ONE MUST DREAM BEFORE ONE CAN DO…

Why do so many people try to be someone they are not? Many individuals start a new year with fresh “resolutions” to do something (or be something) different. Unless there is more gain from the change, however, than pain from NOT changing, such mid-stream corrections rarely prove effective. People change very little once they have established their basic values, patterns and thought processes. It is often easier (and more effective) to leverage an individual’s strengths than it is to try to change their shortcomings. As a “well known philosopher” (Dr. Suess) once so aptly proclaimed, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

People tend to think MUCH about what they have (or do not have), who they are (or who they might wish to be), and what they would like to happen in their lives (rather than what is inevitable should nothing change) so they can achieve, experience, or live an altered result. Stephen Leacock stated, "It may be that those who do most, dream most." One must first imagine something as being a possibility before it can become a probability – yet "Dreams take time, patience, sustained effort, and a willingness to fail if they are ever to be anything more than dreams." (Bryan Linkoski). We can identify, hope, and imagine all that we want but unless we take intentional action that is different from what we might typically do we will experience what we always have and find ourselves disappointed with our lack of progress.

While “failure” is not necessarily a desired outcome of change, dreamers often focus their DESIRE to change around the real possibility that they may not (at first) taste success.  Robert F. Kennedy said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."  Individuals who have truly made a difference in this world understand that "Failure is not the worst thing in the world. The very worst thing is not to try."  While much intentional thought and deliberate action is required to succeed, those that ultimately do recognize that "Failure is the path of least persistence."  If one is to transition their thoughts, hopes and dreams to reality, the word “impossible” must not be a part of his or her vocabulary. While facts, information and well-considered alternatives are often the building blocks of change, "If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." (Dexter Yeger)

Life is a series of starts and stops – of closed chapters and of new beginnings.  Insanity has been defined as doing things the way they have always been done while expecting the results to change. If we are to see change as we move forward in life – whether it be at work, in our personal relationships, or in our own thoughts and attitudes – it is important that we not only recognize the need for altered behavior but that we also intentionally ACT to make change happen. Knowing the facts and understanding how to make change happen does not necessarily ensure transformation, however. Will Rogers appropriately stated, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." As our lives change – initiated by our actions and our attitudes – we should embrace the thoughts expressed by William Osler when he stated, "We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life."

Sadly, many seem to seek equality rather than equity in the world. They (unintentionally?) pull down those who are successful, taking from them the fruits of their labor in an effort to narrow the gap between “those who have and those who have not.” Perhaps it might be better to provide “those without” the tools necessary to narrow the gap through their own productivity. While good, hard-working individuals seeking work often find they do not have the requisite skills to perform available jobs, many jobs remain unfilled because the “sting” of not working is more than sufficiently salved by an ever-expanding unemployment compensation system and an increasingly acceptable trend to “Take from each according to his ability while giving to each according to his needs.” (Karl Marx) College loan forgiveness…COVID compensation to employers…Increased Unemployment Compensation…mandatory paid sick leave…forced employer match to retirement programs…what else needs to happen before we understand the reality of our current world and how it fosters our dependency upon others to hand us comfort and success?

Perhaps we could gain from both the “wisdom” of Dr. Suess AND the reality of Mark Twain who said "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." We are not “owed” success – we must first seek it then ACT INTENTIONALLY to make it become a reality.  Think big and act audaciously without fear of failure…without concern about temporary loss or momentary setbacks…looking forward to making dreams come true rather than holding on to the past so tightly that it could never change…if you seek to live differently than you do as you realize opportunities that you never thought possible.