Awakening to Dream

Ever wonder how that famous "I have a dream" statement Martin Luther King Jr. could be applicable for you? The idea of dreaming is one that is used (perhaps overused) by speakers seeking to inspire us to stretch past our limitations. Consider what US President John Kennedy once said:

"The problems of this world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were."

I so resonate with that sentiment but now flow more with this quote from Carl Jung:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."

In a sense I think that it is necessary to first awaken before you can dream. Before we can dream about the future it is so important to know ourselves and our heart desires.

For a good part of my life I dreamed about promotions and elevated job descriptions.. when I got those jobs I found that I was happier doing the things I used to do. Unfortunately it took me a long time to awaken to the heart stuff. These days my dreams are so much more focused because I know myself and have awakened to the desires of my heart.

I think that people who have achieved great things, like Dr King, had first awakened to who they are and what they are called to do. From that internal place they were able to see clear enough to dream past the limitations of their mind.