That's what we're told, isn't it? "You've got to follow your dream." "Don't let anyone get in your way of pursuing your dream." That's ... valuable. That's a noble and worthy thing. Right?
It is an everyday thing, it seems. We are each encouraged to "follow your dream". And that's about it. You can find articles on it, instructions on it, courses on it. It is the fantasy-come-true in so many movies, stories, and books. We all know that we all are selling ourselves short if we don't follow our dreams.
Why is it, though, that no one seems to ask, "Why?" Take, for instance, Clyde Barrow, of "Bonnie and Clyde" fame. Clyde had a dream. He wanted to seek revenge for the abuses he suffered. There ya' go, Clyde! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn't follow your dreams! And perhaps I'm being outlandish, but I don't think it's unbelievable that there really are people who dream of being the best ... at serial killing, murder, mayhem, selling drugs, a host of things that we are all agreed ought not be dreams to follow. But "Never let them tell you not to follow your dream!"
Those are easy. What about the ones that aren't so easy? He wants to be a professional soccer player. Never mind that professional soccer players contribute almost nothing to society. Forget about the fact that he has mad skills in other productive, valuable things. What he really wants is to play ball, so no one should stand in his way! Really? She dreams of being a professional dancer. The fact that she has the intelligence and inclination to be a doctor is irrelevant. The reality that she could actually provide something for people that they need is beside the point. She wants to be a professional dancer, and no one should stand in her way! Really?
It's just a symptom of our times, actually. We have shifted. The peak, the pinnacle of all things, is "what I want". It's the thing that children thrive on and have to be taught to set aside. It's the thing that differentiates between a community and an individual, moving from a community-minded outlook to a self-centered outlook. It is the result of "If it feels good, do it", the product of unchecked passions. It is the final outcome of a culture that demands that "you keep your views and values off my life!" And it's where we've arrived. Fortunately, there are those still "hampered" by a silly sense of concern for others. Hopefully you and I fall in that category. I'm not saying that it's wrong to follow your dream. I'm simply asking you to evaluate it first. Dreams are stuff of nothing. Is the substance of your dream something of genuine value? Okay. But if it's simply "I want" because "I want", maybe you might aspire to dream of other things.
2 comments:
This is a great article! Thanks so much for this point of view. I am one of those authors and people who teach courses on how to bring your dreams to reality, and your point is well taken.
In fact in the Dreams to Realityy workbook, we go through a very intensive process to bring up the dreams that are not the "real dreams." But this is a very personal process. Who is to say if someone's dreams is proper, or real, or contributing to society in a positive way? Certainly if its illegal or unethical, that isn't a dream that is worthy of being manifested, agreed!
We work on bringing the real, the authentic, the fulfilling dream to the surface of the mindscape; but we never criticize anyone's fragile hopeful dream, because that fragile hopeful (perhaps egocentric dream) will ultimately lead that person to their authentic dream where he/she can begin to express with all his/her being the true gifts, talents and callings, and purpose of their highest possible self.
If someone is following their authentic dream from their deepest truest self, then they will not be in danger of harming anyone in anyway. In fact this path will be the path where they can contribute the most.
Thanks for your thoughtfulness on this subject; and giving me a chance to be equally thoughtful.
That's funny. Yours is one of the places I linked to in my post.
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