In honor of the great Martin Luther King Jr., I thought I’d like to touch on the concept of dreaming today. Dr. King did not have grandeur visions of wealth, or possessions, but rather he envisioned something more valuable, something that tore into the fabric of our society’s way of thinking; Dr. King dreamed of a world for the better, a dream that was selfless, fulfilling, and meaningful. His dream inspired him to wake up every morning and fight with all his soul to change the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life for his dreams, would you?
Dreams are your vision of the future and how you think the world could be. If you have strong convictions and beliefs that the world is not as it should be, which I hope many of you do, then it is likely that your dreams relate to making the world a better place. World poverty, disease, hunger, and inequality are all things that eat at the greatness of mankind and erode the possibility for an even greater world that could accomplish so much more.
Now it’s great if you have dreams of owning a Ferrari one day, or building that mansion upon the hill, but at the end of the day, I’ll argue that’s not true wealth. I’m not standing on a soapbox as I’m also attracted to these things, but I know in my heart of hearts that this is not my true purpose. Taking the road to material wealth will not create a significant difference in the world. Your legacy as a selfish rather than selfless person will be soon forgotten. However, if you dedicate your life to helping others, a piece of you will always be a part of others and the opportunities you gave to future generations will echo your greatness forever. The only difference is you have to be okay knowing that there will be no rewards other than a thank you here and there. There are no Oscars or Grammys for those who choose to be selfless in their lives. Therefore, your dreams need to be so fulfilling, motivating, and inspiring that they alone dictate how you live day in and day out without external reinforcement.
Dreams should be inspiring, and should be something that you want with every ounce of your existence, your dreams should summarize who you are to your soul. When you’re on the correct road to your dreams you’ll feel at peace with yourself and know that you’re doing the right thing.
There are more important things than money in this world. On your search for wealth and financial freedom, ask yourself if you’re really following your dreams or if you’re a slave to the dollar. Also, ask yourself if your dreams will better the world once achieved.
We all have dreams, however, learn to question yours and make them so damn inspiring that you can’t help, but wake up every morning to fight for them.
Great post! I think money is a great tool but should not be the focus of our dreams. Living JUST to make a lot of money is really a ridiculous way to to live if you think about it.
I think dreaming of the impossible and of how much good can be accomplished and experienced in a lifetime is much more rewarding.
Thanks for this thought provoking post 🙂
Hey Ralph,
Thanks for your comment. I worked at a nursing home back in high school and saw just how different people’s perspectives were at the end of their lives. Some were still discussing the deal that got away, while others had regrets, and yet the ones that seemed happiest, were the ones that focused on relationships and helping others. There were some folks in the nursing home that were still volunteering! These were the ones that seemed most alive and happy – through helping others and fulfilling their meaningful dreams.
Thanks again for stopping by Ralph!
Nice choice to include the Tool/Perfect Circle (I forget which one) version of “Imagine” on this post.
It’s funny, but the song is just as powerful in this version as it was when Lennon sang it in his style decades ago.
I’m sure there’s a metaphor for real dreams in there somewhere 😉
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