Course 9: Beginning to Dream
Dreaming as a Wellness Tool
Welcome to Course Nine of the Wellness Walk.
When life has required you to stay in survival mode for a long time, dreaming can feel unrealistic—or even unsafe. Sometimes that protection sounds like, “I can’t think that far ahead,” or “Every time I try to set a goal, something goes wrong.” At Life4Real, we honor that response. Survival takes strength, and protecting yourself has helped you get through real challenges.
At the same time, healing can invite something new:
permission. Permission to imagine what could be. Permission to take one small step forward. Permission to hope in ways that feel realistic, flexible, and your own.
Dreaming doesn’t have to mean big plans or perfect outcomes. It can start with something simple—wanting stability, peace, confidence, or a sense of pride in yourself again. From there, we can focus on planning in ways that feel doable.
At Life4Real, you’re never asked to figure this out alone. We walk beside you as you dream, one step at a time.
This session is broken into three simple parts: Reveal, Reflect, and React.
Each part is designed to feel safe, manageable, and supportive, meeting you exactly where you are today.
Why Dreaming Matters:
For a long time, your life may have been focused on surviving. When you’re just trying to make it through each day, dreaming can feel unrealistic—or even painful. Maybe no one ever asked what you wanted. Maybe every goal you tried to set got interrupted by stress, loss, or disappointment. Or maybe dreaming started to feel like setting yourself up to fail.
At Life4Real, we want you to know this: It is okay if dreaming feels hard. Here is a format to help you see how dreams are formed and accomplished.
“Dream…Plan…Do” Format:
Dream:
“I want to feel more stable in my life.”
“I want to get back into the workforce.”
“I want to heal from my trauma.”
“I want my own place.”
“I just want to feel proud of myself again.”
Plan:
Meet with a Life4Real team member and work through your wellness plan together.
Work with a Life4Real team member on a pathway plan that will show you all of the jobs available.
Join a support group or work with a Life4Real team member to find local counseling services.
Work with a Life4Real team member to learn about housing options and make a checklist.
Identify one small win from today.
Do:
Be available for two check-ins this month.
Update my resume with help from a Life4Real team member
Try journaling or a new self-care habit once a week.
Submit one application a day with someone’s support.
Celebrate showing up, even on hard days.
This section is about gently reopening that door—without pressure, without expectations, and without comparison. Dreaming doesn’t have to mean big, dramatic goals. Sometimes a dream looks like wanting peace, stability, confidence, or hope in yourself again.
This course is about starting where you are and discovering what matters to you. From there, we work together to build goals that feel doable, flexible, and supportive—not overwhelming.
Big dreams become possible when they’re broken into small, supported steps.