He had me at hello. Okay, maybe not hello, but he definitely had me at the title. A fellow dreamer? An ebook about following your dreams? Right up my alley! I read this ebook mostly between serving disgruntled customers at my restaurant where I work to the pay the bills. Until I can fully turn my dreams into a reality, that is. His words were quite a refreshing break. 
This 49 page ebook (actually numbered to 85 pages, with two sides per page) called Reclaim Your Dreams by Jonathan Mead lives up to it’s title. Jonathan is the the author of the very popular personal development blog Illuminated Mind , as well as regular writer at Zen Habits. Although he doesn’t have any degrees or formal qualifications to be telling me what I should do, I’ve chosen to listen to his writing about living an unconventional life because he is wise beyond his years. His simple message in his ebook is something that everyone of us should remember on a daily basis: “The point of living is to enjoy life.”
Despite my overly analytical mind, and OCD personal-development-researching tenancies, the simplicity of this concept eluded me until I read those words. I knew the meaning of life, as I choose to define, it is to learn. But, he made me realize that I had forgotten a key part of that… FUN!
Jonathan’s theory is that if you are not waking up happy on a daily basis, you are, quite bluntly, failing at life . Happiness is sometimes elusive (or to me at least), and I am constantly on a quest to figure out how to have more joy in my life a larger percentage of the time. Reading his words reminded me that if I’m not enjoying the hell out of life, I’m doing it wrong. And the obvious reward to doing it right is what I can safely say we all seek: happiness.
This ebook is divided into two parts: Unbrainwashing or Creating Room for Your Dreams to Grow, and Manifestation or How to Make Your Dreams A Reality. One aspect that I really enjoyed is Jonathan’s exercises that are dispersed through out the book. He gives step by step instruction, and little activities to implement this way of thinking into action. Most people just talk about how to ‘follow your heart’ or ‘follow your dreams’. Screw that. I want concrete steps. And he really does deliver in this regard.
His ebook is reasonably priced at $24.95, and he even offers a sample chapter to download. It is worth many times this, if nothing else but to remind me that the point of life is to enjoy it. But, more than that, he offers many steps and ideas in the second part of the book that I can apply to building online business, as well as general tips for living a more unconventional, and happier life. I thoroughly enjoyed Jonathan’s wise words, and really recommend you checking it out.
Has anyone else read this ebook? Any additional thoughts on the material? I’d love to see your opinions of this ebook, or Jonathan’s site Illuminated Mind in the comments! 
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a great read! If I’m not enjoying the hell out of life, I’m doing it wrong.” That’s gonna stick. =)
Ain’t that the truth?? By writing that, it really sunk in that I need to enjoy the hell outta life! And whatever I do that I enjoy, I need to keep doing it… Thanks for reading, Amber
I would like to support the idea that, “if you’re not having fun then you’re messing up. If you’re not doing what you want to do then you’re messing up.” These two sentences are said by me almost daily to anyone that is asking me for advice or complaining about something that they wish could have or do. We are in control of our limitations and all we have to do is unlearn the limits that have been enforced upon us (I immediately think of my parents saying that I cant always do things they way I want to… that sometimes we have to do things that we dont like in order to get the things that we want… bullshit!) As soon as I get a chance I will read this book! Thanks for all of the suggestions thus far!!!! You rock!!!!
It does seem like you, of all people really subscribe to this way of thinking… I can totally see that you live your life this way!
And you insist on those around you having a blast as well… If only more people lived this way!
So much of what I have been reading recently is about unlearning what has been programed into you from a young age… exactly what you talk about your parents telling you. I hear the same ways of thinking… you have to do what you don’t want to, what doesn’t feel good. But, what if that isn’t true?? This ebook talks about some of that unbrainwashing. You’ll like it.
Thanks for reading… your support means a lot!!
I haven’t read the book (yet?) but it seems like it fits my view on life. Along that line, if you enjoy self improvement I can truly recommend ’7 habits of highly effective people’ by Stephen Covey. That book turned my life around. Easy find on Amazon.
Covey starts out with defining life as a whole. So instead of waking up happy every day, he has you picture your own funeral. Which people are there and what do they say?
The moment I did that I realized some very important things about who really matters to me. And most importantly; who don’t.
Hey Karen!
How are ya?
I’ve never heard of the book but I did find Jonothans blog a few days ago and spent some time on it. I really like his style and posts so I’m going to bookmark this and when I have some time and done with my current books and projects I’ll give it a read:)
Keep smilin’
Diggy
Such simple, yet profound ideas. I suspect a large percentage of people in this world do NOT follow their dreams and do NOT “enjoy the hell out of life” and it’s sad! It really is, because life SHOULD be that way for everyone.
Imagine a world where everyone truly lived that way? We would be living in a different world no doubt!
Great review! It sounds like a great ebook. I need to check it out! Thanks for writing the review on this.
awwwwwwsomeness
jonathan mead is legend.
interesting to see where he’s gone with this.
will def check it out.
danky karen dearest
keep well