Following Your Dreams?

[Marvinq]

There's a whole lot of literature out there regarding following your dreams. Which seems like a really nice concept. I like the idea. But, how does someone know it's realistic or even attainable?

Seeing shows like "American Idol" you see that for the vast majority of the singers they have no chance of attaining their dream. Yet, they declare they'll make it big some day.

On the other hand, you get a William Hung, who has got to be in the bottom percentile he makes it somewhat big at least for a small while. What if you're a father supporting a wife and three kids, is it ok to leave your job and suddenly declare, "Ok going to be a world class painter"?

Several years ago, before I married my beautiful wife, I went out on a date with an aspiring actress. She told me about her dream to be an A-List actress. I asked her if she had an agent, she said "No", I asked her if she'd been in anything, she replied "No", I asked if she had any training or schooling in acting, she replied "No", Then somehow the conversation turned to where she'd start, I said something like, "Harrison Ford's first gig was an extra in some movie as a waiter". to which she proclaimed, "Oh No! I'm not going to start as an extra, I'm going to start as the lead role". I sat there thinking "This girl is delusional. But, good luck with that."

It almost seems that 'follow your dreams' is really setting a goal for yourself. But, when is attaining that goal realistic?
Or when is it delusional or a lost cause?

[ixmatus]

I have high flying dreams as well... It is tough because my dreams are, in truth, what keep me alive - I honestly feel lifeless when I try to put them away for more 'rational' pursuits, such as: a job, wife, settled life style, and many other deterministic values that we equate to cultural norms.

Luckily I haven't got myself into the situation where I have a job I dislike, a family to support, and bills to pay - I do not intend on arriving at that destination unless I suddenly find myself with the urge to settle down and have a family.

But, your question still applies in a more general sense, how do I support myself whilst going after these dreams? I, after all, do need to eat and pay for gasoline, an internet connection, and other things I enjoy having in my life.

So far, the answer I have come up with has been to (for now) work part time, live with my open minded father, and educate myself while working on possible sources of passive income to replace the part time job. The self education and related learning projects are all geared towards my dreams.

I ache to pilot a space craft, to build them, to go to other planets and walk on their surface - to explore outer space. Now, how does a self educated youngster such as myself ever foresee the fulfillment of that dream? I have absolutely no idea, I just know I want it, and badly.

To finish answering your question; I feel that by defining a specific end point one will defeat their own journey, but developing enough of a defined goal is crucial not only for the inspiration but also for there to be any sort of idea of where to place one's feet.

Haven't 'delusional' dreamers been the ones to change the world anyway?

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by ixmatus

Haven't 'delusional' dreamers been the ones to change the world anyway?

Delusional dreamers who take massive action to make their dreams reality.

[ixmatus]

Is it 'massive action' that makes the dream reality? Or is it the dream (visual and conceptual cosmology of a particular interest) combined with 'massive belief' in that dream (instead of self-defeating statements that it cannot be so) that produces a manifest result through natural action?

[Sam988]

Originally Posted by ixmatus

Is it 'massive action' that makes the dream reality? Or is it the dream (visual and conceptual cosmology of a particular interest) combined with 'massive belief' in that dream (instead of self-defeating statements that it cannot be so) that produces a manifest result through natural action?

You got it very right. Massive action combined with the belief that one can achieve what he dreams about is the key to success in any endeavour.

[Marvinq]

Sam,
Doesn't your signature say, "Quitters never win, and Winners never quit. But those who never win and never quit are idiots"?
What do you tell people who have no chance of ever realizing their dream, should they keep pursuing it blindly? Ever see American Idol where a contestent would try out, proclaiming that this is their dream, their destiny and they will provail. Then they are shattered when they are rejected, crying that they now have to go back to work at "Taco Bell". If she would have concentrated on other aspects in her life she wouldn't be working at Taco Bell!
When should they quit and try something they have a better chance at attaining?