The short answer is that you should do both. This is a self-limiting question. It implies that you must choose between following your dreams and being realistic. This premise is wrong because you can do both and you should. Also, it is only a dream if you can follow it. If it is impossible, then it would not be a dream. It would be a wish.
Why you should follow your dreams
A dream is not a wish
We have established that it is a wish if it is impossible. But it is also a wish if you don’t do anything about it. So there would be no point in calling it a dream in the first place.Following your dreams is realistic
There is nothing unrealistic about following your dream. As I implied before, it’s unrealistic to not follow your dream. Also, how you follow your dream determines how realistic it is.
If it’s worth having, it’s worth pursuing
If you pursue your dream, there is a chance that you will achieve it. But if you don’t pursue it, then you have assured your failure. You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take. Also, if you don’t try, you send yourself the wrong message. The message is that you will never get what you want out of life. It is a terrible and depressing message to send to yourself.
It gives your life a direction
One benefit of a dream is that it gives your life a direction and a purpose. Without a purpose or direction, your life would be empty. Also, trying to succeed without a direction is like trying to hit a non-existent target.
You will regret it if you don’t
Not following their dreams is one of the most common regrets of people in their later years. This should be no surprise. If you never tried you will know deep down that you didn’t do what you should have. If you tried and failed, at least you can say you tried. But if you didn’t try, then there is no excuse. Not trying is the worst failure.
So, we have established that you should follow your dream. Now, let’s look at how you should do it.
How you should follow your dreams
How you follow your dream is very important. This is because it will determine your success or failure. It will also determine your level of satisfaction from achieving your dream.
Define your dream as the continuation of your journey
You should see the road toward your dream as the first part of your journey instead of the entire journey. If you see your dream as a destination, then achieving it can bring a feeling of emptiness. This has happened to many successful people. It’s because they lost their purpose when they achieved their dreams. You can avoid this if achieving your dream begins the second part of your journey.
Example:
If your dream is to get your medical license, then becoming a doctor is an end. But if your dream is to heal people then becoming a doctor is a beginning.
It also helps if your dream includes activities and experiences that make you happy. Otherwise, even after getting everything you want in life, you can still not be happy. This has also happened to many people. It is because status, prestige, and possessions don’t make people happy. Activities and experiences do. In other words, achieving your dream should begin the next part of your journey. Also, the new part of your journey should have activities and experiences that make you happy.
Believe in yourself even if nobody else does
You must believe it before you can achieve it. Otherwise, you will think your efforts are a waste of time. This mindset will prevent you from putting your best efforts into it. Your belief in yourself must stay strong even if nobody else believes in you. On that note, no benefit comes from hanging around naysayers.
Create a mental roadmap to your dreams
A mental roadmap is the key to making your dreams realistic. It breaks down the path to your dreams into tiny achievable steps. Sometimes there are many paths to your dreams. You will need to choose the one that is best for you.
Goals form both the milestones and the stepping stones on this roadmap. After you achieve one goal, you will use it as a starting point for the next goal. This is how you use each goal as a stepping stone. Also, you use your goals to measure your progress toward your dreams. This is how the goals work as milestones.
Follow through
Dreams only come true for those who work to make them come true. This is because your thoughts are irrelevant without your action. After you plan your roadmap to your dreams, you must act upon this plan. It is your action that puts you on your path to your dreams.
As you achieve each goal, you should plan your way to your next goal. Once you have a plan, you act on it until you get to the next. Every once in a while, you look at how far you have progressed. This can provide encouragement during hard times.
Expect frustrations
The best route is the one that gives the smoothest path to your dreams. But there will be difficult times. When you face these it can be easy to quit. These are the times when you need to persevere.
You need to be flexible and willing to work around obstacles. You can also check to see if there are alternate routes to your dreams. You should also encourage yourself by looking at how far you have come. Whatever you do, don’t give up.
Avoid negative people
Following your dreams can be difficult enough even when everything is smooth. But negative people can make your journey much more difficult. This is why you should avoid them at all costs. Also, people are negative if they resent your success or your possibility of success. Many of these people are in at least one of three groups:
People who think you might succeed but hope you fail
People who predict and hope you fail
People who are envious of you
The saddest part is that some of these people may be close to you. This makes it difficult to remove them from your life. But if they don’t mean well, then you have to do what is necessary.
Seek out and learn from people who have walked your path
These people have gone before you and are positive examples. Also, many of them are willing to help you. Their advice is priceless, and they can be helpful during difficult times. Be willing to learn from them.
In summary, following your dreams is the realistic thing to do. Treat your dream like it is a continuation rather than the end of your journey. It is best to chart a mental roadmap to your dreams. This will allow you to break it down into manageable steps. You should use goals as both your stepping stones and your milestones. You should try to learn from people who have gone before you. Also, you should avoid negative people regardless of how close they were to you.