In life, is it better to chase the dream or to be reasonable?

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   InCourageposted 11 years ago

   In life, is it better to chase the dream or to be reasonable?

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   kate12402posted 11 years ago

   Maybe it's better to do both.  I think if you give up your dreams, there's not much left to live for, and the life you do lead can't be all that fulfilling.  I think you need to be reasonable about your dreams. 
   
   That is to say instead of saying "I want to be a rockstar" say instead "I want to use music and my musical talented to help others, to spark conversation and creative thinking, and to enrich my own life and the lives of others"  In the first dream, the goal is singular and limited. 
   
   The second dream is one that can be far easier to achieve because it contains many elements that lead to happiness and contentment.  It can be achieved in many different ways, from simply singing in the church choir, to creating or being involved with a music program that provides inner city kids with an alternative after-school activity that both enriches their education and keeps them out of trouble. 
   
   I think if you give up your dreams, you give up your life.  It's about finding the right dreams.  The dreams that will actually make you happy.

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   Catherine Kaneposted 11 years ago

   In life "be reasonable" is often code for "give up your dreams/ stop rocking the boat/ be ordinary instead of extraordinary"
   
   At that point, you should never be reasonable
   
   Chase your dreams with all you have in you

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   MsDoraposted 11 years ago

   I also think you can do both.  Never stop chasing the dream, but don't kill yourself (or anyone else) doing it.

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   Ethan Greenposted 11 years ago

   I once read that the quest for perfection is just a constant noticing of all that is not quite perfect. I don't know if that applies to chasing a dream or not, but I guess it does in some situations. For example if the dream is to find the perfect partner, then it would be a shame to continue chasing rather than accepting the imperfections of someone that is otherwise pretty perfect. But if your dream is to be a rockstar, then I guess it would be a shame to settle for singing in the shower...

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      Catherine Kaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I find that perfection tends to be an illusion, and a true dream is not always perfect, but rather is right...

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   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Chasing the dream is reasonable. Becoming a millionaire, living on a boat, becoming a parent, living in a house you designed, all reasonable.

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   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years ago

   I don't see the two options as mutually exclusive.

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   theseusposted 11 years ago

   It depends.
   If you haven't tested the waters, so to speak, chase that dream.Explore. Discover.
   But if you already did and yet you have not accomplished it regardless of how many times you have tried, this time, be reasonable.  That dream may be just that- a dream. Maybe you are meant for something greater other than that elusive dream.

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   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   I believe that we can do both, and that the question opens two deeper issues: How d we know which dreams are really ours? and, how do we relate to fear?
   
   All the answers I see here seem to reflect these issues.
   
   I discover my dreams and work to make them real, and encourage everyone else to do the same. But many people follow a dream - a particular career, or the pursuit of a particular success, or even service work - that is not truly their own dream. Let us each look deeply and find out why we are here, what combination of creativity and service and adventure and success is our truest dream.
   
   With regard to being reasonable, if that means not harming ourselves or others, then that is great. But if being reasonable means being afraid to take risks due to fear of failure, then we fail by not putting forth our best effort.
   
   So, let us discover our true dreams, acknowledge our fear, and step into action with courage.

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    Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

    In order to answer that question a person would have to recognize whether chasing the dream would, in fact, be "unreasonable" or not.  The world is full of people who don't see their own, or other people's, potential in seeing dreams fulfilled.  A first step for a lot of those people would be to recognize that accomplishing dreams isn't always an unreasonable aim.  In fact, it's often pretty unreasonable to believe that there's no such thing as fulfilling one's dream.

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