Let's Dream Big Together!

This episode centers around the power of dreaming big, urging listeners to break out of survival mode and reignite their passions and imagination, no matter their age. The host emphasizes that believing in your dreams fuels action and inspires others, reminding us that vision, mindset, and persistence can transform the impossible into reality. He shares inspiring stories, including a one-armed college basketball player who made history and an 81-year-old waitress whose life changed after a viral act of kindness. The episode wraps up with quotes, podcast recommendations, and a challenge to take time to dream boldly and write down your biggest goals. 

Victoria Osteen Let Go of the Small Things

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-of-the-small-things-victoria-osteen/id137254859?i=1000702086769

Michael Wickett:  On the Other Side of Dispair, a Whole New Life Begins

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2188-michael-wickett-on-the-other-side-of-despair/id1163094296?i=1000710008879

Debra Whitman:  Health, Money, Memory and Meaning

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/debra-whitman-health-money-memory-and-meaning/id1391164389?i=1000706956447

Simple Daily Routine Download:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1njZbEbTg-NKLto1OptvAkglc6mxdXKo7/view?usp=drive_link

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to a conversation of Hope with Friday. This podcast is all about you. To remind you that you are the master. To inspire you to do this, to equip you with simple you can start using today. To begin with, I think it's a lot of stories.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Thank you for taking your valuable time today today. As always, right from the jump, I want to remind you that you are more than enough. You have what it takes. You're a victor and not a victim. You're a champion. And your very best days are ahead of you and not behind you. Well, our topic this week is dreaming and dreaming big. And I once heard it said, most men and women die at 40, but are buried in the ground at 75. When I heard that, first I was like, what in the world are they talking about? What that means is most people stop dreaming around 40 because life can be hard. And now they're just trying to survive. They're just in survival mode until the day that they die. Let's not be those people, whether you're 20 or 90 listening in today. Let's all start dreaming again. Dreaming can be so fun. I would challenge you to take a day to get away and just dream. Revisit all those dreams that were in your heart growing up when you felt invincible and that you could do anything because guess what? You still can, no matter what age you are. So please take that time to do it. You owe it to yourself to do that. It costs nothing. Just bring a big notepad or do notes in your phone and write down everything you have always dreamed of. Let's look a little bit deeper into dreams and the power of dreams. The power of dreaming and believing big dreaming and believing big is more than just wishful thinking. It's a mindset that shapes our actions, fuels our persistence, and expands the realm of what's possible. A vision creates direction. Big dreams act like a compass. They provide a sense of direction and purpose, guiding your decisions and helping you stay focused even when challenges arise. When you dream big, you're setting a bold destination that motivates continuous growth and progress. Belief, believing in your dreams, gives them power. So not just dreaming, but saying, you know what, I really believe that can happen. It transforms ideas into goals and intentions into actions. Confidence in your vision empowers you to take risks, step outside of your comfort zone, and perceive through any of the setbacks. Inspiration for others. When you dare to dream big, you become a source of inspiration. Your courage and your vision can spark hope and ambition in others, creating a ripple effect that uplifts teams, communities, families, and even generations. Be that person in your family that dreams big, believes in it, achieves it, and changes the destiny of everyone in your family. Unlocks human potential. Many of history's greatest achievements started as improbable dreams, from flying machines to moon landings to social revolutions. Those who believed big unlocked new possibilities by refusing to accept the limits of the present. I think about Ford. When Ford was starting the Ford Motor Company, he would tell his people, whether you think you can or whether you think you cannot, you're right. I remember when he asked about making a V8 engine, and all the engineers said it was impossible to create a V8 engine. And so after he talked to him and told him, hey, I really want this, is what I need, he ended up hiring some other engineers that had a better mindset, and they created the V8 engine. So whether you think you can or whether you think you cannot, that's right, it's true. Growth through any journey, even if you don't reach every dream exactly as imagined, the journey itself can be transformative. That's what's so fun. Dreaming big demands you grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It pushes you to become more resilient and creative and resourceful. Dreaming big isn't about ignoring reality, it's about imagining what's possible and working towards it step by step. When you combine vision with belief and action, you turn the impossible into the inevitable. All right, y'all. So I looked it up. I want to share with you. Here's a list of the top 20 things people commonly dream of doing or having. And this is just based on surveys, psychology studies, and different cultures that they studied. So, number one, starting a business, a successful business, becoming an entrepreneur or being their own boss, or landing a dream job, working in a field they're passionate about, reaching the top of profession, writing a book or creating art, leaving a personal legacy through writing, music, painting, etc. Learning a new language. A lot of people dream about learning a new language, mastering something they've always wanted to learn. Getting a higher degree or education, going back to school or achieving academic success. Doesn't matter how old you are. If you always had that dream of getting the degree or a certain one, or maybe upgrading it to a master's, whatever, please consider doing that again. You're never too old. If four years will pass either way, so go for it and do it. Becoming financially independent is another dream. Living without needing to work for money. Owning a dream home. A house is their ideal location or style. Winning the lottery or gaining sudden wealth, gaining riches effortlessly. It's a very common fantasy. Retiring early, leaving the workforce young, and living life on their terms. Traveling the world, seeing exotic places, and experiencing other cultures. And then as far as love and relationships, finding true love, a deep, meaningful, romantic relationship. And it's possible for everyone. Starting a family or having children, building a close-knit family. That is so powerful. Reuniting with a lost loved one. Oh, there you go. Often a wish tied to emotional healing, becoming a better partner or parent, self-improvement for the sake of the ones around you. And then fame. A lot of people dream of becoming famous or influential, being known and admired, or making a difference in the world through activism, charity, or invention, meeting a personal hero or celebrity, connecting with someone they idolize, personal fulfillment. A lot of people just dream of having inner peace and happiness, spiritual or emotional well-being, overcoming fear or trauma, letting go of something that's held them back, and then living a more adventurous life. I think about that one. That's probably kind of cool. Some stuff I haven't done. Sky diving, scuba diving, road tripping. My wife and I love doing that. Or do something bold. Just something different on that. It's pretty awesome. Once again, encourage you, please, if you haven't dreamt lately and you're like, Brad, you don't understand where I'm at, man. I'm trying to get from day to day. I get it. I understand that, and I respect that a hundred percent. But this is something that no one can take away from you. No matter what situation you're in, you can take that time, get away, and dream again. Use your imagination and just go into your head and dream about things and then really have that vision for your life. It's so inspiring. And then on those tough days when things are really hard, you can always have that dream in your heart. No, no, no, I'm shooting for this. So I'm not giving up. All right, y'all. Love it, love it, love it. Let's take a look at some quotes of the week. We've got one from John Gordon. Always good stuff. Comparison is the thief of joy. Be grateful for what you do have and the life, live the life only you were created for. I love that. And I was once heard somebody say if comparison walks in the room, joy, peace, and happiness have to leave. They cannot be in the same room at the same time. Comparison really robs you of all of that stuff. So really think about that. You're a one-off, you're unique, you're running your own race. Run with those that want to run with you, and don't compare yourself to other people. It will be an endless journey and it will never leave you fulfilled or happy. How about some other quotes? This is Zig Ziggler stuff. If you're sincere, praise is effective. If you're insincere, it's manipulative. Everybody says they want to be free. Take the train off the tracks and it's free, but it can't go anywhere. So having that structure in your life is powerful. Many marriages would be better if the husband and wife clearly understood that they're on the same side. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more you will have to express gratitude for. Kids go where there is excitement, they stay where there is love. Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully. Alright, why are jokes so good? They work on many levels. What did one eye say to the other eye? Between us, something smells. There you go. Alright, those are our jokes of the week. We'll look at maybe getting some better ones next week. Let's look at a couple really cool stories that we have for you. One armed player has made history in women's college basketball, and she's become a role model for others. With so many great plays in the March Madness this week, check out the shot that carried multiple meanings as it sailed into the air and into the history books this season. It required persistence, resilience, and faith. Balale was born with a right arm too small to adequately use. It left her left-handed shot fly from around the three-point line right into the basket. The Leslie University junior guard, who has an obvious disadvantage compared with her opponents, was cut from her high school team. Yet there she was playing guard for Cambridge, Massachusetts college team against Fitchburg State this season when she rose up and took aim at history. Her shot flew through the air, sailed straight through the net, making her the first female basketball player with only one arm to score in a Division III game. Her coach quickly called the timeout. When the shot went in, I thought, hey, we have to preserve this moment for as long as we possibly can. That also allows the team to come out and embrace her, which they did on the court, and gives us a second to reflect on the tremendous hard work and dedication it takes to get to that point. What an awesome coach. That's fantastic. The entire team was filled with joy, Bali said, mainly because they have seen me overcome so many things throughout the season, and for it to finally pay off in that moment in that game, it was a very big deal for everybody across the board. They were all screaming. Everybody came to hug me. The joy arrived immediately, and the lessons will echo for months, weeks later. It was a moment that seemed unlikely back in Valley's high school career. After three years on her high school team, she was cut during her senior season, a decision that was devastating. Basketball was a part of her identity. The court provided a sense of normalcy, a place where all her physical differences seemed to fade away for a little while, but the attributes buried deep within Bally emerged when she needed them the most. I thought to myself, I could do this in college. What's stopping me from doing this in college? So I started emailing hundreds of coaches. Most people, including myself, would probably stop after two or three. She's emailing hundreds of coaches, and it didn't really matter what division it was. I was just trying to get possible maybe or even better a yes. She landed at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. They entered the transfer portal after two years looking for a fresh start. Coach Rather found her and knew that all her attributes would help the team at Leslie University. Bally leads the team in individual practice sessions, doing her best to master her skills despite the obstacles, and the team is having its best season in 14 years. That's what's so cool about winners, champions like y'all. You make everyone around you better off. A true champion always makes people better off. It's a big deal. They made the playoffs, and then they upset Lyndon, a number two seed that had beaten them twice during the regular season. I think any team in this country would benefit from having a player with Bally's heart on their team, said the coach. As her story spreads, Bally is quickly becoming the latest example of an athlete overcoming incredible adversity. Bally herself found inspiration in a men's basketball player that had surmounted the same challenge. Hansel Emmanuel lost an arm in childhood accident in Dominican Republic, but beat the Oddstern basketball scholarships at Austin Pay. He is averaging more than two points and two rebounds per game and has played more than 340 minutes this season as a junior for Governors, a Division I team. If it was not for him, I probably would have thought that this was close to impossible to accomplish, Bali said. Now there are shining examples in both men's and women's college basketball of athletes soaring far beyond their physical limitations. Inspiration is multiplying with every play, and lessons for other youth rising up with every shot. Wow, what a champion, what a winner. She is absolutely amazing. Eighty-one year old waitress couldn't retire, so a stranger raised over three hundred thousand dollars for her. An eighty-one year old restaurant server named Betty in Pittsburgh must have been smiling the rest of her shift. Tammy Conzer, a Pittsburgh based resident and a TikToker, had taken her son Leo to eat at a local restaurant called Eaton Park. And when she heard, Betty confide to another customer that she struggled to finish out her shifts from back pain, but couldn't retire from financial difficulties. The small 910 Social Security check in the mail just wasn't enough for her. Moving by Betty's plight, Conzeer whipped out her phone and pressed record. If I make one video to go viral, let it be this one, she said. Describing to her fans Betty's situation, she announced she'd give any proceeds that her TikTok creator rewards program might generate from the post to Betty and postscripted her the video by offering Betty forty dollars. All the money in her purse. Betty was moved and grateful and ensured Conzir that even at 81, she can still outdo all these whippers snappers. That's awesome. Conzeir got a wish. The post went viral. Oh, that's awesome. Within 24 hours, she had received so many requests for a place to donate, she set up a GoFundMe to her channel, The Generosity. At $140,000, she went to tell Betty the news. I think I better get a financial advisor, Betty said, clearly stunned. You don't know what this is gonna help do for me. Conzir posted a couple of updates on the situation, and every time the GoFundMe swelled until it reached $300,000. I cannot express how grateful Betty is for her retirement fund, Conzeer wrote in the final update of the fundraiser. My lawyer, Max, and I have set Betty up with an elder law attorney, Colin Morgan of Jeweling Associates. We're in the process of setting up a trust for Betty so her social services are not affected. Thank you again for your donations, and we expect to close out the GoFundMe at the end of April. My goodness. You talk about the golden rule. That is absolutely phenomenal. She overheard somebody in a restaurant and made a difference in her life immediately just by doing some actions. That is so powerful. All right, y'all. Here we go. Now it's time to recap my top three podcast episodes of the week. I'm always trying to grow and I'm always trying to get better. I'm always trying to take everything I possibly can out of every episode. I realize that if I can just get one nugget that's going to help me be a better person and live a better life. I want to hear it. I want to do it. So let's look at number one. Let go of the small things from Victorian Osteen. Sometimes the smallest things really irritate you. Things that just don't matter in the long run. Sometimes we miss the big picture of all the great things because we focus on one or two small things. Always focus on the bigger picture. Let's don't see the specks in our life. Let's focus on the big picture. Don't live in regret. Live in the beauty of this moment. Remember what life is all about. God's goodness and our families. Everything does not have to be perfect before we can enjoy our lives. That one is so powerful. I've fallen for that disillusion before where you're thinking, man, once everything is just right and perfect, then I can really be happy. But really, you can be happy today. You can be happy right now. Because it may not all be perfect, but you can definitely control how you feel. Alright, number two. Michael Wickett. On the other side of despair is a whole new life. If you want a better answer, ask a better question, he says. What can I do with the experience? So if you're going through something, maybe it's challenging, always think, what can I do with this experience? How can I grow from it? Use the poor experiences you have to help others. Ask a positive question if you want a more positive answer. How can you turn the difficulties into a positive? In the midst of a tragedy, write down the outcome you want. Whatever you focus on expands. Focus on the outcome more than the current situation. Take the first step to changing the situation. The magic of incremental progress. Yeah, just start. Take the step to go, okay, we gotta change the situation. For on the other side of despair, it truly is a whole new life of new beginnings. Another good one. Remember, all of our podcasts are in the show notes for you. Our last podcast recap of the week. Deborah Whitman, Health, Money, Memory, and Meaning. Alright. It's kind of cool what she does is she researches longevity and stuff. And so there's a lot of good questions that was being asked in this podcast. How long will I live? Before 1900, you would have lived maybe 50 years. And now up to 80 years old. The big drivers that change things are income. Zip code where you live affects it. Women always typically live about six years longer. She said one of the reasons for that is a lot of guys just don't continually get the health checkups like the ladies do. Ladies are always smarter than the guys on stuff like that. Summit County, Breckenridge, Colorado is the number one spot to live in America if you want to live longer. That's pretty darn cool. There are a lot more things that you can do there and that will help you live longer. And then there's some things you can do on your own end that will help you live a longer, happier life. Exercising, eating right, maintaining a quality body weight, no smoking, not a lot of drinking, mindset, how you think about things, relationships, having good relationships around you, that community of people that they're positive. That's just so powerful. They really help you live longer. The power of how Having great relationships really truly matters. She could not say that enough. A lot of people are nervous about will I lose my memory? She said a lot of people worry about that, but truly only about 17% of people lose their memories as they get older. It's a lot rarer than most people think. She says, maintain your brain health. Always keep your brain busy. Sleep and keeping our minds busy really helps with this. Vitamin deficiencies or medication can affect this in a big way. So always make sure you're getting the vitamins that you need. How long will I work is a question. For me, literally at my age, I'm 54 now. I truly, truly I'm different, I know, but I truly want to work something. Literally something, even if it's a day a week, so I am still busy, have a purpose. I'll probably do a ton of volunteering as well. But some people work longer because they love their jobs, or they just don't have enough money and they have to work longer. Forty percent of Uber drivers are over fifty. We currently have five generations working together at the same time, which has never happened. Um mixed ages on a team means that you're gonna have a more productive team. It's actually kind of cool. She did a study, and if you have all the different generations represented in your team, like I do, you're gonna have a more effective workforce. Will I have enough money? Is a huge question everyone asks. Your health and your planning will play key factors on this. A lot of companies don't have 401ks pensions or anything like that like they used to. So work is a key factor now for retirement. A lot of good stuff there. She goes into a ton more facts. Um she also has a book out on that. So if that's something that's a concern of yours, definitely tune in that podcast. Get her book. I'm sure it's phenomenal. The health and everything is just such a big deal as you age and then every day that you live. So our next podcast next week will be all about health and some five hacks that you can do that are free, cost you absolutely nothing, that are the greatest I've ever seen as far as affecting your health in a positive way. So we'll cover that next week. It's gonna be awesome. All right, y'all. A lot of great information with facts and great data on this one. As always, all three podcasts will be in the show notes for your benefit and easy access. Our weekly challenge this week is to get away for a day or even possible for several hours and do nothing but dream. Dream big, have fun with it. Your imagination is so much fun. Dream big, you're worth it. Um, write down all your dreams and put no limits on what you think is possible with them. It's pretty amazing. The power of dreaming and visualization is real. All right, y'all. It's time to wrap up this episode the way we started. Reminding you of the truth, and that is that you are more than enough. You have what it takes to succeed. You are a victor and not a victim. You are a champion whose best days are straight ahead. Thank you again for tuning in and being a part of our great community as we head to a million. Never ever stop dreaming and believing big. You deserve the best. And until next week, have a magnificent week and God bless.

SPEAKER_01 25:33

Thank you once again for listening to a conversation of hope with Brett. Brett wants to remind you that you are loved and appreciated. If you found value in this episode and know someone who could use a little hope and encouragement, please like, share, and subscribe. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to Brett's top three podcasts of the week. And don't forget, Brett is offering a free copy of his book. Just send an email to gpxfreedom at gmail.com to claims. If you're facing a tough challenge and would like another perspective on how to navigate it, please find to email us at gpxfreedom at gmail.com. We'd love to help. Until next time, wishing you and your family an incredible life and ultimately a great life. Because you yes, you deserve it. God bless.