Every now and again, I catch myself getting stuck in the daily grind of life. I find that I’m “accepting” what life throws at me instead of pursuing my dreams. I find myself settling instead of deciding what I really want, envisioning my dream life, and making a plan to get there.

We all do it. Most of us never explore our full potential because we get stuck in a pattern of “small” thinking. We forget that our journey is always ultimately up to us.

Reach Your Dreams by Achieving Your Full Potential

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. – William Falkner

Thinking big requires a thick skin. If your dreams are bold, plenty of people will do and say little things to discourage you from chasing your potential. The greatest achievers have to face this challenge all the time. Learn to ignore it, or consider keeping your dreams to yourself.

If you want to think big, try these tips:

1- Consider what will happen if you don’t think big. You’ll regret the things you didn’t do far more than the things that didn’t work out. So take a few minutes and imagine how you’ll feel if you never even try to reach your dreams. Think about how you’ll feel if in 10 years from now your journey has taken you even further from your dream life. Sometimes pain is the greatest motivator to truly explore your potential. How much pain will you feel if you don’t take action today?

2- Be brave enough to let your creativity shine. The most important step towards exploring your potential is to realize that you’re more creative than you think. We all are. Just watch a child play by him- or herself. You still have that ability to create with your mind. But if you’re like most adults, you’ve learned to stifle or ignore it, and to suppress your dreams. Don’t, because your imagination might be your greatest strength. Let it run free.

3- Stretch beyond your comfort zone. If you’re not making yourself at least a little uncomfortable, you’re not thinking big. If something seems comfortable to you, you’re probably already doing it. If you’re already doing it, it’s not going to take you to the next level. That’s a sure-fire way to prevent yourself from ever exploring your potential and achieving your dreams.

Learning to deal with discomfort is an important part of growing. If you have enough motivation, anything is possible. Learning to lower your discomfort through healthy means is a crucial part of any upward journey.

4- It’s easier than it has ever been. The Internet and other forms of mass media have made it easier to go global than ever before. All that’s required is success on a local level. That success can then be propagated to other places. Think about how difficult it would’ve been to spread your ideas to other countries 50 years ago.

5- When exploring your potential, use your emotions as a guide. You’ll know you’re on to something when you’re overwhelmed with positive emotions. Keep thinking big until you come up with an idea that truly moves you. Then think even bigger and imagine how you can use this idea to design your dream life.

If you’re like most adults, you’ve become too logical and practical. But you are more capable of doing what truly excites you than you realize. What do you really want to do? What inspires you?

6- Spend time each day thinking big thoughts and dreaming big dreams. Make it a habit to spend a few minutes each day coming up with great ideas. If you already have your idea, then spend the time developing ways to make your dream life become a reality. Keep mapping out your journey and improving your plan.

Make it a part of your daily routine. One possibility is to go to bed earlier and spend 30 minutes letting your imagination run wild before you sleep.

Most of us think too small. We underestimate ourselves. We worry about failure. We worry about being too successful. But the world needs your big ideas, and it needs your audacious dreams. You must think big to explore your full potential, both for your own sake as well as for the world’s.

Think big to live a life that’s fruitful and fulfilling. Think big to live a life that’s free of regrets.

And start today.