To Dream Again
I forgot what it had felt like to dream. When I realized this—and permitted myself to again reflect on my hopes and desires—it was as if I had surfaced from being underwater, filling my lungs with a giant breath of fresh air.
Without the knowledge that my lack of dreaming had even occurred, my life had slipped into a routine rut, a set of mundane, daily tasks, and a schedule full of things needing to be checked off the list. I had not safeguarded myself against such dangers, nor foreseen that my creative soul could fall into such an unpleasant trap. Living a life of going through motions was never my style, and because my daily routine had become monotonous, many of my passions seemed to be fading.
One day while feeling stuck in life, I jumped into my truck and drove to my happy place at a nearby forest. There, I sat still and quiet, contemplating how and why I had become so discontented. I listened to some go-to music, spent time in nature, and read a Psalm. And it hit me: my creative soul had stopped dreaming. A voice inside spoke clearly to me. “Don’t stop. Dream on.”
That still, small voice inside filled me with hope—as my dreams often spur me forward like giant energy reserves. The desire to accomplish. The anticipation of what might be. The fulfillment of a heart’s longing. Yes, I will work hard for those things.
And why do we stop dreaming? Isn’t even the notion of dreaming often what propels us into action? How many times has one dreamy thought sparked our drive toward achievement?
I’m in good company for grasping hard to these beliefs. Some of the greatest minds have also found it beneficial to let themselves dream big. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," Eleanor Roosevelt said. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
While those thinkers both used their minds for the good of others, dreaming also can be advantageous on a personal level, as there are no boundaries or limits to how our dreams can aid us. No matter where we are in life, the power of dreaming can spark us into action. C. S. Lewis knew this when he said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
I feel we can all agree a clear dream or vision in the mind is crucial to anyone’s success, as even biblical text says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish:” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV).
So why does dreaming make us feel better? Here are a few simple reasons.
Anticipation brings pleasure.
Anticipation is closely linked with meaning and happiness. When we permit ourselves to dream, it projects us into a positive future—causing the brain’s trigger release of dopamine—which furthers good feelings, pleasant thoughts, and a stable mindset.
I’m reminded of how my thoughts propelled me into action during the early stages of my relationship with my wife. Because it felt so good to think about her as we dated, I would do nearly anything just to see her again. The good feelings I enjoyed drove me to desire more time with her, anticipating the next steps in our relationship.
Projecting ourselves into a better situation, a brighter future, or even a position out of the rut we’re currently involved in, causes us to become happier in our here and now and makes it much easier to solve problems and find solutions, resolve conflicts, and come up with good ideas. Our minds can think clearly and efficiently when not bogged down by negativity. When we dream about the future, just the anticipation of what can come may bring a strong enough positive response to free us from our rut or negative mental cycle.
Another example of the power of anticipation is found in the Apostle Paul, who after enduring tremendous suffering and hardship wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 ESV). Looking forward to good things yet to come changes our perspective, gives us strength, and provides us with hope and joy.
Dreaming points toward meaning.
Believing we will have a better future makes our lives feel meaningful. Meaning creates value. When we feel valuable, everything changes.
After suffering an accident that prevented me from continuing my career, I felt I had no purpose. I fell into despair, searching for answers. When I began writing—and dreamed about a future as a successful author—my life bloomed with meaning. I felt renewed purpose and was thankful the Lord showed me a new path of life. When writing gets hard and roadblocks come, my purpose and value as a writer for the Lord pushes me forward.
I find this concept in scripture when Jesus knew his crucifixion was eminent yet eased his disciples when they were troubled. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3 KJV).
Although the disciples could not fully be able to accurately construct the glory of what Heaven, these mansions, or their reunion with Jesus would look like in their minds, by dreaming about those things, they could keep themselves positive despite their ensuing persecution during the next years of their lives. With this image of future happiness and glory in their minds, the meaning and value of their mission would push them forward through trials when the first century church was coming together. They could remember Jesus’ promise to embrace them and receive them, certainly causing them to feel incredibly valuable. Having heard those words would create purpose in their lives and mission. Similarly, we are willing to do great things when we find meaning and value.
Dreaming provides motivation.
Closely tied to meaning is motivation. Motivation can be defined as the reason to drive forward toward a goal or achievement. When we have reason to pursue something—even despite any challenge or difficulty along the journey—we find a higher level of satisfaction, joy, and positivity. We’ll do whatever it takes to improve ourselves when we’re motivated toward reaching our dreams.
Dreams are the non-tangible target that enable us to do the extraordinary. Without dreaming, improving our situation would often be too difficult, creating new things, impossible, and obtaining things beyond our means, unreasonable. Dreams are the fuel required for action. They are the delivery system for movement and acquisition. A simple internet search of top sports athletes shows that many of the greats started with a dream. When things get hard, when opposition comes, and when failures occur, dreams and the motivation they provide have been the key elements to pushing many great people to success.
***
After feeling stuck in life, I had jumped into my truck and gone to my happy place. I sat still and quiet, contemplating how and why I had become so discontented. I listened to some go-to music, spent time in nature, and read a Psalm. After realizing my creative soul had stopped dreaming, that still, small voice spoke clearly inside of me. “Don’t stop. Dream on.”
And so, I believe I will. Because after breathing this newfound sense of energy and hope, I’ll do exactly what the still, small voice instructed me to do. It’s okay to dream, and I feel better being a dreamer.
My dreams are big. I gaze into the future and look fondly at what will be.
A spark hits me, and somehow, while I sit here writing this piece and doing what I love to do, I find it odd. I had forgotten that I had felt stuck in life.
Has dreaming already made the difference?