Fear or insignificance?

Permission to dream granted

More times than I can count, I’ll ask someone, “Hey, how is it going?” Often I’ll hear back, “You know, I’m living the dream!” I’ll usually ask, “Whose dream is it?” The answer I get more times than not is “Well, it’s sure not mine!”

I have a big question for you, "If you’re not living your own dreams, why not?

In his book “Dream Year”¹, Ben Arment says “We are motivated by two conflicting fears in life—the fear of failure and the fear of insignificance. What we endeavor to do in life is determined by which fear is the strongest.” He goes on to say “I’ve been frightened at toiling my whole life away on other people’s dreams.”

I’ve talked to many who put all their future hopes in a job because it provides for their families, helps them buy things they enjoy, and provides security. Their self-esteem rises and falls based on how that job is going. They don’t pursue their dreams because it feels irresponsible or even irrational. I know all of this because I’m guilty.

“I’ve been frightened at toiling my whole life away on other people’s dreams.” -Ben Arment

This isn’t a “quit your job and live in a van down by the river”² message.
I really like my job and the people I have the privilege of working with. I believe I am making a difference by adding value to others. However, that isn’t stopping me from asking bigger questions and thinking about why God put me on this earth. Here are some questions to consider asking yourself:

• What if I didn’t care what other people thought?

• What would I try if I knew failure wasn’t an option?

• Do I need to hire a coach to get an outside perspective?³

• What volunteer opportunity, hobby, or side hustle I should try just because?

• Who do I know that is pursuing their dream that I can learn from?

I don’t know what your dream is. I’m encouraging you to get curious about it. Your dream needs to be bigger than what you can see. Chase the BIG dream that will make you proud that you left it all on the playing field and may help you turn the corner on the life you were always meant to live.

Decide TODAY to choose the fear of insignificance over the fear of failure.

Make it an outstanding week!

1. For the record, I like my job. But this book has me thinking out of the box

2. The great Chris Farley at his best

3. I call this life tuition. I have some ideas. Reach out to me!