The Power of dream and aspiration We all need a dream
A life without dreams and aspirations is an impoverished life. We all need hopes, desires, and dreams as these lift our spirits and help motivate us. Dreams are not pure fantasy or not always disconnected from reality, but they can be the seeds of our endeavours and help propel us forward. People talk about "living the dream", but giving our dream life is up to us. Like a journey, it has to start somewhere, and whilst we may be uncertain about the ultimate destination or what will happen along the way, it is in the preparation and the setting off that we start to make some of the dreams a reality. Dreams, hopes and ambitions come in various shapes and sizes. They are rarely a constant, and what may be your dream at 21 is unlikely to be the same dream at 51. Our expectations and motivations change, and life experience takes us off in different directions. We all know from the current pandemic that sometimes the unforeseen can happen, so it pays to be cautious, mindful of risk, and aware of the importance of foresight planning. But what about our dreams or maybe dreams?
Here is what the entrepreneur Richard Branson has to say about dreaming:
"Dreaming is one of humanity's greatest gifts. It champions aspiration, spurs innovation, leads to change and propels us forward. In a world without dreams, there would be no adventure, moon landing, female CEOs, or civil rights. What a half-lived and tragic existence we would have. We should all dream big and encourage others to do so, too."
Some people have remarkable dreams, such as Martin Luther King; his dream was for a nation and the world, and it is still a work in progress. Genius is said to be 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, and the dream helps shape and drive that essential 1%. Thomas Edison meant that most success comes from hard work and effort (perspiration), while just a little portion is attributed to natural talent or creativity (inspiration). According to Thomas Edison, generating an idea is only 1% of the effort, while the remaining 99% is dedicated to hard work and exertion. Edison was a tangible example that demonstrated the accuracy of this notion. Throughout his whole lifespan, from his early years to his final days, Edison consistently dedicated himself to his various endeavours. Many individuals have had a transformative impact on our current society. Good ideas are primarily about inventiveness, albeit to a limited extent. The topics mainly revolve around diligent effort. Without taking action, a dream or excellent concept will not be compelling.
Giving life to your dream takes time. It is a daily, incremental process, and yet, over time, you can look at the progress that you have made. You might not have changed the world, but there will be non-triumphs along the way, all of which will add up. Have you ever heard of Jadav Payeng, Forest Man of India? Jawaharlal Nehru University gave a title on the 22nd of April 2012. He planted a tree daily to restore his homeland, eventually creating a forest larger than New York City's Central Park. He made it possible by cultivating lofty life aspirations to achieve something positive for society. He dreamed of connecting the world so humans and nature could thrive together. He might not be able to accomplish this without a dream and an ambition.
Jadav Payeng's life is driven by his dreams and aspirations to create a tangible impact on society. He was born and raised in an impoverished family in Assam. As a member of the Mishing Tribes, he has observed numerous difficulties faced by the people of his homeland, which has been engulfed and submerged by the massive Brahmaputra River. Due to circumstances, the villagers were compelled to relocate to a different area known as Majuli. This is the world's largest river island, encompassed by the river Brahmaputra. Once again, this young man had encountered numerous obstacles. One day, he witnessed a significant mortality of snakes due to heat exposure following their displacement by severe flooding. The land has transformed into a desolate terrain devoid of any vegetation. He began contemplating potential actions that could be taken to preserve the homeland. At the age of 16, he began to harbour aspirations and dreams. He embarked on a daily mission to plant a tree in the infertile soil. His dreams and aspirations are realised. Over four decades, he has cultivated and grown over 40 million trees across an expansive area of over 600 hectares, creating a substantial artificial forest. This is a narrative about the ambition and vision of Jadav Payeng, who is commonly referred to as Moloi Payeng. Due to his remarkable accomplishments, he has gained widespread recognition and has been extended invitations to give TED Talks.
Dreams and aspirations are powerful tools for achieving exceptional success, allowing individuals to pursue endeavours that hold deep personal significance—achieving success through honesty, morality, proactive behaviour, and cultivating inner qualities of strength and simplicity to serve others—an achievement characterised by purity and wisdom. Every individual requires dreams and aspirations. Life will stagnate without it. An unchanging and inactive life lacks purpose.
We reside in a world that is marked by disorder, animosity, unpredictability, and ambiguity. The current era is characterised by globalisation, unparalleled technological progress, and intense competition. The size of the crowd has increased; however, only individuals with aspirations and dreams will distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd. They will receive recognition for their efforts in attaining their aspirations. Others will be eradicated and will face a desperate struggle for survival.
APJ Abdul Kalam made a wonderful remark about dreams: A dream is not what you see while sleeping; it is what keeps you awake- He was an Indian space scientist and politician who served as President of India from 2002 to 2007. He clearly defined the concept of a dream. A dream is more than just a random recollection of memories or an unexpected mental activity. Dreams can help us discover our 'true selves' and transform into 'time-travel machines' capable of travelling past and future. This type of dream is called setting a future destination or daydreaming. Daydreaming is the term used to describe people's imaginations and future goals. This type of dream can help you achieve your goals. When appropriately used in all aspects of life, daydreaming resolves various past complications that structure the present discovers new paths in the future and accelerates life. Daydreaming gives a person strength and courage by presenting a vision of the future. When used correctly, such dreams can lead to discoveries in Business, art, literature, and music. However, if not used creatively, it loses meaning and wastes time.
We all dream. In response to the well-known childhood question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" many people used to talk about their desire to do and become many things. My life goals essay in the exam book beautifully reflected my dreams and goals. But, in the end, most of our dreams remain just that. However, making these dreams a reality is difficult but not impossible. To make dreams a reality, you must persevere, have an unbreakable will exert effort, and work hard. Our dreams will come true, but we must burn wood and straw. There is a beautiful concept of making dreams come true. It begins with a dream with actions.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, had ambitions for sustainable energy and space exploration. He took the necessary steps to achieve his goals and was successful. He founded two well-known and respected companies, Tesla and SpaceX. While General Motors introduced the first mass-produced electric vehicle of the modern era, Tesla has emerged as a leader in electric cars and renewable energy technologies to help make the future more sustainable. At the same time, SpaceX has reached a milestone in space travel. He had a dream, too. He began his mission at ten, purchasing his first computer and teaching himself how to program it. How did he do it? What was the mantra for this achievement? How has he become a great innovator and entrepreneur? What makes him focus heavily on engineering and design? What drove him to engage with society and advocate for garnering public support?
The key mantra for answering these questions is "dream or aspiration." He had a lofty dream. He had a lofty aspiration. So what is essential? Dream or Aspiration? The following statement will answer this question: "Dreams are good because they always turn into achievable goals with the right actions; however, breaking down a grand aspiration into smaller and achievable steps makes the road to success more manageable, increasing the likelihood of success."
Many frequently perceive dreams as passive and subconscious manifestations of desires during sleep; sometimes, they disconnect from realities, while aspirations are perceived as active and conscious desires that one seeks to accomplish and are always connected with realities. But we are not saying dreams during sleep; instead, dreams that keeps you awake and that will help you to take actions. Dreams that drive people to achieve something in life. A dream must be pursued with the right action, or it will remain a passive experience, but aspiration is always action-oriented. Both dreams, if pursued with action and aspiration, have tangible outcomes. A true dream and aspiration will make someone move forward in achieving Goals. A dream is broad in scope and helps people to become more imaginative and creative. It allows people to face challenges and strive for excellence; thus, individuals become more resilient and adaptable.
On the other hand, aspiration is more specific and helps people take appropriate actions to achieve goals. In a nutshell, dreams are the fundamentals for people to strive for, while aspiration helps people achieve tangible outcomes.
So, do we all need either a DREAM or ASPIRATION? The answer is both—first dream and then aspiration. Without a dream, aspiration will not develop. Both concepts share the themes of achievement, growth, progress, determination, motivation, actions, and life satisfaction. The only difference is in the process of conceptualisation and implementation. Therefore, these words are, in many cases, used interchangeably.