Following your dreams

[Merri Hiatt]

So many times when we share our dreams with others they try to diminish us -- make us feel as if our thoughts and visions are foolish or not important.

You won't be surprised to know that I disagree completely. Our dreams can be realized and we can choose to make a difference in this world by the choices we make every day.

Pursuing our dreams is one way we take ownership of our lives and say to the world, "I will follow the path of my heart."

[Nicky]

When I was taking care of my brother, I attended church with him. The pastor was giving a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments. She explained that the meanings of each commandment has to be expanded upon to do us the most good in today's world. "Thou shalt not kill," for example, can be expanded to include things like "thou shalt not kill others' hopes, dreams, etc." I think that actually this is more of a sin than simply taking someone's physical life.... because once a person's hopes, dreams, self-esteem, faith, etc,. are killed.... a big part of life just FEELS dead.
There were a few comments made to me back during my teen years that I have LONG since "gotten over," and yet isn't it funny that I remember them and will always remember them? And will always remember, when I think about certain people at all, that they said "this" to me?
If people remember me, I don't want it to be for having said something that hurt them in any way!!
hugs,
Nicky

[Merri Hiatt]

Nicky, I agree. I would rather have someone remember me for a kindness or something compassionate that I said instead of harsh words that can never be retrieved.
I really like what you said about "Thou shalt not kill... someone's dreams, hopes, etc." I had never even thought about that verse in such a way. Damage to the soul is more lasting than damage to our physical body.

[Nicky]

My brother's pastor was amazing, in the new angles she brought to many things, Merri! I got to hear most of her "Ten Commandments" sermons and they were all very eye-opening, in the new ways they gave of understanding the commandments.
I once heard a motivational speaker say that a child needs to hear at least ten positives for every one negative. I think that goes for EVERYONE, really. Because we all still carry our inner children around, also.

[Merri Hiatt]

Dr. Phil says the same thing -- ten "attaboys" for every one negative comment. Can you imagine how much damage is done on a daily basis with all the negativity? It is overwhelming. That's one of the reasons I try to focus on the positive things. I don't want to be a Pollyanna (although I love the movie with Hailey Mills), but this world could use a big ol' helping of positivity, in my opinion. =)

[MeghanwithanH]

I don't really have much to add, but reading this gives me warmth inside. :)

[Nicky]

I agree, the world needs a lot more positive! I think that is what we in my spiritual tradition mean when we say our purpose is "to re-enchant the world."
Children live in an enchanted world until someone tells them that they are seeing things that are "not real" and scolds them that they "need to grow up."
They see the world through rose-colored glasses, as the saying goes, but all that really means is that they see all that's wonderful and don't really notice the things that aren't.
The way I figure it.... focusing on the negative doesn't really change it. Focusing on the positive helps the positive to grow and expand. And since there is only so much space available, the growing positive is going to take its space from somewhere. It'll take its space away from the negative, thus decreasing it.
I read that once, Mother Teresa was asked why she didn't join in with the anti-war movement. She said that when there was a PRO-PEACE movement, she'd join it!

[Merri Hiatt]

Love Mother Teresa and what a great thought -- focusing our energy on the PRO rather than the ANTI.