WISHES, DREAMS & GOALS

DREAMS & GOALS:

LET YOUR DREAM BECOME THINGS…

A lot of people desire for their wishes, dreams and goals to come to pass. They hear these three terms get used interchangeably, by Keynote Speakers, Seminar Facilitators, Life Coaches, even Preachers. What most people don’t know is that there are differences between wishes, dreams and goals. They have similarities but they are different all the same. The issue is, for one to move ahead in life, a clear understanding of his state of mind and correct definition of these concepts that govern his thoughts should be clear to him. This write up seeks to help you differentiate between wishes, dreams and goals and how to convert them to material substances.

Fact 1: Your wishes, dreams and goals can come to pass. You only need understand what they are so that you convert them to what you desire.

Meaning

WISH: A wish is a hope, desire or longing for something; often something difficult to obtain or achieve, which we know might not happen, cannot happen or probably will never happen. Example, “I wish I had a fairy mother who would transform my life right now.”

DREAM: A Dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal. It is a condition or achievement that is longed for in ones wakeful moments. This is not the series of thought and images experienced in our minds while sleeping. Example, “He has a dream of starting his own business.”

GOAL: Is a target, aim, objective, or desired result which is measurable and can be achieved within a specified period of time. Example, “Her goal is to become an expert consultant in the IT industry in 5 years.”

Similarities

From the above definitions, it is glaring the three aren’t the same, even though they have similarities. They are similar in the sense that they are all intangibles, concepts or abstracts still in the mental state. They are not physical things or real experiences yet. If no physical action is taken on them, they will float away, eventually be forgotten and will never become things. These definitions and examples show that if we wish for something, dream about it or set the goal to have it, action is needed to make them it tangible. Now let’s check what the differences are.

Differences

There are many differences between wishes, dreams and goals. But, the biggest distinguishing factor between wishes and the two others is that there is almost always the certainty that a wish won’t come to pass. Most times, a wish is something we deeply long for but which we know we can’t have. This is not the same with dreams and goals. Usually, there is great passion and strong hope that dreams and goals will happen. For this reason, let’s only focus on the differences between dreams and goals. The differences are below:

• 1.   Dreams can inspire us but goals are the things that really bring about changes our lives.

• 2.   Dreams require imagination only. All you need do is see it in your mind’s eye. Goals on the other hand require hard work. This is the part where we sweat and struggle, apply discipline, remain committed, and exercise will power….

• 3.   Dreams can be endless. It can grow and expand and go on and on in your mind. Goals come with deadlines. Start dates, review dates and finish dates.

• 4.   Dreams focus mainly on destinations or end results. Dreams let you see who you will be in the future, as a governor, the business tycoon, the IT expert. Goals focus on the journey and the details of how to arrive at the destination. No one gets to a destination without moving from point A to B. Goals take care of the intricacies and details of how to arrive at that destination in the physical world.

• 5.   Dreams aren’t measured or time bound. Goals are measurable within specified periods.

Fact 2: Your dreams in themselves, by themselves, of themselves won’t come to pass. Dreams only come to pass when you work on them.

The dreams in our hearts are supposed to be birthed. Like a pregnancy carried to term, the baby has to be birthed for it to be called a living human being. So are dreams and imaginations, they have one destiny-become things. The purpose of a dream is to find expression through you and become a thing. When an idea occurs to you, your work is to bring it to the physical.

The thought of food does not cure anyone’s hunger. A deliciously cooked meal will. A grand architectural design in your head, no matter how strong or special, will house no one or be the gigantic stadium that will hold the Olympics. Until you physically construct the building, brick upon brick, mortar upon mortar, you’ll have no structure in place. Our thoughts, dreams and ideas are the starting points of all man made things.

Fact 3: A dream is only useful when it makes our lives fruitful. If all your dreams do is occupy a space in your mind, then it’s no use having it. Your dreams are meant to become things - products, services, lifestyles, mega cities, etc.

Dreams do come true. All you need do is change your mindset from “somewhere, somehow, someday, my dreams will come to pass,” to another mindset which says;”on this particular day, in this particular place, doing particular things, I will live my dreams.”

We need to move from just believing it will happen someday, to actually working towards having it on a particular day. Michael Jordan said it succinctly,  

“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

              Make your wishes, dreams and goals become things!