19 REASONS TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

 

Facing Gatekeepers

It’s not all bad to get the “gatekeeper’s” perspective when you tell them you’re about to follow your dreams. An outside opinion can help put some perspective, but we must be smart and know how to separate constructive criticism from negativity.

I’m all in for constructive criticism, but I’m not going to let other people’s negativity stop me from following my dream.

 

Too many times I’ve experienced this situation.

Before setting on my first solo backpacking trip to DRC Congo, I got so much negative feedback about the fact that I was traveling alone to a “dangerous” country and that I was “wasting” the little money I had by going there.

I was, and still am too stubborn to let that stop me. When I set my mind to doing something… I do it!

 

Now, in response to what naysayers, gatekeepers, or anyone might say to keep you from dreaming, I want to share 19 reasons why you should ignore everyone and follow your dreams:

 

1.   The only “yes” you need to follow your dreams is yours.

 

2. You’ll regret it later in life, and if you’re delaying it, you’ll question yourself why didn’t you do it sooner.

3. Not following your dreams makes you feel unaccomplished. Eventually, this will stop you from dreaming altogether.

4. It will attract some attention, even from the naysayers and haters. You will feel strong as you prove the naysayers wrong. As Walter Bagehot said; “The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”

 

5. People who follow their dreams are doers. Doers have more power to create, influence, and change their environment… and eventually the world.

 

6. Life feels more memorable; hence you feel and become more memorable.

7. Following your dreams might take unexpected turns, but those are the exciting and memorable challenges of living the dream.

8. Those challenges will help you grow as they make you step out of your comfort zone.

9. Dreams make you take chances, but chances can bring more opportunities.

10. Afraid of it? Good. Being afraid makes you feel more alive, so smash through that brick wall of fear. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Elbert Hubbard once said, “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”

 

11. Your dreams and your actions define you. Don’t let others define you with what they tell you to do and not to.

12. You will inspire others to follow their dreams, even if they know nothing about you.

13. Following your dreams makes you interesting.

14. Who doesn’t love to challenge the status quo?

15. There are no rules in life so why limit yourself to what everybody else is doing?

16. Accomplishing your dreams will spark even bigger dreams.

 

17. You feel you have something more to live for.

18. Even if your dreams fail, you’ll feel proud you gave it your all to accomplish them. Dreamers fail now and then, but they also learn more in life. You learn from failure. So, dust yourself off and try it again.

19. It’s your life, live it under your terms!