Good morning! Today I want to share a story about dreams. Because sometimes you are going steady, achieving success, but at the end of the day, it just doesn’t feel right. You should be happy and from the outside your life looks perfect, but something is off. What is it?

From my experience, that usually means you followed the wrong dream. When I was younger, my identity became totally wrapped up in my business and because of that, everything else in my life suffered. I was a 25-year-old millionaire but I had horrible relationships, nannies were raising my own children and I had a nervous breakdown from the stress of 100-hour work weeks.

Linda Potgieter, a client from the UK, was talking to me about her similar experience. “My parents were very young when they had me and while I was growing up, a lot of things happened. When I was 17, I was given the equivalent of about $50 and kicked out of the house. From that point on, I was very driven, very motivated to make something of myself… to prove everyone wrong.”

Linda did become successful in her career and was very well-known for it, in fact… but it came at a high cost. “My life was a fast-paced string of broken relationships, stress and conflict. That brings us to 2012, my 40th birthday. It was the 10th anniversary of my marriage to my second husband, that was near divorce. And at that time we were $250K in debt. I was looking at a pile of debt, about to close my business and file bankruptcy.”

Linda’s identity had become so intertwined with her business success, she didn’t really know who she was outside of that. But she still made the boldest decision of her entire life and at 41 she walked away from work to become a full-time mom.

What she discovered was a true purpose! “It’s the biggest blessing. I used to hold onto guilt, wondering how to balance time with my business, my husband, my kids and not lose my mind. What I found out is, it’s actually not that difficult! When I live with the right priorities, servant of God first, wife second, mother third and a business woman after that… it all flows together.”

Not only did she realize she’d been chasing the wrong dream for the majority of her life, but she had messed-up priorities! The minute she adjusted them properly, her life fell into sync. Linda and her husband had a second child, starting paying off debt and for the first time in their lives, they have a savings account! Not to mention, that business Linda walked away from has been further blessed since she left to pursue full-time motherhood.

Have you ever stopped to think about the goals or dreams you’re pursuing? Are they dreams you truly want or are they dreams to prove people in your life wrong? Like Linda, you might need to sit down and list out your priorities by what’s actually important to you, not what’s important to show-off to others.

Let me know your big goals and priorities below and be sure to share this message with your circle of influence this morning by hitting Like and Share.

If you’re looking for more skill sets and tips to succeed, make sure to listen to The Dani Johnson Show bright and early at 7 am, or on your own schedule at your convenience! You can tune in to the show on either your TV or radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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