Pursuing your "dreams"

[m1469]

If you knew that your dreams would come true if only you work hard and do pursue them, would that change the tenacity of your pursuit ?  Or the way you pursue them ?


m1469

[Bob]

But you can't know that.

The problem is that you could spend a large chunk of your life and have no results.  That sounds more like a gamble to me. 

[m1469]

But you can't know that.

Actually, I think to an extent a person can.  Not saying that a person would know how every detail would work out... but for me anyway, I can see something clearly right now that would be part of "my dream" and I know I could fulfill it.  I would have to work for it, no doubt, but I know it could happen.

[rob47]

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting"

 

[lilypiano]

Maybe knowing for sure that your dreams would come true would make your pursuit of them a little more relaxed.  I think part of what would make them come true would be pure enjoyment and passion for the work you do everyday to reach your goals.  If someone is more  focused on the product of years of work rather than the process, maybe they would lose some enthusiasm if they knew the outcome.
  I watched a piano competition last summer, and the winner said in her bio the best way to describe her experience and love of music is to play. She said that she was more comfortable playing piano than speaking.  She also said the process of learning music is the best part of being a musician for her.   Another pianist said that for years and years she disliked practicing, and now she always enjoys the thrill of performing for a crowd.   

[ted]

I don't think I have ever "pursued" a dream at all, although I am sure people who know me well would say that I have. Even now, just contentment does me quite well, but I fully expect life to deal me dud hands. As John Cleese says, when we accept that the coffee will be cold and that we shall miss the bus, we can be happy. I have never experienced either life or music as a straining and striving process, much less a competitive one. I just exist and do not wish to go anywhere because I am already there.

It depends on whether one is, by nature, a happy pig or a wretched Socrates I suppose.

[johnny-boy]

What's left if we don't pursue our dreams? That's the driving force that motivates us to climb higher and higher. I’d sooner not exist at all rather than to give up my dreams.

Go for it!!!

John

[prometheus]

I agree with Ted. You enjoy dreams, chasing them will be fruitless. It's like chasing and trying to catch a butterfly; what use does that have? Just sit back and watch is come and go.

Dreams aren't real and they never will be. Dreams will disappear once they are within reach and then new ones will appear at the horizon.

[johnny-boy]

I agree with Ted. You enjoy dreams, chasing them will be fruitless. It's like chasing and trying to catch a butterfly; what use does that have? Just sit back and watch is come and go.

Dreams aren't real and they never will be. Dreams will disappear once they are within reach and then new ones will appear at the horizon.

That's depressing prometheus.

I think chasing one's dreams is an optimistic way of living one’s life. Your butterfly analogy is incomparable to one’s dreams.

I had a dream of composing music for television and film. I think of a dream as one’s paramount goal in life.

True, when a dream is fulfilled, a new dream will surface. That’s the beauty in dreams. There’s always another one to inspire one to reach higher and higher levels of accomplishment.

Bring sunshine into your life, man – and dream!

Best, John

 

[Mozartian]

No idea. Pathetic, eh?

Anyway, I have too many dreams. 

[rob47]

"When you want something, all the universe conpires in helping you achieve it"


note:. " " means I am quoting Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist which I suggest everyone read right now.

[pianolearner]

I agree with Ted. You enjoy dreams, chasing them will be fruitless. It's like chasing and trying to catch a butterfly; what use does that have? Just sit back and watch is come and go.

Dreams aren't real and they never will be. Dreams will disappear once they are within reach and then new ones will appear at the horizon.

I also disagree. A dream remains a dream until you start chasing it. That's when it starts to become a reality.

[johnny-boy]

"When you want something, all the universe conpires in helping you achieve it"


note:. " " means I am quoting Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist which I suggest everyone read right now.

And you call me Pathetic.

How's the universe going to help you? One's ability, determination, and sense of life are the imperative forces that will help one achieve one's dreams. Look inward for the key to unlock your dreams, not outward.

John

[pianolearner]

Actually, I think to an extent a person can.  Not saying that a person would know how every detail would work out... but for me anyway, I can see something clearly right now that would be part of "my dream" and I know I could fulfill it.  I would have to work for it, no doubt, but I know it could happen.

So, what is stopping you?

[johnny-boy]

But you can't know that.

The problem is that you could spend a large chunk of your life and have no results.  That sounds more like a gamble to me. 

You're going to be spending the whole chunk of your life here on Earth either way. Tis better to be spending it seeking your dreams than to have a "why bother?" attitude through the entire journey.

Go for it man!

Best, John

[gorbee natcase]

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting"

 

This could be the most beutifull answer

[johnny-boy]

I agree Gorbee!

John

[Ruro]

What's left if we don't pursue our dreams? That's the driving force that motivates us to climb higher and higher. I’d sooner not exist at all rather than to give up my dreams.

I must ask; what if your dream is impossible to fulfill, you can't let go, and all you can do is keep trying, despite the known inevitability?

To put it bluntly, your completely screwed right? Especially if you can't settle for less... give me a good answer to these questions, and I'll send you flowers and cookies.

[johnny-boy]

I must ask; what if your dream is impossible to fulfill, you can't let go, and all you can do is keep trying, despite the known inevitability?

To put it bluntly, your completely screwed right? Especially if you can't settle for less... give me a good answer to these questions, and I'll send you flowers and cookies.

Ruro, it doesn't really matter if you succeed in obtaining your ultimate dream or not. It's about the journey, the quest, the purpose in our life that really matters. The excitement is in the adventure getting there, not so much being there.

There was a boy I went to school with that came from a very poor family. All he talked about in school was being rich and successful someday. He was determined to make this happen. Well, I met him several years ago and he became super rich from owning a chain of supermarkets (101 stores) .

Although he was proud of his achievement, he told me; "John, I envy you, the adventure is still in front of you". I said to him; "but you made it, you're living your dream". He replied: "No John, the living dream was the exciting journey getting there - not the dream itself".

Besides, we may never achieve our ultimate dream, but by trying they'll be many little successes along the way that wouldn't have been possible without this journey pursuing our dream.

Best, John

[pianolearner]

I must ask; what if your dream is impossible to fulfill, you can't let go, and all you can do is keep trying, despite the known inevitability?

To put it bluntly, your completely screwed right? Especially if you can't settle for less... give me a good answer to these questions, and I'll send you flowers and cookies.

What you have is a pipe dream. I must agree with johnny-boy, the journey is often the best part. Someone once said that the worst thing that can ever happen to you is to have all of your dreams come true at once.

[rc]

If you knew that your dreams would come true if only you work hard and do pursue them, would that change the tenacity of your pursuit ?  Or the way you pursue them ?

Another very interesting thread m1469!

I know the answer is yes on both counts. You will give a much better effort if you believe the dream is possible. The more doubt one has, the more likely they will give up when the path gets bumpy. There is no question about this in my mind. I didn't truely begin to learn piano until I came here and put my doubts to rest. Nothing begins to work until I truely believe.

Dreams aren't real, but they're one of the first steps towards reality. Having a dream is synonymous with having a goal... Sure you can sit, watch the butterflies and be complacent. I would call that fate - letting life take you where it will.

Or, as we drift along the river of life we can steer ourselves to the currents of our choice, I would call that controlling your destiny.

Getting upset over cold coffee and missing the bus, is like trying to fight the current... A lot of wasted energy.

You needn't fight the current in chasing a dream, it doesn't have to be a constant battle. I was reading a fitness site earlier today, though I couldn't make sense of most of it, I found a good phrase: "Enthusiasm trumps willpower, everytime". If it takes willpower to begin, at some point the effort will have to become enjoyable in order to stick with it.

Using the river analogy; it may take some effort and willpower to reach the stream you want, but once you get on the right track (begin to see results and enjoy it), it will flow.

[pianolearner]

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven (Tread Softly- Yeats)

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams
 
 

[prometheus]

Depressing? Huh!?