Acting on Dreams: From the Creative Mindset to Choosing a Career

We all want to act on our dreams. They can be creative dreams like being a novelist or magazine writer. They can be more in tune with "regular" careers like being a technical writer, stockbroker, or mortgage officer. Often acting on dreams is about finding that within us which seeks to be let out; finding the dream that is hardest and attempting it; and trying to follow the dreams but not forgetting those we love.

The old cliché is that there is a child within each of us waiting to be let out. This inner-child is key on acting towards dreams. As children we had less fear about pursuing a dream. We wanted to be astronauts because they could fly in space. We wanted to be writers because of the stories we heard of millions being made. Or maybe we wanted to be teachers so we could tell children what to do. We did not fear the obstacles in our path because we had less to lose. We were bored-and boredom was cured by dreaming. As adults we grow bored and complacent too. We need to attempt at least a few dreams in the course of our lifetime, and maybe all of them. What matters next is choosing the hard one.

An example of pursuing a hard career is being a stealth fighter pilot or a bestseller novelist. Unfortunately, both have about the same chances. Do not less this dissuade you. Perhaps we need luck to act on creative dreams, but the majority of it is about working. If we work hard, get high test scores, and show respect to leaders, we might fly a jet even better than the Stealth fighter. If we allow our creative dreams to take hold, the novel will not seem as big. If we quit after the first novel it is obvious the person who continues, and writes ten novels, will have a better chance to succeed. The key is to not let our dreams wash away in the storm of life. We need to remember them

Sometimes we become obsessed. It can be a brand new career we always dreamed of. It can be by following some of the principles applied earlier. The problem often is we forget those who matter. Without friends and family we would be a lonely wreck, and would likely have never achieved the success we had. We need to remember them. And not just taking them out to dinner, but talking and being a part of their lives.

Acting on dreams is about having many things on the mind. We pursue what we love, but should not let work get in the way of what's really important. Try to fly a plane. Set a time for writing the novel. Act on your dreams.