Too often, people of all ages let the opinions of others determine how they will live their lives. At a young age, everyone has dreams, but as we grow older we begin to tweak those dreams. We worry whether the dreams we want to chase will impress others or make us a lot of money. I think that in these moments of social anxiety, we forget the true definition of dreams. Webster's Dictionary defines a dream as "something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a very long time". Notice that it is not defined as 'something that others have wanted very much for you to do, be, or have for a very long time'. Our dreams are supposed to make us happy. The right kinds of dreams result in the happiness of others, but are not dictated by the opinions of others. It can be terrifying to look your dreams in the face and say, "I will attain this idea, this hope that I have held for my life." It takes courage, determination, and liberation from the thoughts and opinions of others.
I, and every other American college student, would be lying if we told you that we have everything figured out. We may not have the details of our lives laid out neatly, but we do have certain goals. I think that this is true for many people. You know what you want in life, but you don't really know how you will reach that point. The journey from Point A to Point B is like a looming and treacherous slope with twists and turns that you never even saw on the map. I hope that every other confused traveler can find some bit of comfort or advice that really sticks with them in this essay. I may not know every road to take while chasing my dreams, but this is the advice that I remind myself of whenever I feel like I'm lost without a compass pointing me back to my dreams.
Make a passion last a lifetime. Our passions in life is what dreams are made of. Whether you make this in to a career or not, you should always try to make what you love fit in to your life somehow. No passion is too big or too small. Your passion doesn't have to be writing great American novels or painting murals on the ceilings of cathedrals. It can be anything from helping and teaching others to promoting products or making a difference in your community.
Do something that makes you happy. If you feel lost about what dream you should chase or how to chase that dream, make a list of all the things that make you happy. Then, try to find a way to combine all of those things in to one dream. Not only will you be happy once you achieve that dream, but you will be happy along the way as well.
Set small goals. Having a huge and far off goal can seem pretty scary, but if you set small goals to achieve a larger than life dream, it can seem so much more attainable. Don't judge a life step based on its size, judge it on its direction. No matter how small a step it may be, you're still closer to your dream than you were the day before. A small goal could be anything from working really hard at a class you are struggling in to joining an organization that has like-minded goals.
Have a role model. This is a tricky one. I am not at all saying that you have to dream to be exactly like someone that you admire. By having a role model, not only do you know that dreams like yours are achievable, but you are also given some guidance on how to reach those dreams. A role model can be someone that you know personally or someone that you have never even met. Have more than one role model. Take different traits that you admire in others and try to incorporate those in to your life. Also, be someone who others can view as a role model. This can be your friends, your children, or your family.
Do not let your age determine your dreams. Being a teenager does not make your dreams less valid than someone's dreams who is twice your age. Just because you are retired from a career does not mean that you should stop dreaming either. You should always have some hope for the future and some goal that you wish to achieve. You are never too young or too old to dream, regardless of what others may say.
Let your dreams scare you. Ok, so this one may sound a little strange, but hear me out. If you are anxious, nervous, or scared about your life goals, then that's a good thing. It means that you really care about the dream that you are chasing, as you should.
Do not let anyone tell you that your dreams are not worth chasing. As Walt Disney once said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. If your dream is important to you, then chase it. Those who matter will support you, and you should block out any comments that try to defer you from your dreams. Don't waste your time on the negativity of others when you could be spending that time getting even closer to your dreams.
Finally, never stop dreaming. You should always set goals for yourself. The dream that you achieve today could be the seed that is the beginning of the dream that you have tomorrow. Everything that you do in life was once a dream that you thought you may never reach. Let those successes feed in to future dreams. Don't be afraid to expand on goals that you've already obtained, and let your dreams grow in to a lifetime of happiness.
Happy dreaming, and enjoy the chase.
