18. Chasing Dreams and Pushing Through The Hard Stuff

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Welcome back to Caffeinated Chaos where today we’re talking all about chasing your dreams—not the Pinterest-quote version, but the real, messy, exhausting, and sometimes discouraging way. We’ll be diving into what it truly looks like to go after your dreams, especially when life throws curveballs your way. Whether you're balancing parenthood with building a business, trying to hit a career goal that feels miles away, or even figuring out what dream to chase, I see you. I’ve been there, and today, we’re breaking down the steps to make it happen, even when it feels like everything is working against you.

In this episode, I share my own journey—how life didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for me, and how even in the toughest moments, I pushed through. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t talent—it’s persistence. And when you keep showing up, even on the hard days, you can achieve what you set out to do.

So, how do we actually keep going when we’re facing setbacks? I’m sharing practical tips that help me stay on track, including reframing struggles, finding your “why,” breaking down big goals into smaller steps, giving yourself permission to rest, and surrounding yourself with a supportive community. I’m here to remind you—your dreams are worth fighting for, and you’re capable of so much more than you think.

Key Takeaways:

• Reframe the Struggle: Setbacks aren’t signs you’re failing; they’re proof you’re showing up.
• Find Your Why: Stay connected to what drives you, especially on tough days.
• Break Down Goals: Focus on the next small step, not the entire mountain.
• Rest, But Don’t Quit: Burnout is real—taking breaks is necessary, but quitting is not an option.
• Surround Yourself with Support: A strong community can keep you motivated and help you stay on track.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Episode 7: All About Burnout
• Sip and Share Segment (Submit your dreams or steps towards your goals anonymously!) Click here to submit

Remember, you are capable, strong, and your dreams are worth chasing—even when it's messy. You’re doing a damn good job! Now, take one step today towards your dream and come share it with me on social media. I can’t wait to cheer you on!

Cheers! Thank you for joining us for another episode. Have a chaotic moment, question, or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message or leave a review! If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who thrives in beautiful chaos too.

Let’s Connect:

• Connect with us via email at [e-mail]
• Follow us on Instagram: @caffeinatedchaospodcast or @aguonstudios
• Join our email list: Click Here to Become a VIP
• Sip and Share: Click here to submit

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
All right.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Today, we are going to betalking about chasing dreams,
not the Pinterest quote, youknow, just believe in yourself
and it'll all work out kind ofway, but let's be real.
Chasing dreams is messy,exhausting, and sometimes
downright discouraging.
But here's the thing.

(00:21):
It's also worth it.
It's way worth it.
Maybe you're building a businesswhile balancing parenthood.
Maybe you're going after acareer goal that just feels so
far away that you question it'seven possible.
Maybe you're just trying tofigure out what dream you even
want to chase in the firstplace.
No matter where you are, I seeyou.

(00:42):
I've been there and I see you,friend.
So today, we're breaking downwhat it really looks like to
pursue your dreams, push throughthe tough stuff, and actually
make it happen.
Even when life throws curveballsyour ways.
Because I promise you, you arecapable more than you think.
Let's start with a story, okay?

(01:04):
A while back, I had this dream.
I wanted to build somethingmeaningful.
Something that not onlysupported my family, but also
helped others.
Guess what, life did not exactlyroll out a red carpet for me.
I had setbacks.
I wanted to start this podcastway sooner than it actually
happened, but my secondpregnancy was so rough on me

(01:28):
that I was resting most of thedays I had to leave work to do
so and I was in the hospital formore times than I had ever been
for my first pregnancy.
I had moments where I was justsitting there, staring at my
laptop, thinking about what thispodcast could be, wondering if
I'm even cut out to talk aboutall the topics I'm talking

(01:50):
about.
And yeah, I had self doubt.
I mean, if you've ever feltanything like that, you're
trying so hard, but it's justnot working.
You're not alone, but here'ssomething I've learned.
The only difference betweenpeople who succeed and people
who don't is not talent.

(02:10):
It's persistence.
Most people quit when things gethard, but the ones who keep
showing up day after day, evenon the days where you feel like
you don't want to, those are thepeople who make it.
Chasing Dreams isn't glamorous.
You know what is glamorous?
A full night's sleep, a hotcoffee, and yet, here we are,

(02:36):
choosing to wake up early, stayup late, working on the dream
after our 9 to 5s, even when allof our streaming shows are
calling our name, and we are sobehind.
Like, tell me why my brain worksperfectly fine when I'm trying
to avoid work, but the second Isit down to focus, it's like,

(02:58):
let's think about everyembarrassing thing that ever
happened ever in life.
Or how about you finally get tothe motivation to work on your
dreams and life is like, oh,feeling productive?
That's cute.
Here's a sick toddler.
Here's a broken dishwasher.
Or in my case, Here's a roughpregnancy, but you know what?

(03:19):
We keep going, even if it's insmall, messy, imperfect steps.
Because at the end of the day,we're not chasing dreams for the
aesthetic.
We're doing it for somethingbigger.
So how do you actually pushthrough when it feels like
everything is working againstyou?
So Let's start this, okay?

(03:42):
I'm gonna go over some thingsthat help me and things I've
also helped other people do one,I want you to reframe the
struggle.
Instead of seeing setbacks asproof that you're failing, see
them as proof that you're in it.
That you're showing up.
Because no one chases a dreamthat's ever been easy.

(04:05):
Every success story has hadobstacles, so let's reframe how
we see the struggle.
Two, I want you to find yourwhy.
I know a lot of people talkabout this, but I want you to
find your why and remindyourself daily.
Why are you doing this?
What's driving you?

(04:25):
When things get tough, you cango back on that why.
Write it on a sticky note.
Put it on your phone.
Let it be.
I want you to have it somewherethat you can easily reference it
and keep you motivated when youfeel like you need it.
Okay?

(04:46):
3.
Break down into small wins.
Big goals can be overwhelming.
Instead of focusing on amountain, right?
Let's use climbing a mountain asa metaphor.
Instead of focusing on theentire mountain, focus on the
next step, okay?
You're gonna get to the firstplateau, then the next, and then

(05:09):
the next.
It's one small step afteranother.
One email, one post, one action.
Momentum is built in small,consistent steps.
Okay, step back from themountain and go step by step.
Four, give yourself permissionto rest, but not to quit.

(05:33):
This is important.
Burnout is real.
We've talked about this manytimes already.
Episode 7 goes into burnout alot.
So go back and listen to thatepisode.
But burnout is so real andpushing through exhaustion does
not make you stronger.
Take a break when you need it.
It's not quitting.

(05:54):
Okay, you're not gonna quit.
That is not gonna be on thetable.
But what is going to be on thetable is taking a break when you
need it.
Again, please go back and listento episode 7 if you have not
yet.
It's all about burnout, okay?
Number 5.
I want you to surround yourselfwith people who get it.

(06:15):
Find a community, whether it'sgoing to be online or in person,
who believes in you and pushesyou forward.
Because the people you surroundyourself with truly matter.
And this is something forparenthood as well.
We had an episode on findingyour village.
This is something that relatesto both parenthood and to

(06:37):
business.
Here's the thing I need you tohear today.
If you hear nothing else, pleasehear this.
You are capable, you are strong,and your dreams, they are worth
fighting for, my friends.
Okay?
Even when it's hard.
Even when things feel like it'staking forever.

(06:58):
Keep going, because every stepyou take is a step closer to the
life that you're building.
And if no one's told you lately,You're doing a damn good job,
all right?
So tell me, what's one step thatyou're going to make this week
towards your dream?
I want to know your dreams.

(07:19):
I want to know what step you'regoing to take.
Come see me on social media.
You can follow me on Instagramat podcast and just tell us.
I mean, also if you want to stayanonymous, you can also submit
it to the Sip and Share segment.
The link is down in the shownotes.
So let's cheer each other onbecause this journey is so much

(07:43):
better when you do it withothers.
All right, my friend, go chasethose dreams and I will see you
in the next episode.
Until then, keep sipping yourcoffee and go chase those
dreams.
Alright everyone, have a greatweekend.
I will see you all on Monday.
Bye.