“Each day, we’re either watering down our dream so we don’t look too crazy to other people who’ve given up on their dreams, or we’re steadily working to transform our life in a way that matches our dream.”

Light Watkins

We shouldn’t water down our dreams. It only holds us back from our potential, and this leads to more suffering. I have felt this as I squashed my own dreams for many years. Instead of building a purposeful life aligned with my values, I put my head down and kept trudging along in my career as an accountant. It was slowly sucking away my soul.

I thought I would just hang in there, give it a good shot, and someday things would get better once I reached certain seniority. I tried many different industries and roles within the accounting field. But I couldn’t escape that feeling that I was capable of more in this world than an endless cycle of spreadsheets, monthly reports, and management meetings.

Waiting, waiting

The problem is those feelings don’t go away. They keep bubbling below the surface. We know we are capable of more. We feel it eating away at our subconscious. We crave the opportunity to make a difference in a way that is meaningful to us. But our self-doubts and fears get in the way.

Enough is enough

Eventually, I had enough of this cycle. It was time for some action. I wanted to get off the corporate hamster wheel. I could feel the shortness of life, and I wanted to spend my remaining years building something I deeply cared about. Something aligned with my “why”. I decided it was time to make the change towards something more creative and purposeful.

Here I am.

Reflection

What are you holding back from? What is it costing you?