The Problem with Dreaming Big


Every motivational quote, song or advice always asked me to dream big. Nobody ever defined what big was. I have quite a few problems with this general notion. For starters, the same theory doesn’t apply to every situation in life.

If I want to be a painter, it has to be close to Picasso, a writer Shakespeare, or any other chosen field and the man on the highest pedestal. What about all the other people out there? The 100’s and 1000’s of other writers and painters are they all bad? Are their achievements not worthy of acknowledgement?


It becomes highly Unrealistic

As a beginner, I am struggling to get my article published in one noteworthy place. I am waiting to earn my first paycheck doing something I am passionate about. Amidst this, trying to aim for being the next Shakespeare seems gravely unrealistic. Also, it is a very vague and non-actionable goal.

Apart from transporting me into my world of imagination where I am an acclaimed writer receiving awards and praises, this dream would not do much for me.


Nothing else seems like an Achievement

If I haven’t reached my goal then it is not an achievement this is how my mind processes data. I refuse to wait till my big dream comes true to be happy.

It may take years or even decades. So dreaming out of my comfort zone is great but dreaming to become the President overnight is a tad bit foolish. It engulfs me into a trap of dissatisfaction and guilt.


Dreaming Big won’t work if you don’t have an actionable plan

All of us have heard so many stories of miracles, from rags to riches and the most recent going viral that it is very difficult for us to come out of our make-believe worlds and make some actual actionable plans.

Yes, I also want to be rich, healthy, successful, amazing and 300 more things overnight but sadly that is not how it is going to happen. One step at a time, working hard and smart for a long time is the easiest and probably the only way to get there.


The brain is at Cross Roads

I was recently listening to the audiobook, ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear and in the chapter ‘The Man Who Didn’t Look Right’ he goes on to explain how our brain assimilates information over time and it becomes a part of our subconscious. A lot has been written on this topic.

One of my favourite books is ‘Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, this book also goes on to explain how our brain is like a cognitive machine and it will churn out solutions. But the problem here is, the brain has been fed with mediocre data and is expected to give extraordinary output. The data provided is insufficient or probably at a premature stage to help achieve the big dream.

It is a very subjective topic and most of you might not agree with me. This is just my point of view.

4 thoughts on “The Problem with Dreaming Big”

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