THE SHIFT THAT CHANGED THE WAY I PURSUIT MY DREAMS

Don't stop dreaming - 
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com

There was a time in my life when I thought I needed to have all the answers. I believed that if I could figure everything out, I would finally feel secure, accomplished, and at peace. So, I’d set ambitious goals, push myself relentlessly to achieve them, and agonize over every little setback. Still, I didn’t realize how my dreams turned into burdens I carried constantly, weighing heavily on my mind and heart. They whispered to me in every quiet moment, reminding me of their urgency and of how incomplete I felt without them.

I still remember one of those obsessions. Let’s just call it “the dream” for now. The dream seemed like it would complete me. I wanted it because I thought having it would mean I was enough—worthy, successful, fulfilled. But the harder I chased it, the more it seemed to slip away, like sand running through my fingers. It consumed me: sleepless nights, countless plans, disappointment so heavy I could hardly breathe. It felt like a force I had to fight, a never-ending battle to get what I “had” to have.

Then, something shifted. I don’t know exactly when or how. Maybe it was after one of those sleepless nights when I’d run out of plans and energy, or maybe it came quietly during a walk outside, watching the world move without me. The shift wasn’t sudden; it was more like a slow unburdening—as if my heart gently reminded me of something I’d forgotten.

Also read: Why Healing Your Past Is the Key to True Growth

One morning, I woke up and realized I still wanted the dream. I hadn’t given up. But something was different. The want was no longer a heavy demand from my ego. It wasn’t the version of wanting that shouted, “You’re nothing if you don’t get this.” Instead, it whispered, “You want this because it’s part of who you are.” And, in that whisper, I felt calm for the first time in what felt like forever.

“I want it because I want it,” I found myself thinking, “because my heart says yes.”

From that moment on, the dream stopped feeling like a battleground and started feeling like a compass. I didn’t need to obsess over the how and the when. I didn’t need to force every step. Instead, I started to listen. Not to the noise of deadlines and doubts, but to the quiet voice inside that said, “Take this step,” and, “Now rest. You’re doing fine.”

The journey wasn’t perfect or free of challenges. There were still days when frustration crept in, but those days didn’t derail me anymore. They became part of the process, lessons hidden in disguise. Each stumble taught me something I wouldn’t have learned otherwise: how to trust, how to let go, how to be kind to myself along the way.

The most profound realization came when I stopped fixating on the end goal. I began to see that the dream wasn’t the prize. The real treasure was the journey itself—the growth, the self-discovery, the way my heart felt alive as I followed its pull. Whether or not the dream came to fruition was almost beside the point. The path I walked, the experiences I gathered, and the person I became while pursuing it—those were the gifts I didn’t even know I needed.

Related article: Why Visualization Isn't Working for You (and How to Fix It)

And no, the dream hasn’t manifested yet. But that no longer worries me, because I feel as though it has already been done for me, in a way beyond what I can currently see. It’s as though I’ve received a quiet assurance that it’s on its way, waiting for divine timing to bring it into my life. Knowing this, I’ve let go of the stress, the worry, and the need to control. Instead, I focus on what I have to do in the moment, following the guidance I feel from God. Each step I take feels purposeful and aligned, and that is enough.

Looking back now, I think about all the times in life we chase something so hard that we miss the beauty of the process. We let stress and doubt drown out the voice of our own hearts. But when we step back, release the need to control every detail, and trust the quiet guidance within, the journey unfolds with a kind of magic we couldn’t have orchestrated ourselves.

So, to anyone out there with a dream weighing heavily on your soul, let this be a gentle reminder: Want it because your heart says yes, not because the world says you should. Want it with faith, not force. Let the journey teach you, guide you, and show you things you didn’t even know you were searching for. And when the dream finally comes, you’ll know that the true gift wasn’t the dream itself, but everything you discovered about yourself along the way. Remember: dream big, but enjoy the ride.