Follow Your Dreams and be Happy

Every invention was once a dream. The idea began as a dream and then moved the dreamer to act to fulfill her dreams that became palpable and concrete. Some of the benefits of following your dreams are the gratification that arises from seeing your dreams in concrete terms, improving your confidence and the financial independence that it may bring to you.

I have a patient who has five children. The youngest is six years old. I recently saw her at the office after 3 years of skipping her annual gynecological examinations. She is a homemaker turned graduate student on her way to becoming a nurse anesthetist. The glee in her eyes was more than anything money could do for her. The following were her secrets for success:

1. She set new goals and worked towards them.
   
2. She had tenacity. The ability to stick to her dreams when conditions were against her was a great factor in her success. With five children, it was not easy to go to college and take care of them at the same time.
   
3. Her husband was supportive of her. The social support was a great help that made it easier for her to pursue her academic dreams.
   
4. She had commitment to whatever she did.
   
5. She had passion to pursue her dreams
   
6. She believed she could influence whatever happened to her and set out to achieve her goals.
   
7. She took charge of her own destiny and did not consider herself a victim because of her five children and her husband.
   
8. She took life as a challenge and welcomed her new situation as an opportunity to learn, grow and develop on a personal level.
   

Many times we ignore our small voice goading us to pursue our dreams. One day, when we are out window-shopping, we will see our dreams displayed in someone else shop. Sometimes our dreams may be out of our reach because we do not have the skills, or we do not believe in ourselves. Other times procrastination makes an easy victim of us. Whenever your little voice throws you a dream ball and you decide not to catch it, remember the following passage:

"To be happy without desire is to be content.

But content is not happiness.

And in contentment there is no progress.

Happiness is to desire something, to work for it,

and to obtain at least a part of it. In the pursuit of

beloved labor the busy days pass

cheerfully employed, and

the still nights in peaceful sleep.

For labor born of desire is not drudgery,

but many play.

Success brings hope, hope inspires fresh desire,

Gives zest to live and joy to labor. This is true

Whether your days be spent in palaces of the powerful

or in some little green by-way of the world.

Therefore, while yet you have

The strength, cherish a desire to do

some useful work in your

little corner of the world, and have the steadfastness to labor.

For this is the way to the happy life; with health

and endearing ties, it is the way to the glorious life."

By Max Erhmann in "THE DESIDERATA OF HAPPINESS."