“Since the dawn of time, people have been trying to influence the thoughts and emotions of others. Our culture took yet another turn toward something unreal after the Second World War, and we’ve been trying to make sense of it ever since.

A fair amount of thinking went into fabricating our identity after the war because we had to identify our ethos in contrast to the philosophies of communism and socialism, which had created our new nemesis. The Soviet Union was built on these principles, and they were expanding their sphere of influence all over the world. The frontal attack on capitalism, religion, and “our way of life” created a need for the West to draw up a narrative we could all get behind, something to bind us and make it all worth fighting for. What we got was Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best.

TV and movies were being used to help paint a picture of who we should be and how we should fit into this thing called society. It was contrived, sexist, and far too limiting. It didn’t take long for a counterculture to emerge as people innately felt how the whole thing was devoid of life. We have been dealing with this fallout ever since and are seeing it profoundly in the younger generations.

They know it is bullshit.”

–The Urban Monk, Pedram Shojai

There is something very exciting happening in today’s world. People are waking up. They are no longer content to punch the time clock to make someone else’s dreams come true. They are following their own. They are seeing that consumerism isn’t going to lead to a better way. People want to reconnect to the excitement they had when they were kids when they could be anything they wanted to be when they grew up. They are tired of hating Mondays, tired of not following their bliss, and, overall, tired of life.

People are finally realizing that the only way they can be truly happy is to follow the call of their souls. They are realizing they have a purpose, and it involves more than coming home each day exhausted, scrolling through Facebook, sitting in front of the TV, eating a microwaved meal, and going to bed.

There is a way out of feeling like there must be something more to life. You must follow your dreams and share your gifts with the world. Here are the powerful reasons you should follow your dreams.

The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

“We may place blame, give reasons, and even have excuses; but in the end, it is an act of cowardice to not follow your dreams.”
― Steve Maraboli

1. You will meet other people who are also following their dreams.

Have you noticed that when you are in a negative, complaining state, that you also meet other people who are negative? But, when you are in a positive flow, and you work hard to follow your dreams, you also meet others who are working at following theirs. Like attracts like. Don’t you want to be around people who motivate you rather than bring you down?

2. You will finally be doing the thing that you’ve always wanted to do.

My entire life I’ve always wanted to travel. Not just get two weeks of vacation every year, but I really wanted to see more of the world. There was nothing in my life like the feeling of realizing I was finally living my dream. I’ve savored every moment of it, and I’m so glad that I don’t have to look back on my life with regret that I didn’t follow my dreams.

3. You will keep dreaming.

When you follow your dreams, it inspires you to keep dreaming. My biggest dream was to travel. Doing that led me to follow my dream of writing a book. This has now led me to follow my dream of moving back to Hawaii. When we ignore our dreams, or let fear creep in, we give up, and our dreams die. We then live with regret and a sense of unsatisfaction because instead of creating our lives, we are letting fear take control.

4. You will inspire others.

I never thought that the biggest reward from following my dreams wouldn’t be making the actual dream come true. The biggest reward is from the hundreds of emails that I get from people that tell me how much I’ve inspired them to follow their dreams. Knowing that by living my purpose, I am inspiring others to live theirs is the greatest feeling in the world. I also now offer coaching services to help others take the steps to overcome fear and live the life they want to be living. Email me at [email protected] to find out more.

5. You will become brave.

One of the things I am most grateful for in my travels is the opportunity to experience Dia de los Muertos in Mexico. It reminded me of how short our time on this Earth is and reminded me to make the most of every moment. Sometimes, I’ve felt fearful while working to make my dreams come true, but I pushed past the fear, and took the necessary steps anyway. Something happened each time I did that. I realized I had become brave.

For more advice on how to follow your dreams, get my book, Dream Catcher: The Magic of Living Your Dream Life. It’s free with Kindle Unlimited. 

When you follow your purpose you are fitting your piece of the puzzle into this world that has just been waiting for you. -Valen Dawson