5 Lies That Prevent You From Chasing Your Dream

In chasing my own dream, and watching/helping others chase theirs, I have realized there are five basic lies people believe that prevent them from chasing their dreams. I’ve believed each one of these lies at different points in my journey, and I still catch myself believing some of them today.

I think we have to assume a constant posture of rooting these lies out of our lives, making sure they never grow back again.

Photo Credit: Scarleth White, Creative Commons

1. Other people are smarter, better, or more capable than me.

I love what Steve Jobs says: “Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you.”

The longer I walk on this journey, the more I realize that’s really true.

That doesn’t mean you have all the skills and resources you need to achieve your dream right this second, but you do have absolutely everything you need to get started chasing. The chase includes acquiring the skills and resources.

If you are lacking real, tangible skills or resources:

Learn. Take a class. Buy a book. Search that crazy thing called the Internet.
Practice. Maybe you already know how to do something, you’re just not very good at it. That’s okay. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. That’s a lot of hours. You had better get started.
Find a side-kick. This is what Steve Jobs did. Invite someone to join your team who has exactly the skill you need.

2. Dreaming is mostly selfish

I would have agreed with this notion before I set out on my own journey to chase my dreams, which is why I understand completely when people say to me, “I just want to make sure my motives are right before I get started chasing my dream.” We’re all worried we’re too concerned with fame, or money, or getting attention from others.

To be fair, we are too concerned with these things (most of us), and narcissism like this will make us crash and burn.

But I’m learning to see how the best way to clear out my self-centerdness is to get started chasing my dream. When I want something desperately, face my fears, deal with rejection, navigate failure, receive criticism, and learn to apologize—my narcissism naturally begins to melt away.

3. The point is to be successful and achieve the dream

When I push people to step out and go after their dream job, or dream life, most people will say something like: “Yeah, but the chances of [getting married, having a baby, being a stay-at-home mom, starting a company, going to France, making a short film or raising that much money] are so slim…”

I want to respond with: “So what?” (I’m usually a little kinder than that).

If we think the point is the dream, of course we’ll be hesitant to chase our dreams because, then, everything hinges on our success.

If we mess up, all of our energy and investment is a waste.

But what if the point isn’t the dream? What if the purpose isn’t the destination, but the journey? What if the point is who you become the process?

4. I need affirmation to get started

Most of us are waiting for some kind of confirmation or affirmation we’re moving in the right direction. Some of us want it from a particular person. Others want a heavenly confirmation from above.

We want our parents (or spouse) to tell us: “That’s a great idea!”

We want God to send a carrier pigeon or billboard.

But the problem with affirmation and feedback (even from God) is its an insatiable monster. You think you need a little feedback, but what you end up needing is a ton of feedback, and even then you don’t believe it. Has this ever happened to you? God sends you a “sign” but then you ask for more.

Why not decide for yourself it is time to get started? That’s when you’re truly ready to submit it to God, and to invite others into it.

5. Dreams are dreamy

When you watch someone live their dream from the outside, it’s easy to think it’s super dream. The problem with this is that, when it comes time to chase your own dream—to create something or go on a trip or quit your job—and you face fear, resistance, frustration, heartbreak and criticism, you assume you’re doing something wrong.

This can’t be right! You think to yourself. This doesn’t feel dreamy at all.

Here’s the truth. Dreams are not dreamy. They’re wonderful, yes. They’re amazing. Life is never more meaningful or more fulfilling than when you want something, desperately, and you choose to go after it.

But no part of it resembles a fairy-tale.

Once you get that misunderstanding out of the way, you can enjoy it for what it really is.

The post 5 Lies That Prevent You From Chasing Your Dream appeared first on Allison Vesterfelt.