Learning to Dream

I believe that we let go of our dreams because they appear unachievable. Often life experience tends to navigate ones course. We tend to do what we know is achievable…a sure bet. No one wants to fail so pursuing an easier path can give one the feeling of accomplishment or “success”. The problem is, there’s very little satisfaction in achieving something that you aren’t really committed to or passionate about. There’s still a void that needs to be filled.

I believe that if you have a dream or a passion, you’re more than half way there. Lots of people don’t know what they were born to do and die without ever figuring it out. Although there are many signs for those who struggle to find their purpose, they can be hard to see when lifes obstacles and challenges stand directly in front of them. The truth is, reality can kill a dream. It’s hard to focus on destiny when you can’t pay your bills. Hard, but not impossible.

People who achieve goals and live their dreams have an uncanny sense of urgency. They are willing to work harder than others, act while others try to figure out how, work while others sleep and play, believe while others doubt, fail publicly while others pretend to succeed, ask for help while others try to do it alone, and share their knowledge while others selfishly feel that those who come behind them must struggle as much as they did.

I am a firm believer that most goals are achievable and that dreams are waiting to be realized. The problem is, most people are so busy looking for the easy way. They want to wake up and somehow find that they are living their dreams without having done any work. Unfortunately it doesn’t really happen that way.

Stop searching for instant success. There's no one minute miracle. You'll spend more time failing if you keep looking for the shortcut. Expect that attaining success will be the most challenging endeavor you've ever undertaken. Expect to sleep less and work more. Expect to be tired and feel like quitting. Expect that nothing will come easy in your pursuit. Expect to work harder than anyone you've ever known. Then, and only then, can you expect to succeed.

Melanie Geddes is the author of Learning to Dream with Your Eyes Open: A Survival Guide for Inner City Youth http://www.learningtodream.com/