Keep Your Head in the Clouds and Your Feet on the Ground

A few weeks ago while I was on a run, the saying "Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground" popped into my head. I'm not sure why I thought of this, but once I did, I couldn't get it out of my mind. And while I've heard this saying many times—and actually have always thought it was pretty corny—I started to think about it more deeply and realized the true wisdom of this idea.

As I've been thinking about it more, I notice that while I often have my "head in clouds," thinking about big goals, dreams and ideas, and my "feet on the ground," staying grounded in reality, taking practical action and keeping things real, I rarely do these things simultaneously.

You probably find yourself on one end of this spectrum or the other. Some people, like me, go back and forth depending on what's going on in life or how they feel at any given time. However, your ability to create an authentic sense of balance with your goals and actions (dreaming vs. doing), has a lot to do with not only how effective you are in making things happen in life, but also with how much joy and fulfillment you experience.

5 ways to balance the yin and yang energies of dreaming and doing in your life

Take some time to reflect on where you fall on the "head in the clouds, feet on the ground" continuum. While you may move back and forth on this spectrum, odds are you have a natural place where you settle—you're more of a dreamer or a doer. Once you recognize where you are, you have the ability to move and create a more balanced approach, if you choose to.

Next: Allow yourself to focus on your dreams

What are some of your biggest dreams? What do you truly want in your life? Having passionate desires without attachment is one of the most important elements of you making your dreams come true. However, because you may have been hurt, disappointed or let down by goals that haven't been attained, you may hold back when it comes to thinking about, visualizing and talking about your deepest desires and most important dreams. Having your head in the clouds is about giving yourself permission to dream and dream big.

Next: Take intentional and effective action

One of the biggest challenges you'll encounter on your journey toward your dreams is either not taking effective action (because you don't know what to do or you're too scared to do it) or taking too much ineffective action (because you're running around crazy or acting in an unconscious way). When you allow yourself to dream big, keep your feet on the ground by coming up with intentional and appropriate actions to move forward with your goals, even if you're scared and not sure how things will turn out. You often need guidance, advice and support in this process because it can be confusing, intimidating or both.

Next: Get good support and feedback

Support and feedback are essential aspects of life, success and growth. Specifically related to your dreams, it's crucial that you have empowering support around you. You may need a support system that can challenge you to think big, focus on your goals and dream. Perhaps you need people to help ground you, keep you in reality and help you focus your energy, passion and ideas in a practical way. You definitely need people who can cheer for you, hold you accountable and support you on your journey in an authentic and meaningful way. You can't do it alone—well, at least not nearly as easily or effectively.

Next: Have fun!

It's important for you to enjoy the journey and not take yourself or life too seriously. Sometimes, as you may have noticed, you get really intense, uptight and stressed out about your goals and dreams, almost as if you're holding your breath, waiting to exhale once things all turn out. This creates a stressful dynamic in your life and is not the most conducive environment (internally and externally) for you to create success and fulfillment. Having fun along the way ensures that you'll keep things in perspective and enjoy the ride, regardless of the outcome.

Keeping your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground is a lot easier said than done. However, when you're able to do both with passion, intention and focus, you create a sense of balance and peace that can allow you to have what you truly want in life.

Mike Robbins is a best-selling author, sought-after motivational keynote speaker and personal growth expert who works with people and groups of all kinds. Robbins is the author of the best-selling books Focus on the Good Stuff and Be Yourself: Everyone Else Is Already Taken. He and his work have been featured on ABC News and in Forbes, Ladies Home Journal, Self and many other publications.

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