek.com/

And follow him on Twitter @GeekMid and Instagram @geekmid.

23. Jupiter Hadley

“I learned to keep moving forward and finding a way. This year, so many of my goals have felt impossible due to the state of the world, but I have found that thinking about the situation and working within my means, even if it needs adapting my goals, is much better than giving up!”

Jupiter is a game journalist with a passion for indie games. On her YouTube you can find mostly game jams and Let’s Plays of indie games. She also has a lifestyle blog with her partner Dann.

Follow her on Twitter @Jupiter_Hadley and Instagram @jupiterhadley.

Check out her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JupiterHadley/

And blog: http://www.jupiterhadley.com/

24. John Szyhowski

“Living my life to anyone else’s standards was just holding me back. It was at the moment that I decided to trust myself, wholly trust what I see and observe and really take in that information to process it, that my dreams started to surface and I was able to see what was attainable.

You will always be the Villain in someone’s story, trying not to be will only hold you back. Those who see your value will gravitate toward you, those who don’t will shift away. You can only attract what is meant for you (careers, people, dreams) if you are fully and authentically yourself, otherwise you’re basically hiding from it all behind a mask that doesn’t serve you anyway. Success has been searching for me, it found me the moment I stopped hiding!”

John is the owner of Infinity Athletics (@infinity_taekwondo), an Olympic Taekwondo Coach, a Corporate Fitness Specialist, and 1 of the coolest guys I know! He also has great insights on the enneagram, personal development, and bringing your full self to everything you do.

Follow him on Twitter @johnszyhowski1 and on Instagram @szyhowski.

25. Sarah Good

“One thing I was reminded about goals this year is that little steps add up to big results. Don’t get discouraged when you might not “see” huge progress. Each little step, no matter how small, counts in moving you towards your goals.

Sarah is the creator of the podcast, Now That’s Something Good, where she has conversations with everyday people who have extraordinary stories to tell. They believe extraordinary things happen in the everyday ordinary.

Sarah is an AMAZING host, leader, mom, speaker, and singer! Annnnnd she’s my sister!

Follow her on Instagram @nowthatssomethinggood and Facebook.

Check out the podcast here: https://sgood.buzzsprout.com/

I just recorded an episode with her where we discussed introversion, MBTI, Enneagram, goals, and more! You can listen to it here.

26. Melissa Bugeski

“There has been a lot of uncertainty during these times. And one thing that has provided me with a sense of purpose during this is weaving and running my small business. It allows me to have a creative outlet and bring a little joy in this chaos.”

Melissa is a passionate artist who creates wonderful wall art to brighten up people’s day in the midst of a chaotic year. With the help from her cats and dog (and plenty of plant friends!), she weaves beautiful pieces with a little nerdy flare.

Check out her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/craftycritterandco

Follow her on Instagram @craftycritter_and_co.

27. Kari Lu Coaching

“I learned 2 big, life changing lessons while working towards my goals this year.

1.) Mindset and pleasure are everything. When I put pleasure first and believe it’s all working, everything gets done and I’m WAY less stressed while doing it!

2.) Be yourself. ALWAYS. I knew this before and applied it to everywhere in my life, especially dating, but I still had this idea that I needed to be “professional”, even though I was running my own biz. Surprise! The more weird, authentic, and “unprofessional” I was, the better I did in my business!”

Kari Lu is a dating coach for nerds! She helps all kinds of “dorks, geeks, and freaks find the relationship of their dreams by teaching them how to use their uniqueness to shine in the dating space!”

Follow her on Instagram @karilucoaching.

And check out her links: https://linktr.ee/DatingforDorks

28. Brent Lyles

“I had a life-time goal of becoming a father. Well. This year I was blessed to become a father, where I’m learning more about myself as a parent and being a human being. It is challenging me to be better than I am, yesterday and still on the path of becoming this better version of myself.”

Brent is a trauma therapist in Florida and an existential life coach. He’s also a writer at Mayke Entertainment where he focuses on bringing seen and unseen disability representation using the art of storytelling.

Follow him on Instagram @the.geek.therapist and on Twitter @ItsBrentLyles.

My readers may recognize his name because he wrote a guest post here inspired by The Mandalorian called This is the Way: A Mindfulness Practice of Radical Acceptance.

29. Lynn Pennington

“While working towards my goal I learned it’s okay to put stuff on the back burner. Setting aside a project doesn’t mean you can’t pick it up again later. Working in the wrong head-space is a nonstarter.”

Lynn is a Kentucky author currently working on a Young Adult fantasy novel.

Follow her on Twitter @LynnPennWriting.

30. Craft Multimedia

“The lesson I learned this year is to always have a backup plan in case my goal fails as a result of circumstances beyond my control.”

Craft Multimedia is a lifestyle, business, and personal finance blog that specializes in training bloggers in social media and content marketing.

Follow Craft Multimedia on Twitter @fyinka47.

And check out his site: https://craftmultimedia.com/

31. Sophie of AlongCameRosie

“I recently started blogging after so much procrastinating because I was so worried that my content would not be good enough or interesting. I went to an online bloggers brunch with House 21 and the key point I took away was that it will never be perfect, no matter how long you wait and that it is best to get it out there and then grow and learn along the way. It really gave me a boost of self confidence and even after not completing blogmas as planned, I am happy with my efforts and will keep going.”

Sophie is a Sheffield based mum and blogger who enjoys crocheting and works as a makeup artist and retail manager.

Follow her on Twitter @alongcamerosie_ and on Instagram @alongcamerosie.

And check out her site: http://alongcamerosie.co.uk/

Comment Below:

What’s a lesson you learned while working toward your goals this past year?