The creative process is like a map. You need to determine at least two points in order for it to be useful - where you are now, and where you want to go. You know where you are, but you must envision where you want to go.

I have a friend who hates his job, is treated poorly, and wishes he could find something else. When asked what he really wants instead, he responds with, "I don't know." Because he isn't willing to consider where he wants to go, he can't take the steps he needs in order to make it happen.

Consider this: "I don't know" is nothing more than another way of saying, "I'm afraid." Common fears around looking at the possibilities the future holds often fall into two groups: "What if it doesn't work out?" and "What if it does?" There is a part of us that knows that if we dream about something, eventually we'll have to act on it either by moving forward or by deciding to let it go. We often aren't willing to let it go, but because a dream is something we have not yet done, acting on it will involve taking us out of our comfort zones. And let's face it, as a general rule we humans avoid what makes us uncomfortable - even if it might be good for us.

So how do we begin to give ourselves permission to dream again?

1. Make an appointment in your calendar that's just for you and use that time to daydream or brainstorm. No one needs to know what you're doing. Simply saying, "I have an appointment at that time," is enough.
2. During your appointment, find a quiet spot and ask yourself, "What do I really want?" It's best if you have a spiral notebook to jot down what comes to mind. And just keep asking the same question again and again as if you're really curious about what the answer might be. Each time you ask you'll probably come up with different answers. See how many times you can surprise yourself.
3. Know that it's OK to feel awkward, uncomfortable or even answer with "I don't know" for a while. Keep at it. Sometimes it's even helpful to write down a statement like, "Not that I would, but if I really wanted to I might..." and finish that it as many times as you can.

Remember, this process is about giving yourself permission to dream again. It's normal for our fears to raise their heads, but what if we redefined what fear really means? Here are two alternate ways to look at fear that may help them to calm down:

1. F.E.A.R.: False Evidence Appearing Real. How often have you thought the worst possible thing only to realize it was just your fear talking? It's extraordinarily rare for our worst fears to come true. But they can be helpful if we use them as planning tools and allies instead. Take your worst possible fear and ask yourself: OK, if that really did happen, how might I handle it? As you begin to creating ways of dealing with these fears, they calm down and resolve themselves freeing you up to begin to move forward again.
2. Fear: Excitement without breath. This brings roller coasters to mind for me - holding my breath as the roller coast climbs the first hill; then screaming at the top of my lungs as it shoots down the other side. Somewhere half way through the ride I catch my breath and begin to enjoy it. Sometimes what we think is our fear, is really a heightened anticipation of what lays ahead. Breathe. Think about all the wonderful things that you'll experience when you get there and breathe. As you relax into the feeling of being excited, all the ways in which you can make it happen for yourself will begin to surface.

Whether dreaming comes naturally to you or not, at some point we all experience a fear that has the power to stop us in our tracks. Planning for these in advance and allowing ourselves to be excited about the possibilities will re-awaken the ideas that want to show themselves.