What is Your Purpose for Dreaming Big, Little or Dreaming at all?

Hello Everyone!

I had an intriguing conversation this weekend, one which gave me pause...it has been reverberating in my mind ever since, so I thought I would bring it into this place to discuss further. I figured there is a reason for its haunting me, continuing to rattle around in my brain like Marley's Ghost on Christmas Eve!

I was sharing dinner with a person who has been significant in my life, and the topic of having, living and being accountable to our dreams for our futures. You know, those personal visions that pull us forward, awakening us to possibilities and opportunities we would never have known otherwise.

My dinner partner stated, point blank, "If you have people who you are depending on you, you can't have dreams. You just have to live."

And my response was, "It is precisely FOR those people that you MUST continue to dream. If your ability to dream dies, what do you teach those you love?"

As I said, it sparked further dialogue between us, with me looking at this person quizically, wondering, "Have we EVER known each other?!"

Why do you continue dreaming?

What do your dreams fuel for you?

Where would you be without your dreams, visions, plans or possibilities for a more vibrant, fulfilling future?

Answer any or all.....I really would enjoy hearing your responses....I can tell this conversation is going to be a memorable one for me. Perhaps it will be for you, as well.

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE




Where I Live My Dreams

Hi,

As usual, your message was about a crucial subject.

I believe in Infinite Possibilities. Just this morning I posted a sincere message at this forum requesting people to contact me who can see 1 minute into the future. Just because it's never been done doesn't mean someone can't do it.

What I want to do is to help my wife and myself, and our kids and grand-kids, in as big a way as I can.

We all build a world in our heads, and I'm trying to build as big a world in my head as I can.

For one thing, it's a *LOT* safer to dream big than it is to dream little. Which is the opposite of the way it feels. It's safer, and my trading experience proves this, to do the scary thing than it is to do the safe-feeling thing.

I know I will succeed in a monetary way, unless I die. And I'm going to create a fallback plan even for that by loading up on insurance. Did you know you can have fallback plans for your fallback plans? That's the way Joe Ross did business; as he truthfully said "I refuse to lose."

My dreams are unseeable and unfeelable by anyone other than me, yet they're infinitely stronger than steel and will outlive me by a considerable margin.

Best,

-Boyd

> Hi

***Hi Boyd and all....

> I believe in Infinite Possibilities.

***I really appreciate that, Boyd, in one of the classes I taught a couple weeks past I noted we all have a choice to either put "IM" in front of possibilities or "INFINITE" in front of possibilities. We believe in whichever one and then take congruent action...or if we do NOT take the congruent action, it shows we do not hold very strong beliefs.
> For one thing, it's a *LOT* safer to dream
> big than it is to dream little. Which is the
> opposite of the way it feels. It's safer,
> and my trading experience proves this, to do
> the scary thing than it is to do the
> safe-feeling thing.

***How so? Boyd, would you please continue along with this thought? I want to be sure I understand what you are meaning. Thanks!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


Dreaming Infinitely

Hi,

After posting this I really should do my disappearing act or people won't think I mean what I say, which I always do.

You wrote:
> Boyd, would you please continue
> along with this thought? I want to be sure I
> understand what you are meaning. Thanks!

The only proof I can offer that it's safer to do the scary thing than the safe-feeling thing is this: Most people don't do the scary things; most people live shorter, less enjoyable lives than they could have. I posit there is a connection between the two situations.

Additionally, think about the various kinds of losers. My Mentor Robert A. Heinlein wrote: "People who go broke in a big way never miss any meals. It is the poor jerk who is shy a half slug who must tighten his belt."

I say, if you're going to win, win BIG! If you're going to lose, lose big! (Big losses *always* contain the seeds of even bigger wins. Think about it. Small losses just grind you down and make you quit.)

Bye LOL!!

-Boyd

Hi Boyd,

I used to read lots of Robert Heinlein when I was a teenager (and younger), though I tended to like his early stuff (pre 1960)....

I think it is good to think big! Here's the way I tend to look at it....

You can aim low, or you can aim high. But if you aim high, and miss, you may still have gained more than if you just aimed low!

So, I think in general it is better to aim high -- at least for the long term!

Then, even if you don't quite make your aim, you'll probably still have done well.... :)

So, I think it's safer to aim too high than to aim too low.... :)

Dien Rice

In the movie, Contact, as father and daughter are looking at the stars one night, the daughter asks…."Dad, do you think we’re alone in the universe?" and Dad says….."If we are, it sure would seem like a waste of space"

This may not be the exact wording, but you get the idea and it’s the same with ourselves. What is the point of existing without dreams, plans or ideas of what we want to do with our lives, no matter how far out or extreme they may seem?

Sure we all have responsibilities like providing for a family or even just getting ourselves through every day, but what’s the point, if that’s all there is?

In another movie called ConAir, there’s a guy on the plane who is insane ( he kills people and drives them around in his car with him) but he considers insanity is getting up every morning going to work for the same company for 40 years and then at the end of the 40 years they tell you to p*ss off.

Okay, driving dead people around with you is obviously for the mentally unstable, but from his point of view, 40 years of routine and then being asked to go away, is insanity.

I’m not criticising anyone who is devoted to their work, I just suppose that some people are happy doing what others consider to be unacceptable.

A life without dreams…….seems like an awful waste.

Richard

PS Some people say there don’t have a choice, they don’t have time for dreams, because they’re too busy just living. I think they’re afraid of what might actually happen if they did dream a little and consider the possibilities. Some people fear success, because they know that along the way they may have to change even a little and that can be the hardest thing you can ever do.

> In the movie, Contact, as father and
> daughter are looking at the stars one night,
> the daughter asks…."Dad, do you think
> we’re alone in the universe?" and Dad
> says….."If we are, it sure would seem
> like a waste of space"

****Hi Richard!

I really enjoyed "Contact" what an awesome movie. I found that entire conversation quite disconcerting (obviously)....why would we all be here occupying space if it is not to fulfill our own, the community, the world's dreams?

I think in your PS you pointed to a very valid point...that fear is what keeps people stagnant. That leap into living a life of dreams is exceptionally scary. In fact, I have been mid leap for about a year now! It is exhilerating, frightening, awe-inspiring, nerve wracking, and I would not trade it for ANYTHING!

Thanks for responding, Richard, quite thought provoking!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE

Julie --

I would say first of all that everyone has someone who is depending on them. Most people think of their kids or spouse but it is much broader than that. Especially in the context of how public a person you are. The more public the more people who are depending on you whether you know it or not.

Even in the context of a private person there are always people who are watching you, seeing what you are going to do. You carry an influence on these people and most of the time aren't even aware of it. So that's an indirect dependence but there none the less. Zig Ziglar pointed this out to me.

So dreams are important - however - I do think they need to be considered in light of the other *choices* we have made up to this point. More specifically the results of the choices we have made.

I read a story of a man who died climbing Mt. Everest. Don't remember the name of the person now. It was his passion. He left his wife and children behind. Not to count the time he spent preparing for his climb which I'm sure was not inconsiderable. The story was just talking about him and how he persued his dream. When I finished the story I thought to myself was it good that he pursued that dream? Did he really serve his wife and children by pursuing it? I don't think so.

I believe this mans goals were out of balance. He had one goal that overshadowed all the others to their detriment. That is the difficulty with goals - making them fit in the context of the entire life picture. Fitting them in with the choices we have made in the past.

I've always been intriqued by Gordon's Square One materials as they do attempt to keep all of this in perspective. Gordon is also aware of some of my background in respect to this from conversations we've had in the past.

Let's now put this in perspective. I have a recent arrival at the house - a beautiful 3 month old girl. Would I responsible to have the dream of climing Mt. Everest and putting everything into that dream at this point in time? Absolutely not. Could I take that dream and work with it turning it into something that still fulfills me but remains responsible to my family - absolutely. And who knows what new things will come out of that kind of thinking?

My summary - you can have dreams - but they have to be in context.

-- Dan Butler

> Hello Everyone!

> I had an intriguing conversation this
> weekend, one which gave me pause...it has
> been reverberating in my mind ever since, so
> I thought I would bring it into this place
> to discuss further. I figured there is a
> reason for its haunting me, continuing to
> rattle around in my brain like Marley's
> Ghost on Christmas Eve!

> I was sharing dinner with a person who has
> been significant in my life, and the topic
> of having, living and being accountable to
> our dreams for our futures. You know, those
> personal visions that pull us forward,
> awakening us to possibilities and
> opportunities we would never have known
> otherwise.

> My dinner partner stated, point blank,
> "If you have people who you are
> depending on you, you can't have dreams. You
> just have to live."

> And my response was, "It is precisely
> FOR those people that you MUST continue to
> dream. If your ability to dream dies, what
> do you teach those you love?"

> As I said, it sparked further dialogue
> between us, with me looking at this person
> quizically, wondering, "Have we EVER
> known each other?!"

> Why do you continue dreaming?

> What do your dreams fuel for you?

> Where would you be without your dreams,
> visions, plans or possibilities for a more
> vibrant, fulfilling future?

> Answer any or all.....I really would enjoy
> hearing your responses....I can tell this
> conversation is going to be a memorable one
> for me. Perhaps it will be for you, as well.

> With Purpose and Passion,

> JULIE

Hi Dan and all!!

Excellent response, and so organized of you to have a summary!

> My summary - you can have dreams - but they
> have to be in context.

In a book I am reading called "Care of the Soul" it talks about pursuing your own genius. It is quite fascinating, and it speaks of how pursuing your genius is so positive for raising your children, so they can learn to seek their own genius.

One of the folks I work with was a competitive figure skater. She can not do that anymore, so we are digging to the heart of her dream, what was it that enlivened her when she was on the ice. Its quite fascinating actually....

And as a bonus, I have uncovered some "DREAMS" quotes and learned a LOT this morning.....

"Dreams - A microscope through which we look at the hidden occurrences in our soul." Erich Fromm

"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blue prints of your ultimate accomplishments
Napolean Hill

Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die. Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly
James Langston Hughes

The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."
Og Mandino

To the degree we're not living our dreams, our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves."
Peter McWilliams

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams....Eleanor Roosevelt

I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams."
Jonas Salk

Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."
Henry David Thoreau

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined
Henry David Thoreau

I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours
Henry David Thoreau

Dreams are the touchstones of our characters
Henry David Thoreau

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born
Dr. Dale Turner

Now go love on that baby and her Mommy, Dan! They are indeed blessed to have you with them!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE

Julie --

You quoted Napoleon Hill. Have you ever read "A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill"? It contains an interesting study in this area of Dreams and Context.

-- Dan Butler

> Cherish your visions and your dreams as they
> are the children of your soul; the blue
> prints of your ultimate accomplishments
> Napolean Hill