THE ART OF DREAMING

For many young women in iSanctuary’s program, dreams feel unattainable. People who have experienced depression, trauma, or abuse, know that formulating a dream for the future can be nearly impossible. For this reason, the Mumbai Sanctuary is practicing the art of dreaming. 

It's easy to think that dreaming is something that always comes naturally to humans, but there is a surprising extent to which dreaming is a learned experience. At times, the young women in the Mumbai Sanctuary are unable to see beyond their present situation, so dreaming becomes something we learn and practice together. 

Recently, iSanctuary board member and leadership coach, Susan Cramm, visited the Mumbai Sanctuary. Susan generously coaches our iSanctuary staff and interns to utilize their strengths and develop new skills. When she visited Mumbai in April, Susan coached the jewelry artisans on how to dream. We bought stacks of magazines, pulled out the scissors and glue, and everyone (artisans, staff, and interns) created inspiration boards to express their dreams! 

The ladies had several days to complete their boards, and at the end of the week, we shared our boards and talked about our dreams together. It was wonderful to see everyone excited about their future goals, sharing smiles and laughter together. For individuals who know the depth of depression, the celebration of a dream is a true miracle. Now, we're looking forward to working with the ladies as they break their dreams down into manageable goals and take steps toward accomplishing them!

 For many young women at iSanctuary, dreams can feel like something that only comes to fruition in the movies. But as a sister in the Sanctuary, the ladies are able to work as a family to help each other achieve their goals. As a staff, we support the young women by walking alongside them as they learn the art of dreaming, and what it means to achieve their dreams by setting goals and working towards them one step at a time.