Dream Catchers

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.”

— T. E. Lawrence, "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" British soldier (1888 - 1935)  

You may be familiar with Native American ‘Dream Catchers’, also referred to as ‘Sacred Hoops’. They are believed to have originated from the Ojibwa Chippewa tribe in particular, who believed that the night air is filled with dreams, both good and bad. When hung above the bed in a place where the morning sunlight can hit it, the dream catcher attracts and catches all sorts of dreams and thoughts into its webs. Good dreams pass through and gently slide down the feathers to comfort the sleeper below. Bad dreams, however, are caught up in its protective net and destroyed, burned up in the light of day.

Growing up, I was often accused of day dreaming when my full attention was demanded on things I found less interesting than my fantasies of wishing I could be more than I am. It’s said those who dream in daylight are far more cognizant of things which may escape those who only dream at night and my thoughts carried me to an realization that without the possibility of making my dreams come true, why would I be burdened with such a passion to pursue them?

Our dreams are what keeps us moving towards a place where our world becomes what we were created for. But along the pursuit of these dreams you will inevitably come across the ‘Dream Crushers’, the antithesis of Dream Catchers. Dream Crushers hover in the present while dreamers fly to the future. They may attribute your dreams to selfish desires such as fame, fortune, ego, or even lacking ambition for more, but nothing could be further from the truth. Dedication, hope, and discipline is what keep dreams alive, especially when no one else sees or believes them.  

When we stop focusing on the success and start focusing on the significance of our talents will we realize the important role we have been called to play in the short term existence of our being in the lives of others. You, my fellow man, were created to not only fulfill your purpose but to also be a lighthouse to stand against the strong tides of pessimism and storms of discouragement, to guide those with similar dreams as yours. My dreams are an escape when all else seems to be failing around me and gives me an awareness of freedom as when doves are liberated from their enclosure and fly into the blue heavens with wild abandon. 

Be aware it’s a risk to share your dreams with others. When they’re not supportive, it is only because they lack the vision and urgency of purpose that lives deep within your heart to fill a void that only you can see. But sometimes, just sometimes, other dreams you never knew you had that laid dormant come true and open a whole new world of possibilities when you refuse to put limits on your potential.

I exhort you to continue to feed your dreams with hope and confidence that you were created to gift the world with a talent that only you can fulfill. As you pursue your dreams, don't forget this is a game you don't enter to merely compete, but to win. There will always be someone booing you in the stands, you may even hear the jeering and hissing from those closest to you. But you will also have those who are encouraging you on the side lines, listen to those voices as they cheer you on. This is a game between you and your destiny that you have to win for the people who came to watch you be triumphant.

Hold fast to your dreams, for if you allow your dreams to die, life is nothing more than a broken-winged bird that cannot experience the ecstasy of flight.  

Optimism

“Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.”

— George Bernard Shaw, Nobel Prize in Literature (1856-1950)

I have to admit, by nature I’m an optimist. Optimists see the glass half full, pessimists see it half empty, while someone with OCD sees it and says “Hey, who dirtied another glass!” I tend to always see and anticipate the good in others. To the pessimist, I may be foolish for always assuming the best in anyone or in any situation. Don’t know that I could function well in any other kind of world. Throughout my long life I have seen the best and worst in individuals which has led me to believe most people mean well, but in their effort to maintain their own idea of happiness they may be over zealous in protecting themselves from the worst in any one or any thing. 

Here’s a simple test to tell which of the two mental attitudes is your predominant one, when you reach for a rose, do you anticipate the fragrance or the thorn?

I do understand we should have a balance of pessimism and optimism to properly weigh the consequences of our decisions and condition ourselves to avoid being too quick to expect the worst in others or the best in others. I prefer to live in a world where I see the best in any situation rather than the worst because it keeps me in a positive and cheerful mood rather than feeling the doom and gloom of possible things to come. I believe optimism is a gift and has been like a super power that has carried me through the worst moments of my life by allowing me to count on the positive things that others may interpret as not being in touch with my own reality. I look at optimism as a gift because it presents itself during difficult moments to help me focus on the positive things my misfortune can lead me to if I choose to unwrap and use this perfectly-timed present.

We all have a little idealist and cynic in us and we know inherently which one we tend to favor. As optimists, we may even consider our mental attitude as the lesser of the two but that’s only pessimism making its presence known. I think optimist see things differently because by nature they have learned to be more tolerant and hopeful out of necessity. A pessimist may have learned the same way and considers the optimist as not being realistic for failing to prepare for the worst case scenario. Bottom line is we need both types in our lives. If you’re an optimist, you need the pessimist to stay grounded and prepare for the “what if’s” and if you’re a pessimist, you need the optimist to take you to heights you never knew you could achieve.

It’s not just about being hopeful that good things will happen but there is also a confidence, not wishful thinking, in knowing good things CAN happen. Optimists also tend to allow more room for others to make, and learn from their own mistakes. Studies show optimism causes you to expect a brighter future and can be a learned response in any adverse situation.

A number of studies also list the following five benefits of being an optimist:

1. They live longer, up to a decade longer

2. Have better love lives, even when only one partner in the relationship is an optimist

3. Are more successful, outselling pessimistic thinkers by 88%

4. Take fewer sick days and are more likely to rate their symptoms as manageable

5. Bounce back faster and stronger and use failure as fuel to perform even better in the future.

Don’t be too quick to downplay the benefits that come with either of these subjective approaches, even if it conflicts with the outcome you expect. So keep your chin up, yes all of them, and remember this; good times won’t last forever, and neither will the bad times.