Author Dan Millman posits in Dream Small that scaling dreams down to size can be more effective than creating grandiose ones. He addresses his post to Generation Y, a group who tend to aim (in general terms) for the biggest and best, and quickly too.
I think the world needs people with outrageous dreams and visions. But most of us need not fall into that category. We need small dreamers too. Millman makes a good point that creating small dreams, and fulfilling them, is good learning in itself, and can also lead to those bigger dreams. Millman ends by making a case for discovering the joy in the ordinary.
What do you think?
Hi Debbie,
I find dreaming (big or small) is the most important thing. Personally I have found that learning to dream has been a process.
First, I needed practice getting in touch with what I wanted. Initially, just making lists of things I wanted to do or have in my life was a challenge. Now I set my intentions (which for me includes envisioning the end-results I want) every year.
Then, I had to distinguish what I wanted from what I thought I should want.
I had to get past the belief that "what I want" is selfish or not spiritual. I had to learn to trust my heart's desires.
And finally I needed to build confidence that I could indeed get what I wanted. This is where accomplishing some small dreams while working on the big ones makes sense to me.
I love this series on heart wisdom and dreams. Thanks, Barbara
Posted by: Barbara Sliter | February 06, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Barbara - you bring up a good point. There has to be a sense of allowing - not only to allow ourselves to dream, but to deem ourselves worthy of the dream. Sometimes I think my dream muscle has "atrophied" from lack of consistent use as I get older. That would be a shame, surely!
Posted by: Deb Call | February 07, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Hello Debbie -
"Dreaming Big" is a pervasive problem in technology startups (my area of expertise) since college students aspire to achieve celebrity enjoyed by billionaire babies like Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)or Steven Chen and Chad Hurley (YouTube). The chances of changing the world so drastically - re-envisioning the way video is distributed or recreating social interaction - are less than winning the lottery, crashing in airplane, getting struck by lightening twice, etc, etc.
To combat the allure of immediate success and fame, myself and a growing number of young entrepreneurs are adopting a mentality similar to that of Dan Millman: Set small, attainable dreams providing foundation for larger aspirations. This mindset has a number of benefits including: Small goals can only result in small failures. Small goals produce quicker results. Avoiding huge endeavors enables more flexibility. Defining small tasks toward a larger problems enhances valuable cognitive skills.
Setting BHAGs (Big Hairy Ambitious Goals) for the long term future can sometimes be counter-productive. When you envision a dream, you will never be the same person when the concept culminates. Part of following dreams is learning and learning is a primary factor in the development of different dreams. Thus, a "Big Dream" is a living organism and requires the protective mechanisms to adapt and survive (similar to the skin, hair, brain, and bones employed by your body). My solution is small, realistic dreams toward a larger, fantastical goal.
I am not condoning "Big Dreams" but I am speaking against "Big Disappointments," which can and should be prevented in many aspects of life.
Sorry for the ramble and thanks for the links!!
Andy
Posted by: Andy Angelos | February 07, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Andy, thanks for stopping by. Your comments did not ramble - I find them clear and well thought out. You speak from a place of being grounded and realistic (in a positive sense)of the process of achieving dreams and goals. It's all about putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, and taking action, than about the illusory, smoke and mirrors overnight success. I like your notion of balance - the doable small dreams that can eventually take you to your "fantastical goal." Way to go, Mr. Gen-Y!
Posted by: Deb Call | February 07, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Andy, I was so impressed by your comments, I copied them and forwarded them to my 21 yr old son who seems "lost". Thank you for such an insightful post! I'm heading to your blog now :-)
Posted by: Debbie | February 12, 2008 at 07:41 AM