Most little kids aren't afraid to think about the future. They aren't afraid to blurt out what they want to be when they grow up or where they want to go. Some even plan imaginary weddings! But as they get older, something happens that perverts that innocent star gazing. Yes, sometimes it is to face the reality that being an alien or a member of the X-men is a little more challenging to have as a future career than their younger self-imagined, BUT there's also the introduction of fear.
You wanted to be an artist or a teacher or scientist but suddenly fear crept up on you. I can't do that, I'm not good/smart/talented enough for that. And so you found a new, more realistic dream. Maybe your dream was to fall in love with someone like you saw in those Disney movies but you got tired of being rejected and found it easier just to throw away the whole idea, rather than risk getting your heart broken. I could go on listing scenario after scenario but the message will always be the same: You lit a little dream flame but fear stomped it out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should blindly follow your dreams or suddenly go back and unearth that childhood dream you had of being a dinosaur. What I am suggesting is that we go back and try to unearth some of that childlike innocence and fearlessness. Go back to a time in your life when you weren't afraid to dream, when you weren't afraid, when you didn't judge yourself so much, and just sit in that for a bit. See where it takes you. And if you can't remember a time when you weren't a fearful one, imagine what it'd be like to be a fearless dreamer and let yourself sit in that. Because maybe, just maybe, you could rekindle that flame that burned out too soon.
