Is Following Your Dreams Bad Advice?
It's risky, foolish, discouraging, and 10X crazy! Let's do it!
Got Dreams?
Words like success and dreams can conjure up wild ideas of fame, fortune, glamor, and of course, mansions and exotic cars.
I also hear negative views, such as: dreamers are lazy, or dreamers live in a fantasy world so they can escape the cold hard truth of REALITY.
Yes, it's no wonder at times we feel the pressure when we dare to dream or envision ourselves as successful.
Is Following Your Dreams a Bad Idea?
Is it a bad idea to try to fly? Ask the Wright brothers.
Is it a bad idea to go to the moon? Ask the crew of Apollo 11.
We will encounter a multitude of opinions. But following your dreams is quite rational.
Is it a bad idea to discover and cultivate your talents?
Is it a bad idea to set difficult (but aspirational) goals that you believe you can attain?
Is it a bad idea to use your talents for yourself and others?
I think not. How about you?
Heart and Science
In my world, following your dreams is a practical thing to do. It certainly isn't foolishness.
But I admit, sometimes I wonder what the heck I’m doing. What makes me think I can be a writer? And why on earth would anyone want to even read what I write? Yeah, the self talk can be brutal.
Sometimes following your dreams sounds too over the top. That usually happens when we begin comparing our lives with others. Now that’s a bad idea.
Is there a chance I’ll fail? Yes.
Is there a chance I’ll succeed? Yes!
If there’s a chance for either, I will choose the better outcome.
Follow Your Dreams
Follow your dreams. There, I said it! But I’m not the only voice calling the true believers. Oh that wonderful quote that joins the high and lofty dream to the firm foundation of reality.
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” ― Henry David Thoreau
If living your dreams sounds high and lofty, if success is over the top, if greatness seems too hard to own, change your mind.
Here are four grounded ideas that can provide a solid foundation for your dreams.
1. Dreams Are Not Jobs
“I could never make a living doing [x].” How many dreams never got off the ground because of the false belief that a dream is a job, profession, or career?
Be free from the false belief that your dream must provide your income, provide medical insurance, fund your vacations, put your kids through college, and fund your retirement. Let your job pay the bills. Let your dream satisfy your heart.
Don’t try to make a dream pay the bills. But don’t rule out the possibility. There is greatness in you!
2. Use Your Talents
Our dreams are based on our talents and unique life experiences. Everyone has talents. Our talents come natural to us, like the desire to bake cookies. Everyone can bake cookies. But not everyone desires to bake cookies, again and again, and again. Talent is something we can do and not get tired of it. As Naval Ravikant says:
“You want to find something that looks like work to others, but it feels like play to you.” -Naval
Find a talent (or set of talents) that is satisfying to you and useful to others.
3. Think Mastery
Mastery is a great way to think about living your dream. Mastery sounds difficult, but doable.
Mastery works for all: mechanics, sculptors, writers, actors, and cookie bakers. After all, what would cookie monsters do without cookie masters?
Mastery has many benefits.
Mastery is the key to abundance.
Mastery is respected, honored, and admired.
Mastery is something you can build on year after year.
4. Serve Others
Use your dream (and talents) to serve others. Who can find fault with serving others? Even Jesus addressed the human desire for greatness. He said:
“whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” -Matthew 20:26
I love the idea of being a servant because:
It is accessible to anyone,
It helps maintain a perspective of humility, and
You’re helping people get what they want (cookies!).
Finally
As far as I’m concerned, following your dreams is normal. It’s what we do.
Ultimately, following your dreams is a personal desire and choice.
Our dreams are not an escape from reality. They exist to become reality.
To your success!
You don’t have to read 100+ articles on James on Success. Just read the books.