When we're young our heads are filled with opportunities, that one day we'll have everything we've ever dreamed of and more. These childhood dreams of grandeur were vast and exciting. I know when I was little, I dreamed of being a world famous musician who'd get to meet all these celebrities, and dance with the stars (I know, cringe). I had dreams that once I was an adult I'd live in a fancy house with a partner and several dogs.
As we grow older, we begin to realise that life isn't as easy as clicking your fingers and suddenly you're exactly where you want to be. We realise that sometimes even when we try really hard, we still don't always get what we want. Its almost like finding out Santa isn't real all over again. We feel disheartened to the point where we don't feel like our dreams will ever come true.
We spend our whole lives adapting and changing our dreams until they are what we consider reasonable. We dream of owning cars, houses, having respectable jobs, and not having to worry about finances. We hope for love of family and friends, and at the utmost, we wish for happiness. Somewhere along the way we forgot what our dreams were, changing them to conform, to be accepted.
However, its important to realise that dreams still do come true. It's important to know that conformity isn't always the path of success, in fact, it rarely is.
Conformity is safe. Its a place of comfort and monotony. Its there as a warm blanket in the cold dark of winter. When we conform we keep the people around us happy and we feel accepted. Its only when we start to veer off the track to the road less travelled by when people start to become hostile.
Time and time again we see this in our lives. When someone has started a new job for a recognisable company, people rush to congratulate them, they've made a better career choice, bettered themselves. However, when we see entrepreneurs take the dive, set up their own businesses, people tend to back away. it's a risk, a chance that this person is taking which might not pay off. People aren't prepared to deal with the fallout, to help bail this small business owner out when their business inevitably fails.
Its these risks we take to build ourselves up, these adventures we take, which bring our childlike sense of fun and excitement to life once more. Suddenly, when we open ourselves up for something new and risky, we feel those age old dreams begin to creep back in at the edges. We feel enlightened and empowered. Conforming people often see this as something to be wary of, as if we are actually reverting to a childlike form and need babysitting.
Dreams do come true. They may not be the exact fantasies of our childhood but I think, without meaning to quote Tom Hardy from Inception, we mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger. Dreams are there to be explored, reached for. They are there to entice and inspire us, no matter the concern of others.
Why not set up that business you've been wanting to setup? It might be more feasible than you think and if your business requires a website at an affordable price, then drop me a line and we can collaborate.
As always, life is about adventure. We have our ups and our downs and if we let it, life will pass us by without us even knowing so we have to take a proactive approach and attack our dreams head on.
What did you dream of being when you were a child? Did you believe you were going to be a fireman? Or maybe you thought you were going to be an interior designer? Or a football star? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time, fellow dreamers.