Too Many Dreams

Where do I start? What do I choose? How do I direct my energy?

These are a few of the questions I have encountered while considering success in future goals and my fingerprint on the world and its people. How can we follow our hearts and pursue our dreams while living in a society that especially challenges those who pave their own way?

I believe dreaming is the essence of life, a power which can, at times, be deafening. Simply existing in a progressively “digital world” can distract us from grounding ourselves to the only thing we as humans know to be true- the same matter of which we are made. Maintaining our connection to the earth is our energy source, our “charger,” and the barriers we have placed between our skin and the earth do not help the physical disconnection. Though effectively safe, and efficient for advanced industrial life; shoes, sidewalks, and floors create an even more intentional need for us to connect with nature, prioritizing exposure to negative ions in our daily life. The same goes for our minds and attention with routine breaks from technology.

“Digital world” is above in quotations as a nod to the subjectivity of life experiences. Compare Silicon Valley to rural Malawi, for example- digitally, they differ immensely, accordingly creating or limiting opportunities for those living in each place. My time spent between affluent cities and impoverished villages has revealed to me that, like myself, my friends all along the security spectrum have the same core dreams— to love, be happy, and find success. However, the way in which these dreams play out for each of us looks very different. The role that technology plays in our current realities is another conversation, one that I might some day find the energy to tackle, but my point here is to acknowledge the juxtaposition of completely different realities existing on the same planet. As humans; however, we are able to meet each other on that deeper level of existence, and use our likeness to connect through compassion and mutual understanding.

Through this connection, most of us share a universal experience that comes naturally, but can easily (and detrimentally) be forgotten in the midst of chaos— breath.

Breath is our life source, the way in which we feed our cells with oxygen and clear the fog from our brains. Through directing focus to our breath, the feeling of fresh ions through our nose bringing life into our lungs, and in the metaphor of releasing stale air from our bodies as we exhale, we come back to ourselves. We become inspired to maintain that cyclical groove in our day-to-day operations as well as within our mental worlds, and free a part of our brains that has been repressed by the increasing noise of society. When we apply focus, our bodies do the rest of the work. Breath is technically complicated, yet practically simple.

Thanks to the rich diversity of humans and our unique gifts, I don’t believe there is one script, strategy, or golden “key to success.” Though we find inspiration in stories of others who have made accomplishments, we possess our own powers that are more potent than those derived from external sources. Competency that we uncover through truly knowing who we are, and unapologetically sharing those authentic aspects of ourselves for the greater good, because the world needs that— us.

I don’t believe we must choose one thing, one track, one dream. While mono-tasking proves effective, there is power in holistically embracing the multiple facets of our dreams (the essence of ourselves) and, with patience, creating something never before seen. We are limitless, and though by definition that word may feel cosmically overwhelming, we can achieve our dreams in simple forms. By bringing our authentic selves, we apply focus and, like breath, simply trust the rest will be taken care of.

That freedom, I believe, is success.

What do you think? Share in the comments below.

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