Just Thinking

I’ve been noticing in media lately, that there has been a lot of emphasis on achieving our dreams.  I’ve also noticed greater numbers of young people holding out for their dream job before taking a mundane job; and people who have found themselves unemployed for the first time in their lives, discovering their “dream career” after being forced  into finding more creative ways to make a buck. 

It’s not bad at all to have gifts and talents that we want to utilize to receive greater fulfillment in life.  I know my grandfather who raised seven children during the Great Depression may take a different view, but I do agree with today’s philosophy to encourage greater fulfillment in our career.  Perhaps not so extremely as to say we pass up the jobs that keep our family fed while waiting for that dream career to emerge; but, I am a firm believer that if we are using our God-given gifts in our area of work, we’re going to be happier in life, overall.

But is that enough?

I saw two quotes recently from Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre, who said, People that dream for their own personal success dream from their inner poverty and When you dream for others, you can dream forever.  

What I think Matthew is saying is, it’s not bad to dream for ourselves, but when we do, we are creating dreams that come from a place of self-fulfillment and gratification that many times are birthed out of past hurts and pride. This is the inner poverty that Matthew is speaking of. This may bring satisfaction for a period of time because we are using our God-given gifts, but in the end it too will soon feel mundane, leaving a longing deep within us to really feel personally fulfilled.   His thinking is, that the greatest personal fulfillment in life comes when we look outside of ourselves and our own personal needs and dream instead to transform the world into a better place. This will feel contradictory to some, because it’s hard to jive the sense that personal fulfillment comes through not thinking about our needs.  I know, however, that Matthew Barnett speaks from experience as the head of a place that is in the business of dreaming dreams that improve the culture around them.

I agree. Personal fulfillment can only be achieved when we take the focus from ourselves and onto how we can dream dreams that will transform our family, our neighbourhood, our city and even our nation into a better place.  When we achieve this level of higher dreaming for the greater good and then actually apply them (application is essential) we will notice our dreams multiplying and with it our sense of fulfillment.  In other words, we will dream forever --- as Matthew says.

What are your dreams today?

…And ONE for all!!