Dreaming & setting goals for BIPOC women is crucial and kinda hard

Written By Rachel Ann

Fun fact - did you know many people view summer as a time for vacation and fall as the time to reset, get organized, and set goals? If I had to guess why, I'd say it's because the education system in many western countries start in August/September, end in May/June, and have a summer break in between. Many systems follow that same pattern, resulting in our minds being primed for relaxation in the summer months and getting a second burst of energy in September. This may be one of the many reasons why new year resolutions don't work.

In true Rachel fashion, I have many thoughts about dreaming and goal setting but the biggest thing that stands out to me is making sure your dreams, goals, and passions mean something to you. Now this isn't to shame you or point any fingers, but rather this is an invitation to pause and think about the goals and dreams you have, and ask yourself who are they for?

The truth is, dreaming is hard to think about

If you're anything like me (christian, daughter of immigrants, neurodivergent, trauma thriver, recovering people pleaser), then you may hate this question. It may bring up memories of people in your community silently pressuring/judging you or times when you did something you didn't want to do in order to please others, therefore putting your needs to the side…again.

And it’s even more aggravating for us BIPOC women because whenever we dream, have goals, or start to pursue our passions, there are so many barriers that get in our way. We’ve learned that being ambitious makes people nervous, especially the people who benefit from our struggle or hardships. We learned that wanting to try new things is a threat to our so-called friends because they’ll think we’re better than them. We learned that anything besides struggling makes the lives of others harder, and we’ve been conditioned to blame ourselves for their immaturity or dysfunction, instead of wondering why they’re not happy for us.

 In those moments of wondering, I question if it's worth it. And so I remind myself of a few things, which may be helpful as you dream and set your own goals:

  • No one needs to understand your dreams/goals - finding supportive people is helpful and you may need to look near and far for them, but at the end of the day, only you need to be the biggest believer of your passion.

  • If you think it's worth it, then it's worth it. Period! - assuming you're not causing harm to yourself or other people, then your dream is worth dreaming, wondering, and planning.

  • Think of how your life will be different - if your life will be healthier and more fulfilling with this goal, then it's worth it. It's worth the hard work, tears, worrying, and thousands of dollars of investing, growing, and building.

It’s a lot, but it’s worth it!

I know this is hard. It requires a lot of unlearning, boosting your courage, and constant reminders that your goals are worth it. That's why we're finishing up rest & relaxation this month and then hopping in to dream & goal setting next month in Let's Get Real Membership! LGR is a mental and emotional wellness membership for BIPOC women, women of color, and women of the global majority. You get group coaching calls with me, peer support from other dope women like you, and weekly teachings, journal kits, and application assignments to help you grow. I would love for you to join us - you can hop right in and get all the content as soon as you sign up here!

 

My hope is that you begin a journey of knowing that your dreams are worth it, your goals are worth it, and you indeed are worth it. 👏🏾

Need more support? Lemme help you sis:

Rachel Ann
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Rest and relaxation for BIPOC women is essential