Is There Room for Dreams in a Grown-Up Life?
I remember summer afternoons as a child, laying on the grass and watching the clouds. I could see the mansion I would move into when I grew up. I imagined what my life would be like. It was absolutely glorious. Then I grew up and dreaming developed a different perspective. I no longer took time to dream.
As I thought about why, I realized that I didn’t want to face the disappointment of dreams that did not become reality. Dreams are a risk. To dream you have to admit to what you really want, and that can be scary. But if we hold ourselves to just our current reality, if we chose to stop dreaming, that can be a lot scarier.
Read more about dreaming: Awaken
Dreaming stretches my thinking. It gives me the hope of things unseen. It lets me imagine the impossible. Dreaming makes me take a step in a direction I might not take otherwise. Dreams change my thinking. How do dreams change your thinking ? Is there still room for dreams in a grown-up life?
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14 Responses to “Is There Room for Dreams in a Grown-Up Life?”
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It’s been so long since I dared dream. I’m actually afraid to. What if I just get hurt?
I am 40 and I have started to dream again. Mainly, because I am afraid to remain is this struck state. I have hope!
I’ve definitely been in that same place where my dreams have been completely silenced. I think one of the biggest issues for me has also been fear. Dreaming involves taking a risk. I want my life to have meaning and it is easy to stick to what I know works. However, when I dare to dream, a whole new world becomes available to me and my sense of confidence and meaning actually grows. Dreaming is empowering!
I am executing a dream currently but facing a lot of problems due to dual set of responsibilities…one towards the dream and other towards the exisiting work……feel torn apart and hence the first thing that comes to mind is quit the dream…..so far have been able to sustain but dunno how long
i have a dream that is 99 percent impossible. but i find it difficult to the give up the one percent possibility. where do i start from?
I believe we can have dreams and perhaps we cantry all we can to make them come true but if they are not in line with God’s will for us they will lead us down the wrong path. We won’t always have all of them come true. It reminds me of a country song “I Thank God for Unanswered Prayers”. There are times when God will give us the desires of our hearts just to teach us that it was not what we really needed or wanted. There are alot of rich and famous people who will tell you even though they have everything they want they are still the most miserable of people.
I didn’t have Christ in my life when I first tried to live out a lifelong dream. I had some success, but I was misguided and lost a lot of material things. Now that I’ve committed my life to Christ, I’m confident that those dreams will come true again as long as they are aligned with God’s will for my life. I have my up and down days, but I am excited about the future.
I have a dream and i want that it to be possible, still working i think it will take time to fulfill my dream, my dream need someone to work physical and i am 46 years today i wish in ten years that dream should be no longer a dream but a true picture
i dreamt SO many dreams over the years of which NONE of them came to pass. “DREAMING” can be such frivolity in the natural. i’m with those who seek the LORD’s “dream” for thier lives. Dreaming is NOT reality…every day life is! i choose to give all my thoughts and “dreams” to the LORD and He can do with them whatever He wants. i trust Him implicitly!
Oh, it’s definitely hard to dream. I have only started opening myself recently, to take risks and venture out of my comfort zone – and I’ve never been the same since. I think happiness is, ultimately, communion and “synchronization” with God. And if He wills you to dream, puts it into your nature, then it will happen. Creating humanity was probably an incredible risk for God, but if He could handle that… how much could He allow us to handle our own little risks, dreams, and visions?
I believe that THERE IS ROOM for dreams in adult-hood. Definietly. It is only whether or not we dare to. We loose our childlike innocence so quick, we get blinded, not looking at the victory that God has already won for us, not seeing the greatness of these dreams, but only look at th disappointment, the fear, the sacrifices, REALITY. This word reality, just gives us a plain mindset of,”not everything is within our grasp.” Having a dream its not wrong, its free. But persuing it is what most people fear, and are not willing to count the cost for.
I enjoyed this article and all of the comments, as well. It is wonderful to see that, even with fear, people have not given up on hope and dreaming. For me, dreaming is seeking God for what is impossible for me in my own strength, but never impossible for the Lord, for all things are possible with God. I do agree that it is vital to submit my dreams to Jesus’ will so that I am not leaning on my own understanding but trusting in God with all of my being. To not have dreams for me is to not have hope. To not know what to do to accomplish my dreams is to admit my dependence on Jesus and ask Him to lead me and speak to me throughout my days, and to listen diligently as I follow Him. Thanks so much for this wonderful post, and to each one who responded!
Reality to me…”it is what it is”. There is much drudgery in everyday life so dreaming is like an escape from it. Getting the “dream” will then become the drudgery. i believe we are here for HIS purposes. i make every day decisions and use an element of the common sense He gave me so when i’m not in His “dream” for me, i discern His “check” and stop. Not all of us were put here for “great exploits”. Leading someone to Christ when He calls them, is a “dream” come true for me. i am filled with Joy when He chooses to use me in that person’s life. Most people think of “dreams” as bigger houses, newer cars, or visions of fame and fortune. Like all these shows on tv today about being the next singing sensation! Having people vote them the “best”. All they ever say is,”it’s my “dream”. How does any of it Glorify God? i determine to keep my “radar” in sync with Him each day and with wonderment, i look forward to what He’ll have me do at any given time. Do i secretly want a certain situation to come to pass? YES! Yet being a realist i don’t allow it to consume my every other thought. Dreams always sound so self=centerd to me so i simply continue to say,”Your Will NOT mine”. Bless you all.
I love what you said Trisha about being here for God’s purposes and making decisions based on know what His dream for me is! What a great reminder. Well said.