Learning to Dream

I have always been a person who loves the idea of dreams. I’ve spent half my life daydreaming, picturing myself in a million different heroic scenarios and missing things that were happening in my real, actual, present life. I have a lot of dreams and goals, most of which never come true. Do I just like the romantic idea of dreams, or do I actually want to make changes?

According to Bob Goff’s new book, Dream Big, that answer is an easy one. If I’m not achieving my dreams, it’s probably because of my lack of action--but it’s not just any action that’s important. Achieving big dreams comes from a lot of reflection, which leads to knowing and accepting yourself, which leads to identifying what your real dreams are, which leads to making them possible.

I admire Bob Goff’s leadership and the example he sets of being like Jesus--really living it and not just talking about it. So I was willing to listen to what he had to say about aligning my dreams with who Jesus made me to be. As I read this book, I followed along with the reflection questions at the back and actually wrote through my answers, 

Breakthroughs for me came first when he asked what I really want. I expected my answer to go one way, but what I found myself saying, out loud, was that what I wanted most was for other people to know Jesus through me, especially my family. I wanted them to know Jesus better through knowing me, and to know his love through mine. It was a full stop for me. If that’s my deepest ambition, then how does that change how I live? How does that change other things I’ve been chasing?

It’s not an easy answer, and knowing yourself is not a ten-minute thing. Lately I’ve been diving into the idea of reflection for the sake of living this life better. Emily P. Freeman has been an excellent guide to get me started, particularly her newsletter, but this book is another. It takes a more holistic look at the way our dreams and goals can build on each other and support each other. When we take the time to fit those pieces together, our lives can surprise us in some really interesting ways. 

If you’ve ever read Bob Goff’s writing, you know that dreaming big is the principle by which he lives. I’ve been in awe of his ability to make those dreams happen for years, but I sort of assumed that most of his success was through the force of his personality, or maybe by now through his reputation. But Dream Big suggests other reasons for why anyone achieves a goal. It invites a reader into consistent conversation with the self for the sake of achieving the big things that really matter, and for the sake of others, who really need what we have to offer.