“If we look outside, we can glimpse the possibility of our dreams. When we look within we awaken our personal potential. This a book about looking inward and outward … an invitation to dreaming awake with eyes wide open.” Jonathan Mead
This week I have been reading Reclaim Your Dreams, by Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind.
Obviously the subject matter is something close to my heart, given the title of this website. I had heard some great reviews about this book already and was really looking forward to reading it to see what I thought for myself. I was not disappointed. In fact I was blown away! It captured my attention from page one. What I really liked about this book is that Jonathan presents an alternative to the one-size-fits-all approach. He challenges us, the reader, to use the book to explore our own unique situation and apply ‘uncommon’ sense to reclaiming our dreams.
This is beautifully written and refreshingly different with a perfect mixture of inspiration and practical tips and exercises. From letting go of others opinions to finding your purpose, from dealing with naysayers, to staying focused and earning money doing what you love, it's all here. This is a comprehensive guide to living on your terms and reclaiming your dreams. Jonathan walks the talk. He knows what its like to work at your day job whilst pursuing your dreams in every other waking moment. He knows what it is like to want to achieve a dream, but not miss out on the present moment in achieving it.
Here is a a brief synopsis of the main chapters in the book:
Chapter 1: Reclaim Ownership of Your Own Mind
Are you in control of your mind or is it in control of you? Jonathan kicks off by asking you to have a look at this question and consider that a lot of the time the fears and judgments our minds create are running the show. He asks you to practice listening to your thoughts objectively. Are they the type of thoughts you truly want? You have been trained to listen to your head rather than your heart. Its time to listen to your heart.
Chapter 2: Stop Caring
“Giving up trying to be popular, perfect and important can remove the background noise that is getting in the way of what really matters to you.”
When you care too much about what others think about you, you are listening with your head, not your heart. Here you get to look at what really matters and see how letting go of the unessential is necessary to living authentically.
Chapter 3: Undomesticate Yourself
Did you know that you have been domesticated? We have all been taught various things since birth about what we can and can’t do. Here you get to look at the limiting beliefs and assumptions that develop out of that ‘domestication’ and challenge them. By doing this we can be aware of these self imposed limits and learn to choose from the heart rather than the head. Here you also get to look at that common trap of always living in the future and the value of presence in your everyday life.
Chapter 4: Define Your Dreams
This chapter begins Part 2 of this book where you begin to look at how to make your dreams a reality. Defining your dreams and then your purpose is the first step to resurrecting your dreams. There are some great exercises here to help you create a clean slate, really converse with your heart and get clear about your values. What I really liked about this part of the book is that there is some great practical exercises (that I have never tried before) to inspire and help you with this.
The three keys to make your dreams happen
Chapter 5: Key Number 1: Give Up (Or Overcoming Uncertainty)
“In order to pursue our dreams, we have to become masters of the wisdom of uncertainty."
In this part of the book Jonathan asks you to push your ‘uncertainty limit’. As he says, we don’t always know how things are going to turn out however, nothing changes unless you push through your comfort zone.
Chapter 6: Key Number 2: Quit (or Reclaiming Ownership of Your Time)
“Inch away at reclaiming time for your dreams week after week.”
For me this was one of my favourite parts of the book, as it’s one of the challenges I am currently facing in reclaiming my own dreams. There is some great practical advice here for removing distractions and remaining focused and patient on this part of the journey.
Chapter 7: Key Number 3: Skills (Or Creating Love Money)
This chapter is all about how to create money to reclaim your dreams. I really liked the exercise of looking at your ‘lifestyle choices’. By looking at what we really spend our money on right now we can see if it is necessary, and what can be cut back to free up our resources for living our dreams. This section of the book is all about starting to get out there, adding value, honing your skills and doing whatever your dream is.
Chapter 8: Three Things You Need to Know
The last chapter of the book looks at what we need to know when we are starting to live our dreams. It can be easy to paint a perfect picture of how life will be when you have reached your dream, but life always contains obstacles and Jonathan talks you through navigating some common pitfalls, including ‘killing’ your passion by now turning it into work.
This was one of the best and most relevant books I have read in a long time and I know that it will be a valuable resource to return to time and time again on my own journey. As I said to Jonathan, what I really like about this book is that it will be helpful to you at any stage of your journey whether you are clear what you want to do and need some direction achieving it or really feel like you are not sure what your dreams are and are in the process of working out that out.
If like me, you could do with that extra help and insight on the road to reclaiming your dreams you can buy it for $25 by visiting the link at Jonathan’s site Reclaim Your Dreams: An Uncommon Guide To Living On Your Own Terms. Jonathan can also be found at his sites:
Illuminated Mind; Jonathan Mead and Bodyweight Renegade.
Cool review! I haven't seen a good review on Jonathan's book like this. Maybe I've just missed them, but I really liked this.
I would also be curious about your progress and how you've improved your life with the exercises in the book.
Cheers Jen!
Henri Junttila´s last blog ..How to Use Article Marketing to Increase Your Blog Subscribers
Thanks Henri! I am really pleased you liked this - I really enjoyed this book so it is good to know this review was helpful. Worksheets are also available for this book, I am working through those at the moment so your feedback gave me the idea to do a follow up review in a few weeks. I can let you know how I got on with those and also the overall impact of the book.
Thanks Henri.
Good review, Jen. I can tell just by the way you've written it that you got a lot from the book? Like Henri, I'll be interested to see how it makes things different for you, so a follow up post in a few weeks sounds like a brilliant idea.
Thanks Christine!
Yep, I really did, I was very impressed. I will do that follow up post, it is always helpful to see the longer term benefits to a book.
Thanks again.
Hi Jen!
Hope you're doing well!
Great review and I think you capture the essence of Jonathan's personality in this review. I can speak first hand about him as I was a part of his Paid to Exist program, which was wonderful. Jonathan certainly walks the walk. What I like about him best is that he feels 'real.' He is doing something that he truly has a passion for and it comes across. It's not something you can fake and there are some out there faking it....Jonathan is not one of those people. If people aren't already following him, I strongly encourage you all do so.
I haven't read his book, so thanks for the great review!
Nate´s last blog ..Questioning What We’re Supposed to Feel
Hey Nate!
How's life? I'm great thanks.
Thank you for your feedback. I am pleased you enjoyed this review and awesome to hear about your positive experience with Jonathan and the Paid to exist program. I really enjoy his writing and was really excited to see hos new websites too.
Nice Review Jen. I really liked it - thank you.
I might have to look into getting this as you seemed to have got a lot from reading it. I'm currently working through How to be Rich and Happy. Maybe Jonathon's will be my next read.
Ben´s last blog ..Doing something because you think you should, isn’t the way to go
Thanks Ben.
It is a great book. I am looking forward to doing the follow up post so people can see what I got from it too.
Hi ya Jen, how goes it? Hope life has been treating you well. Rock on.
Well, this is an interesting review about a book I have not read. Your writing is simple and functional and your pen is like a magic wand. I am pleasantly surprised by the elegance of your writing, almost like art.
During my early years, I turned into a negative thinker: the glass was always half empty. This cynical view had a profound impact on my life. However, meditation saved me: it changed my life for the better. Not a day goes by when I do not practice meditation: it is a habit now. In this context, your review resonated with me. It was like reading the story of my life. Which is why I seriously recommend the daily habit of meditation for you and your readers (feel free to disagree, however).
If you and your readers are really looking to evolve consciously, look no further. Just read Henri Junttila's blog, Wake Up Cloud. Henri has a grasp over meditation which is second to none, and I would recommend reading some of his blog posts about meditation and cultivating a habit of it. In a way, your review also reminded me about Henri's remarkable life. Henri's sojourn is amazing to read about and quietly inspiring.
Hey Archan!
How's life with you? Lovely to see you here as always. Thank you for the lovely comment and feedback, I really appreciate it (I am very critical of my own writing so that means a lot.
)
I completely agree about meditation and Henri ... two very awesome things in life! I meditate on and off and I feel the same about it, it makes such a huge difference to my attitude and general well being and approach to life.
Henri is brilliant isn't he? I also LOVE his blog. He has a great way of explaining things in an easy to digest way. The other thing about Henri that is so inspiring is that he is all about helping other people ... a very inspiring chap!
Hope to see you again soon Archan.
You yourself have a lovely way of expressing yourself and I am interested to hear if you will be joining the blogosphere yourself? 
Jen:
Ah, yes, gentle maiden, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Well, in order to satisfy your curiosity, you shall have to go to...
My on-line buddy, Maria Brophy's blog. Check it out. I recommend it.
And it will answer your question: who me? start a blog? I wish...
I have written a guest post for Maria. Please read it. It is a poem.
Are you an artist? Or some such title...can't remember exactly, but you get the point? It is a poem I wrote suddenly when I was roaming around in the wilderness and lightning struck. And I jotted it down in my note-pad. I am not a serious writer, only visited by the muse sometimes.
Anyway, hope this answers your question. And maybe leave a comment too?
He he! yep, I had to ask again Archan...
I found your poem and loved it! It is really beautiful (the answer is yes, I think I am an artist) and as Maria advised at the end I am again encouraging you to start your blog... we want more! 
(btw, Shannon at http://www.shannonalbert.me has been offering free blog set ups if that would help...)
Seriously though, I hadn't written properly since uni (about thirteen years ago) so if I can do it anyone can!