Dream stealers

I think everyone had that moment when you were sharing a dream with some people, you were so excited, energetic and positive, you were talking about your future, how this dream will come true and how it will change you, but those people always were finding reasons why your idea would not work. They pretty rationally explained why you should stop dreaming. Those people are dream stealers. The sad thing is they are usually your siblings or best friends.

But do you know what the worst thing is? We are the biggest dream stealers ourselves. Quite often we can find all those rational explanations why our dreams will not work. Money, time, kids, parents, borders, languages, you name it. I am sure you know what I am talking about and probably the last “dream stealing” case wasn’t a long time ago.

I was in the same boat. I stole my own biggest dream “to be a professional adventure photographer.” 10 years ago I was a promising extreme sports photographer back in Russia. I started to be recognizable. I was published in national sports action magazines; I shot famous events. And then I moved to the US. What could be better, you can say? Here is the center of the adventures. Yep, but I chose the easier way and continued my design carrier. My internal dream stealer said me – shut up, dude, you are a fresh immigrant with limited English, and design will bring you much more money and much faster…

But you know what? Dreams move us forward. There are a lot of different ways to pursue them. Even if one way  did not work, you always can find a new one. I found mine too. I stopped blaming myself and started to think how I can be an adventure photographer. And quickly figured out that I don’t really want to be a professional photographer, I don’t want to depend on that. I want to shoot, I want to enjoy the process, I want to participate in competitions and win them. But I don’t want to make it for a living. And I quickly understood that I could use that money, that I get as a designer and pursuit my dream in a different way. I can create my projects; I can travel to places what I want to, and shoot what I love.

So, I am trying to say, don’t give up on your dream. Just try to figure out why you want to get it. What is your value? Don’t break a wall, just open a door and walk out.

There is a simple exercise which works. Take a list of paper or a notebook, write down your dream and why you dream about it. And after each answer ask “Why” question. Speaking of my example, I want to be a professional photographer. But why? Do I really want to earn money from that? Yes! But why? Because money is like an external measure of my photograph success. But why? Can I find another one? Yes! Do I want to be depended on money? No! And so on, so on…

Doing this exercise you can find real reasons for your desire, you can fool your internal dream stealer and find sideways, and finally that ugly guy will become your helper, because he will not steal your dreams, but will ask that “Why” question and help you to figure out the real reasons. And your dreams will become true!