We all have dreams. Big, audacious goals that:
Sparkle in our minds
: becoming the greatest in our field, building a thriving business,…
mastering a new skill, or simply achieving a deeply personal ambition. It’s easy to say we want these things. We envision the feeling of “making it”. But as my recent YouTube Short pointed out, there’s a difference between wishing for the dream and actually putting in the “reps” to make it a reality.
- Do you want your dream enough to do the work?
- Are you willing to take massive action regularly?
- Are you willing to take action daily no matter what – like you do with flossing & brushing your teeth?
The Hidden Fears Holding Us Back
Why do we often fall short? It could be a “fear of failure,” not wanting another “no” or fall short in some way. But perhaps even more subtly, it could be a “fear of success.” What if we achieve our dream? Then what? What comes next? Are we ready for the new spotlight and responsibilities that will come with it? Can we handle the shade that comes with our shine?What parts of our current life will we have to leave behind? These fears can paralyze us, keeping us from taking the crucial first steps.
Plus, talking about what could’ve been can feel safer even thought it’s painful to never know what a solid attempt would have done. We can hide behind “well see what had happened was”.
Maybe many of us are depressed because we refuse to press into ourselves to birth what God placed inside of us to share!
The Michael Jordan Principle: Beyond Wishing
Think about the legends who have performed at the highest level. Think about Michael Jordan, speculating that his mother probably had to force him to stop practicing, to put down the basketball, to stop re-watching game tapes. This isn’t just about talent; it’s about an unyielding, obsessive dedication. An obsession that parents don’t have to force! An obsession that darkness and obscurity cannot snuff out! Jordan didn’t just want to be the greatest; he lived and breathed it, pouring every ounce of his being into becoming it.
Compare that to our modern struggles. We often find ourselves lost in endless scrolling, binge-watching, or gaming – activities that offer instant gratification but slowly erode the time and energy needed for our true aspirations. Our children and even ourselves are obsessed with pleasurable mindless technology time – over being dedicated to maturing in our gifts and talents.
How many of us will not reach out potential because of this tech dopamine addiction?
We are being conditioned for immediate feedback not long term effort with little to no feedback.
If you want to be the best chef – yet never cook in real life and only play cooking video games – you are not taking action to achieve your dream. Read the cooking books. Take cooking classes. Set up a schedule to cook 1 new meal each week! Engage with your dream now in your day to day life! Be so consumed that mindless scrolling is doomed!
The Trap of Digital Dependency
This leads to a critical warning: if we allow ourselves to become “dependent on technology,” constantly needing that hit of digital stimulation, we’re “setting ourselves up to live a life where we have to be controlled where we may never see our dreams unfold.”
Every hour spent passively consuming content is an hour not spent actively building towards your future. Our screens can be powerful tools, but they can also be cages, distracting us from the very effort required to birth our greatest desires.
What if we traded binging movies with taking movement on our own dream?!?
The Ultimate Question
Do you really want it?
Enter a moment of introspection. Look at your daily habits. Where are you investing your time and energy? Are your actions aligned with your aspirations?
If you truly want the dream, it’s time to:
- Identify your “reps”: What are the consistent, often unglamorous, actions required to move you closer to your goal?
- Confront your fears: Acknowledge any underlying fears of failure or success. Understanding them is the first step to overcoming them.
- Manage your distractions: Set boundaries with technology. Create dedicated time for focused work.
- Embrace the grind: Understand that greatness isn’t born overnight. It’s forged in consistent effort, even when motivation wanes.
The dream isn’t just a pretty picture on a vision board; it’s a destination that demands a relentless grit. Are you ready to pursue your dream more than you do tech dopamine?
Comment below.
Love,
Lonisa Mari 