Follow Your Dreams

To continue on with the formula for success, today's topic will be the catalyst for your wants. That is your strongly desired goal or purpose; in other words, your dream. This goes way beyond mere goals that can be quickly discarded or altered. New Year's resolutions pale in comparison to anyone's dream. It is your life-long purpose and aspiration. Your dream is what gives you ultimate persistence despite all odds against you. Time, finance, and relationship hardships can not stop you from what you ultimately dream about.

The problem is that most Americans have forgotten how to dream. Our aspirations exist as a child; but through the school system, college, and then entering the real world, our ideals and higher purpose that we wanted for our lives are systemically stripped. We become a cog in the wheel of business, government, and politics. It is virtually unavoidable. We need that job to pay college tuition bills, rent, and living expenses, which eventually turn into indentured servitude agreements. This is in the guise of credit card agreements, loan payments, and social security deductions. This is further complicated by settling down with a spouse, children, mortgages, and car payments. We fall into the grind, the rut, the daily routine.

What ever happened to America being the land of opportunity? Instead, we have become the land of employment. We automatically and even involuntarily become a servant to someone else's dreams of financial security. That's because we are taught that financial security is a steady paycheck. It fits with our obligations, our budget, our social norm. Meanwhile, the innovators, the entrepreneurs, and the dreamers recognize that the only way the "pursuit of happiness" can be realized is through their own efforts, not under the direction of others, to whom you are nothing but an employee ID number. In turn, the employee benefits and retirement plans that we told were vital are eventually stripped away.

Why does this invariably happen? Because even the head strong dreamers that want to be musicians, or actors, or athletes are beaten into the ground, and are held up as examples of failures to others who dare try. Only the best of the best are rewarded and are treated as "American Idols". Meanwhile, the immigrants and foreigners who enter this country continue to exemplify the American spirit by starting their own businesses , just as our ancestors did 100 years ago. Generation by generation the creative and innovative spirit is demoralized and left bankrupt.

You might ask how has this developed into this despondent state. Easy. Make sure the public school system does not teach financial and money concepts. Money is not the most important thing in the world, but it ranks right next to oxygen and water when it comes to living. As children grow up, indulge them to be consumers of the latest gadget or fad through advertising. Feed big business with money to dominate their lives in every sense of their existence. Then, add complicated stipulations and additional fees on their credit card agreements, tax filings, and even their paystubs to tighten their shackles and strip away their independence. Multiply this by generations and the widening generation gap, and you get an entire population that is mass producing debt that they will never escape from. Voila! You have indentured servants.

So what is the escape from this demise? Your dreams are not dead, but dormant. Your education and desire for learning can be resurrected. Information is not knowledge without action. Sacrifice and effort will be required, but what are your other options? Servitude? Knowledge creates choices. Choices allow us to change our lives. Live your dream, your life-long purpose. Find others to assist you. Work together to accomplish common goals. It is possible.

This doesn't just apply to financial matters; but spiritual, emotional, and physical dreams as well. Balance in life is essential for true "pursuit of happiness".

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (NIV)

If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@panama-vo.com