Did you love doing something as a child until someone else, perhaps unintentionally, killed that dream in your heart? Were you at one time living your dream until a hurtful comment or negative situation made you walk away regretfully?

My daughter, Dana, was only 4 years old when another child who was a little older than her told her she didn’t color well. For several months, Little Dana apologized every time she picked up a crayon and began to color, convinced that she couldn’t stay within the lines and she would make a mess. Once we noticed how she was beating herself up because of one critical comment, we poured on the encouragement every time we saw her pick up a pen, pencil, or paintbrush. (We even bought her a bucket of sidewalk chalk and told her to boldly color up the neighborhood!) After more than a year of constant praise, Dana finally gained confidence once again in her ability to create.

Debbie, as an adult, loved to sing. But when she sang her first solo in her church’s choir, she received an insensitive comment afterward from another woman in the choir. “It’s not all about you,” the woman said cattily. Debbie was so devastated that someone got the impression that she was singing to show off herself that she quit singing for more than ten years. Only recently did she discover the power she let one dream destroyer have over her life.

Sometimes all it takes is one critical comment, one hurtful action,  one negative situation for us to hang up a dream and walk away. But when we become aware of the dream destroyers — our own negative self-talk, discouraging comments from others, or outright attempts from the enemy of our soul to kill our dream while we’re still young and vulnerable– we can consider the source and stay on track with the dream God has whispered on our hearts.

Here are some questions to ask yourself that may uncover a dream buried beneath some wounds:

1. What do you believe you’re not good at, and why?

2. What did you once love to do but haven’t done in awhile? Why have you not done it?

3. What would it take to start it up again?

Whether your dream destroyer was a person, a fear, a doubt  or discouragement, or a spiritual attack, don’t lose heart. By going back to a past wound and remembering what it was you were doing when you received that wound, it’s possible you will find your dream there…and a loving Heavenly Father waiting to encourage you once again.

This time listen for His voice, not the voice of others.

Still not sure what your dream is? Take my free  “Discovering Your Dream Self Assessment” and let me know how it’s going.