Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Victorious Living

Home
Family, Parenting and Religion
The Art of Dreaming

The Art of Dreaming

Last updated on: January 1, 2020 at 5:00 am by Victorious Living

The Art of Dreaming 2019-10-25T16:04:43-04:00 Victorious Living

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

All of us have dreams. There are things we want to do, opportunities we want to take advantage of. Certain aspects of human living make us feel most alive. And part of the human journey is naming and intentionally making space for those kinds of activities.

Too often, our dreams get lost in the demands of day-to-day living. We might spend a day thinking about them or a retreat planning things out. But life seems to get in the way. Our existence seems to be an obstacle for living our dreams rather than the very vehicle through which we experience the life we hope for.

Part of the problem is we don’t really know how to dream. We don’t really know what we are doing. We aim wrong. We do wrong. We get frustrated and give up. Apathy is the rule of the day, not because we want it to be but because we do not know how to dream. While dreaming is more art than science, here are a few practical ways we can help see our dreams to fruition.

Base on Values

Here is the reality: you don’t want to be a famous singer or a top notch basketball player. Nobody wants to be the president or a noble peace prize winner.

What we really want is to be a person of influence. We want to be valued. We want to participate in something bigger than ourselves. Becoming a singer or politician or whatever it is, is just a means to an end.

If we want our dreams to succeed, we have to name the true thing we are dreaming of. Belonging. Purpose. Etc. If we pursue fame or fortune or any shadow-version of our values, we will be left feeling empty, and will start to see that it is not the true thing we desire.

Our dreams must be based on our values. What really matters to us? What would you do if money was no issue? If you never got famous or noticed for it, what would you do anyway? This is the substance of our dreams. We too often make our dreams about circumstance, setting, or the approval of man. These are cheap imitations, start naming what you really want.

Honest Inventory

It seems a little strange, but one of the reasons we don’t accomplish our dreams is because we do not know the truth of where we are starting from. It is like trying to drive from Nevada to Niagara Falls while thinking you are in Orlando.

When we buy a plane ticket over the phone, the first thing we say is, “I want to go to Denver”. And the worker nods on his end of the line and politely asks, “where will you be flying from?”

If we are not honest about our present, we will never seek a truthful future. Taking inventory includes naming what our gifts, opportunities, and attitudes are. Why do we want to change? What is happening that we are not content with, and why? How will a new reality not just help change our current reality – how will it be better? Truly better, better based on what we value most.

We have to know where we are so we can know which direction to take the first step. If we are not honest about our inventory, the first step will be in the wrong direction and the whole enterprise is destined to be lost.

Materialize With Goals

The last step to living our dreams is to make them into goals. We have a To Do list every day, mostly in our heads. And the thing that drives the list is what do I have to get done today?

Goals are intentional items on a To Do list. Start your daily list with the question: what can I do to pursue my dream today? Our little things don’t feel as life-changing as what we are after. But life changes by adapting our little things. We transform by redeeming our patterns. It takes time and discipline.

Setting goals based on our values invites us to not only head toward our dreams but participate in them. Knowing our values and taking honest inventory creates a structural tension between where we are and the life we truly want to live. Goals are the cobblestones that pave the way between Here and There, lessening the tension as we step into the life we long for.

Previous Post

December 30, 2019

End Well

Next Post

January 3, 2020 The Competing Ends of Man

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Choices Conflict Resolution Culture Change Emotions Failure Faith Fear Freedom V Growth Healthy Communication Hope Identity Influence Leadership Learn Mistakes Mood Curve Ownership Perspective Power Relationships Self-Awareness Self-Governance Systems Thinking Three Things You Control Transformational Leadership Trust Truth Uncategorized Values Vision

Select a Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Maranatha" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Be joyful Praise Him Come, Lord It is finished

Books by This Author Books by Victorious Living

See All Titles »