Make Friends With Your Dreams

Do you have a dream? Or maybe you had a dream which you have forgotten, or even buried?

I’ve found that getting that bit closer to 30 has made me acutely aware of all the dreams I’ve ever had about my life. I looked back to when I was 16, and asked myself if I was doing what I dreamt I’d be doing at 26. The answer was actually no. Although I was doing some great things, within my chosen field, I was not doing what I’d dreamt I would be doing. What that means is that I was not doing what I really wanted to be doing.

I realized that along the way, particularly since leaving university, I’d slowly stopped dreaming. I was becoming worn down by bills, by climbing the career ladder, by how much I was earning, and by the general realities of day-to-day life. I’d let my dreams go because I thought they were unrealistic, and convinced myself that what I needed was to just get myself a ‘real job’. However, it was all taking a toll on my spirit…

Some time out - and I must admit a bit of therapy and lots of self-help books – led me to the conclusion that this is my only life and I need to live it my way. So I made friends with my dreams again. Excavated them and dusted them off…And I cannot tell you how good it feels to be back in touch with them.

We dream for a reason and I believe that our dreams hold the key to our true success and fulfillment in life. Maybe your dream was to be an accountant and you’re doing that – great. However, if your dream was to be an inventor, but you’re working as an  accountant I can guarantee that there is part of you that feels miserable. Dreams, which hold the key to our true desires, are a roadmap that tell us which direction we’re meant to be headed in.

Many of us are afraid to pursue our passions. We’ll often give a range of reasons (i.e. excuses) for why we can’t do it: not enough money/not enough time/I’m too old/I have bills to pay. But dreams are not to be ignored. There is no amount of money that will compensate for not following what’s in your heart.

It’s never too late to  pursue your passion. No matter what you may have to give up, the benefits will always be worth it. You can always make it work, even if you begin by doing something on the side instead of full time. It really is a matter of choices, though. If there are people whose lives or lifestyles you admire, there is no mystery as to how they got there – it’s simply a result of choices they made. Those choices are not always easy, and it may mean stepping out of your comfort zone, and facing your greatest fears. However, there is no reward without risk.

If you aren’t convinced, I ask you to think ahead to 20 years time, and how you’ll feel looking back knowing that you were too afraid to follow the callings of your soul.

I leave you with this quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”