What did you want to be when you were a kid? A rock star? An astronaut? An actor? Here are reasons why you should follow your dreams.
Growing up, most of us had big dreams of our future and what we would become when we were adults. But then life happens. Our parents tell us to be practical and go to college or get a stable job. We hear messages about how unlikely it is to make it as a movie star. So slowly… many of us let our dreams die.
And that’s sad, isn’t it? Just because your dream may seem unlikely or impractical doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to follow your dreams. Because they are what makes life worth living!
So, if you’re one of those people who has lost sight of who and what you wanted to become in this life, read on. I will give you a lot of advice for why you should follow your dreams, and how to start doing it.
Why you should follow your dreams
As I stated earlier, many of us grew up in families that instilled practicality into us. In other words, they told us that we should do something in life that makes sense.
Something that will bring in reliable income, and keep us safe. But that’s not always a good choice. Here are some really good reasons why you should follow your dreams. [Read: Love or career? How to make the right choice]
1. It brings passion to your life
I know way too many people who are slaving away at their boring desk jobs or in a factory somewhere who are miserable with their lives.
They hate getting up in the morning and going to work. Yes, it’s a safe life. But it’s not a passionate life. Yes, the decision to follow your dreams is a risky one, but it’s oh-so-worth-it.
2. You will be happy
Do you feel like you are just a rat running around on a treadmill in life? If so, it’s probably not making you happy. When you pursue something that makes you passionate and feel fulfilled, you will be a lot happier. And I’m pretty sure that is most people’s goal in life – to be happy.
3. You can inspire others
Let’s face it – most people are too scared to follow their dreams. So most of them just follow the safe path… just like you might be doing right now.
But if you are courageous enough to take a chance and do it yourself, others will be inspired by your actions. They may say you’re crazy, but deep down, they will think that maybe they should do it too. And they just might – all because of you! [Read: How to balance your career, social life, and dating life]
4. You can make a difference in the world
The world needs more people with passion. Where would we be if there were never a Martin Luther King or people marching for women’s rights to vote? Nowhere. People with passion really make a difference. So why not become one of them?
5. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded people
Statistics show that you are most like the people who you spend the most time with. You know the saying, “birds of a feather flock together?”
Well, there is truth to it. So, if you start to follow your dreams, then you will automatically find others who are following theirs too.
6. More passion equals more money
Okay, money isn’t everything in life… but it sure does help. It brings the freedom to do the things we want to do. And also, the ability to give back to other people and make the world a better place.
When you turn your passion into a career and follow your dreams, then you will naturally make money. This makes not only your world a better place, but a better place for everyone else too. [Read: How to succeed in life – All you ever need to know]
7. To feel good about yourself
We all get down on ourselves sometimes. Some people always have low self-esteem, while others have self-worth that fluctuates from time to time.
Either way, wouldn’t you feel better about yourself if you decided to be courageous and follow your dreams? Do you really want to be on your death bed when you’re 100 and regret not doing it? I didn’t think so. [Read: Reinvent your life – 20 must-read books to read in your 20s]
Steps to take to follow your dreams
So now that I’ve convinced you to follow your dreams *hopefully*, what steps can you take to make it reality? Because obviously, you just can’t wave a magic wand and expect your dreams to come true. You have to take some action. Here are some tips for you.
This seems like an easy step, but for a lot of people, it’s not. The main reason for this is because they don’t think their passion can be turned into a career.
Maybe you like doing woodworking, but you just do it for fun. Well, why not start a business and sell your masterpieces? There is always a way to turn your passions into a career. You just have to be creative about it. [Read: I don’t know what to do with my life – Your guide to finding your way back]
2. Make a plan
Once you realize what your passions are, what are you going to do with them? Are you going to try to be an entrepreneur and start your own business? Are you going to go to culinary school so you can be a chef? Are you going to find a different company to work for in a different job? You have to make a plan or else you’ll never get to where you want to go.
3. Visualize
There is a lot of research that has proven the power of visualization. Olympic and professional athletes use it all the time to accomplish their goals. So why not you?
You have to actively see your goal in action in your mind’s eye. Visualize it as often as possible. Maybe even make a vision board with all the words and pictures that symbolize your dreams come true. [Read: 12 life questions to help you visualize your future]
4. Take action
While it’s all fine and dandy to figure out what you want to do, make your plan, and visualize it to your heart’s content, all of that will not get you to realize your dreams unless you actually take action!
I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but I know a lot of people who do nothing but talk about following their dreams.
They never actually take any steps to make it happen. So, don’t be one of those people. Take some action to follow your dreams!
[Read: How to take the next step to success and reach for the stars]
I hope I’ve given you both good reasons that you should follow your dreams and also some practical steps for doing so. Remember, you don’t want to have regrets in life. So just make your decision, and go for it!