Dream Dilemma

To dream or not to dream is never the question!

To go after it or not? That is the question!

Being an optimist, I shall always say that one should always go after one's dreams and try to fulfill them. There is no greater joy than having one's dreams fulfilled. Whereas, on the other hand, there is no greater disappointment like having one's dreams shattered. How do you weigh these outcomes?

Recently, I have come across a situation where, although, not exactly a dream yet (let's call it a dream in the offing), I have been facing a dilemma. To act on my dreams is to either see my dreams be fulfilled or see them shatter. I am not a stranger to either. But, what really amused me was this thought that came to my mind. It has come to me before as well; several times. This was just the time that I actually analysed this particular thought.

Do I keep on enjoying the dream of my dream getting fulfilled or do I act upon it to see the result? What is worse? Not doing anything right now and when the dream disappears, console myself by saying that it was never meant to be as it was just a dream or, acting upon it to find out what actually happens? There is happiness and disappointment in both.

Probabilistically speaking, if I was living in an ideal world, there is a 50% chance that I would see my dream fulfilled and 50% chance that I would not. But, this is not an ideal world, and sometimes the gut tells you that the odds are not in your favour. On the contrary, dreaming the dream gives me, let's say, a 90% probability of being in a state of pesudo-happiness. I took away the 10% for the longing I would feel for not doing anything.

There are people, I assume who would opt for the 90%, but there are people like me who would take the chance that the dream gets fulfilled; whatever the odds may be! For me, the rewards are immense - happiness. Happiness is elusive to all. There should be no opportunity lost to earn some. Mind you, it is earned! Sorrow is a part of life, like happiness, but irritatingly enough, one that shows its ugly face frequently. Sorrow has to be survived and happiness cherished.

How do I, personally, solve this dilemma? Always act upon my dreams! Does the dilemma go away? NO!

Humility

Life takes no respite from ensuring that you stay humble. Whatever your ego or self-esteem might be, it is crushed out of you to make you realize that you are nothing in this world. 

One might argue that self-esteem is good and I shouldn't talk about it along side ego. Now, it is good, but there are times when even that does not remain with you. It's not that you consider yourself worthless, it's not even about confidence. You become self-aware and extremely conscious of the circumstances.

There are times when you need to give a boost to your own self and dream and motivate yourself. But, unfortunately, even that is not possible some times. You have to be humble even in that. Even a morale-booster can become too much and then life turns around and says, 'No, you are not humble enough!'

The way you have lived your whole life is no longer acceptable and humble enough, even though you have lived within your means and have not boasted about it or abused it. Life tells you, 'No, you need to be humble. Change your life!'

Your casual, everyday expectations, are no longer humble. And, you might as well forget about some extra-ordinary or out-of-the-ordinary things happening in your life. If they do, it's a miracle. But, you can't even enjoy them properly because by that time, you have been so used to being humble that you even fear showing happiness lest it be taken away from you for not being humble enough in expressing it. 

Humility - never forget about it!