It’s the morning of Whitney Johnson’s launch of Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream.

It’s also the morning my very first keynote speech.

I first woke up about 3 am, went back to sleep, then woke up again around 4 am. At 4, I mentally reviewed the outline for my talk. And now I’m up and here in my favorite chair, doing my favorite thing.

This, not because of insomnia, and not because one of my girls woke me up (we are blessed that they all typically sleep through the night).

I woke up because, among other things, this is an exciting day, and I can’t wait for it to begin.

Waking early is not unusual for me. (If you follow me on Twitter, and wake up early, you already know that.) Since I returned to work in 2009 after 8 years of being home with my girls full time, I have woken up early nearly every day to work.

Clue #1 that you are living the life of your dreams: You can’t wait for each day to begin.

I take it as a good sign, a clue that I am on the right track, that I wake up early without an alarm.

Here’s another clue. Do you know that feeling on the edge of being over-caffeinated? That buzzy, happy, energetic feeling that helps you move a little faster? That peaceful, and  purposeful feeling? That’s…

Clue #2 that you are living the life of your dreams: all the effects of a triple-shot mocha, without even taking a sip.

Maybe I’m just an energetic person, so forgive me if you can’t identify with this, but I know I am on the right track when the work I do energizes me instead of depleting me.

The next clue comes from a recent conversation I had with a friend I met online. She recently received a copy of Whitney’s book and she told me that it is messing her up — in the best possible way. She is trying to figure out what her dreams are. In her words “I don’t know what makes my heart sing.” Another friend says he knows he is doing what he was born to do.

Clue #3 that you are living the life of your dreams: you hold a deep sense that you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you were born to do. You are living in that intersection where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

You are living in your strengths and making a positive difference in others’ lives.

Tell me something! How do you know that you are living the life of your dreams? If you are not living the life of your dreams, what one thing can you do today to move closer to that life?

This week we are celebrating Whitney’s book launch with 5 days in a row of posts about dreams. Later this week, we’ll have more guest posts, including posts from Weaving Influence team members. 

I feel honored to be a part of Whitney’s launch team, and I hope you’ll support the launch by buying her book — today. Think about two great friends who could use encouragement and inspiration, and buy a couple of extra copies, if your budget allows, so you can share the book with them. Dare, Dream, Do makes a great Mother’s Day or graduation gift.