I'm chasing a dream...
While I have only taken the first few steps in creating my own art business and online literary magazine, I have noticed myself becoming much more motivated and excited by the day’s possibilities since following what I feel called to do. In Ernest Hemingway’s anthology, The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories, he tells us to “live the full life of the mind, exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the Romance of the unusual.” Isn’t that great? He captures so well the beauty of entering the unknown world of crafting a life that excites you. There will always be excuses as to why your dream should wait, but I have found three ideas that helped shape my mindset, motivate me, and help me experience firsthand what Hemingway was getting at.
The first thing that was important for me was not putting too much pressure on myself. By understanding that perfection is impossible and good enough really is good enough, I was able to approach my projects without an overwhelming fear of failure. Listening to feedback is critical in improving, but remember that you are doing this for yourself, not to please other people. It’s understandable that goals can be big and scary, but being paralyzed by fear will not get us where we want to go.
The second change I made was to prioritize my big goals. While it may seem obvious, anything you believe is worth doing is worth setting aside time to do. So prioritize your dreams while making sure you can still fulfill your other responsibilities.
Last, I had to stop listening to my excuses (I can be incredibly creative when it comes to procrastination) and start one step at a time. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find that once you start a project you enjoy, it’s hard to stop. The first steps are often the most difficult, but try to think of those steps as the beginning of a journey that is “exhilarated by new ideas” and you’ll soon look back on those initial stages with satisfaction at how much you’ve grown.
It would be absurd for me to talk about pursuing my goals without discussing how much of an impact my family has had on me. My parents both support and encourage me when I don’t believe in myself, and my sisters are endless sources of motivation and wonder in my life. I’m incredibly lucky to call them my family and take this opportunity to express my gratitude for their love and for making me believe I can craft a beautiful life for myself.
I know that not everyone is surrounded by boundless encouragement, so if you need someone to tell you they have faith in you, I will. I may not know you or your aspirations, but I can tell you that now is as good a time as any to make the life you want to live. According to your purpose, I urge you to listen to Charles Dickens’ advice to his son to “do whatever you have to do as well as you can do it.” What is it that you have to do in order for you to put your stamp of approval on your life? Once you have that dream, believe that you are capable of it and enjoy the process.
Along with Hemingway, I too hope you are swept off your feet by the unusual romance of your ambitions! In my opinion, falling for the life you’ve always dreamed of is one of the best love stories out there. Having given to you my best observations on chasing the “full life of the mind,” I conclude with Mary Oliver’s delicate call to adventure—“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles et al. The Letters of Charles Dickens Edited by Madeline House & Graham
Storey. Associate Editors: W.J. Carlton [and Others]. Pilgrim ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965. Print.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1938. Print.
Oliver, Mary. House of Light / Mary Oliver. Boston: Beacon Press, 1990. Print.