Dreamers in Dreamland

Do you remember how it feels like to dream? To forget the moment and ponder on the possibilities, the "what if's"? A lot of us lose our sense of adventure as we are stuck with our lives.With this we also lose the power of dreams. Of course we still hold on to our little wish list followed by "someday...". The truth is we only have a vague idea of the power of dreams. You see in dreaming we project a subconscious desire for something, a yearning if you will. We suppress this for fear of losing the reality we have come to accept. As I mentioned in one my previous posts there is comfort in staying within our set boundaries, our states of conditions. We are afraid to pursue the dreams that we often keep to ourselves for fear of failing. That and being ridiculed. So we go on dreaming, wishing for something new, hoping against all hope that somehow we will find that elusive pot of gold at the end of some rainbow.

Have you ever stopped to imagine that the world we live in today with technologies abound, in the name of making our lives easier, started as ideas, as dreams pursued by mavericks. Yes, that is the truth. People you have read about and heard of were once ridiculed for their "silly" ideas but imagine how our world would be like if  Henry Ford hadn't mass produced automobiles and made them available for the working man or if Jonas Salk hadn't discovered the polio vaccine in Medicine.Imagine if these people hadn't dreamt of a better world, where would we be now? Plan,plan,plan. Make note of each step and the mini-steps (if any) contained in each and write them down. Set realistic goals towards each step in terms of their completion as well as the time frame by which you set. Don't be too hard on yourself. You can only do so much at any given one time. Be resourceful and give a helping hand once in a while to someone in need. You'll never know what they can offer you in your quest.

Keep your dreams alive by making each day a step towards their realization. Make small steps each day. Don't give up in the face of adversary and difficulty. Make small steps and plan them wisely. Nothing ever worth attaining in this life can be had in a day's time. It takes time to work at what you aspire to have or to be. Give yourself a boost when necessary and do away with negativity. In the same regard stay away from negative individuals.Associate yourself with people who you know have a positive contribution to your aspirations. Always forge ahead. Never slow down and if you have to that is only to rethink your strategies, to reformulate your plan. Lastly, always practice humility. Give people credit where and when credit is due. Give more of yourself and be unselfish with your qualities and talents. When you invest in people you get a whole lot back. Practice kindness and try to be more understanding of other people's feelings. Remember that they are individuals too. If you develop this character and acquire the needed mindset then your dreams will be realities. In the process, feel good about yourself and feel better today. Others will too. Until our next post...take care of yourselves and keep your dreams alive. Don't waste this life of which you have only one. Thank you.

Yes, No, then again Maybe

Life is about choices. We make our decisions based on the choices that are made available to us. It can be as mundane as what color suits you or even profound like if he or she is the one for you. Of course there are times when necessary risks must be made, no matter how calculated they may seem to appear, in order to move forward, to get ahead. What makes you decide? Perhaps I should pose the question more appropriately by asking what factors or issues do you address when you decide upon a choice, especially one that will have a considerable effect in your life. First, some rundown on the basics.There are two ends of a spectrum which compels us to act on or respond to a given stimuli. Those that inflict pain and those that yield pleasure. We tend to veer away from the former and  aim towards the latter. Some of our indecisiveness is due to the fact that we have a rather vague grasp on our choices. We take risks which we often call leaps of faith and ask lady luck to deal us a winning hand.Of course you know that we are about 50% right in our choices with all things considered being even.But asking to make a choice is like being asked a question and how well you answer that depends on your knowledge on the subject in question. What you need to reflect on is how will your priorities change or more importantly how will they be affected when you choose to decide upon a choice over another. For example, you had a rather large promotion at work but it would mean you would have to do more traveling or even move out to a different locale. Of course you would either move your family with you if you are married or leave them behind and hope you would find the time to see them as often as your work would permit. Do you see what I mean?

Before you make a BIG decision in your life try to see the outcome from all possible angles first. How will this have and effect on you and the people you are with? As before, some questions need to be addressed. Write these down and on a point system answer each question and rate your answers 1-10, 10 being the best gauge that you are absolutely right and 5 meaning you are not really sure what the outcome will be. Of course below the halfway point means you aren't giving the right answers altogether.

What will I need to give up or compromise should I choose to decide?

How will my life change? Is it for the better? Or will I have to put in more effort only to gain very little?

What will I lose if I decide?

How will the people I love be affected should I decide?

Do I really NEED this?

If I were to decide what would be the long term effect of my decision?

Well, as you see, we got most of our bases covered. The purpose of this exercise is to train ourselves to be more aware of the decisions we make in life. Often times we jump into something without thinking of the possible outcome(s). Intelligent decision making is the key, based on information that is correct and precise. I mean be honest, do you want to go through life deciding on this and that with nothing more than your "gut feelings" or would you rather be sure and secure in your choices? Lastly don't rush into anything. Something can be said about thinking things through and weighing them for what they are worth and what they mean to you. Don't take anything for granted and never take the easy way out. Careful planning says tons about your character and drive to persevere. Live with the decisions you make and try to eliminate regrets from any equation. Until our next post then....remember, don't be afraid to learn something new everyday. You'll be glad to expand your horizons as more choices present themselves to you. Thank you for your time.