The dream of your life is the thing or the wish that is most important to you. You can ask yourself: "What is the one thing that I wish to do or to have that is most important to me?" Your answer very likely is the dream of your life. Dream defines the meaning of life; dream sets the goal of life; and dream energizes life!
In general, based on the factors of "success" and "life satisfaction", we can differentiate four kinds of life. The first kind, the most regrettable, is life without success and without satisfaction. The second kind, also regrettable, is life with success but without satisfaction, such as when a person is highly successful in his work but he does not find his work meaningful. The third is life without success but with satisfaction, such as scientists who have conducted research throughout their career but without breakthrough and people who work hard to build their business but without success. They may not achieve success but they often still experience a deep sense of satisfaction because they have lived their life with meaning and purpose. The fourth kind is life with success and satisfaction. This is the most fulfilled kind of life.
To live well, we need meaning, goal and drive. Without meaning and goal, success does not guarantee satisfaction. Without drive, there will be no success and no satisfaction. This is why to have dream in life is a simple but important way to make sure that we live well and without regret.
Yesterday's dream
Many people had dreams in their youthful days. However, for wants of means and because of needs of life, they could not pursue their dreams. Dream is a stubborn kind of thing! If it is really your dream, it grips you deeply in your heart and it is very difficult to get rid of it. Time and again, it comes out to remind you of its presence in your heart!
Today's dream
Your yesterday's dream can become today's dream or your yesterday's old dream may give way to a new dream or you did not have dream yesterday but today you have. The important thing is you need to have dream in order to give you meaning, goal and drive. In your third generation of life, i.e. your twenty to thirty years after retirement, dream will give you meaning and goal and energize your life so as to ensure that you live well, live healthily and live happily.
Work from your heart to make your dream come true
The following are steps to make your dream come true:
1. Through self-reflection to decide your dream:
Dream has no limits; you are the only person to decide your dream. Dream can be a new career or it may have to do with studies, arts, new experience, travel, or way of living… All that matters is it is what you wish to have or wish to do. This is why the first step to make dream come true is to search and find your dream through self-reflection.
2. Turn your dream to goals:
Turning dream to tangible short, medium and long-term goals is the next crucial step. The goals must be well defined and practical.
3. Make plans for the goals:
Once the goals are set, plans should be made accordingly.
4. Work the plans to make the dream come true:
Then work hard to make the dream come true.
Dream of life is not the same as "day-dream". Day-dream will not come true. Dream of life is our heart's wish and it gives life its important goal. Whether dream comes true is not important. The important thing is that life has to have dream to make it meaningful and to give it goal and drive. This is why people who have dream of life live energetically and meaningfully. Even if their dream does not come true, they have lived their life well and without regret!
Dr WONG Chung-kwong, JP
Chairman, Board of Honorary Advisers
Whole Person Development Institute