Don’t Put A Lid On Your Dreams

How often do we dream up new ideas, only to set them aside before they even have a chance to grow?

Many of us do it. Often, we don’t even realize it; we look at our passions and automatically brush them off as impractical or unrealistic. This quiet self-sabotage often leads to a life that feels off-course, as if something meaningful is missing.

I found it to be the case for several of my coaching clients, many who are often at a career crossroads, wondering how that new chapter should look like.

Interestingly, many of these clients come from high-paying fields like finance, law, sales—you name it. Despite their many significant accomplishments, they feel the pull to try something new, something that aligns more closely with who they truly are. When they start to explore what this “something new” might be, it’s common to see a spark in their eyes as they talk about their interests and what truly excites them. For a moment, there’s an excitement—a glimpse into what a more fulfilling path might look like. And then, just as quickly, a shadow of doubt creeps in.

It’s almost predictable: objections such as “But how is this going to translate into money?” or “This will never pay the bills,” or the clincher, “I’ll never be able to make as much as I do now” instantly materialize.

And, just like that, their dreams are shelved, replaced by a practical yet unfulfilling reality.

But how true are those fears, really? Are these concerns genuinely valid? How can we ever know unless we give our dreams the room to grow? These thoughts, strong as they might appear in the moments of overwhelming doubt, don’t have to dictate what’s possible for us.

What if we approached our dreams with curiosity rather than caution instead? This doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind and leaving a stable career without preparation; it’s about letting ourselves explore without immediately shutting down ideas that don’t fit our current mold. 

Imagine you’re passionate about something—perhaps it’s writing, starting a non-profit or switching industries altogether. What if you allowed yourself to research what people in those roles do, how they make it work and what kinds of income structures they have? What if you just picked up the phone and called someone who does the exact thing you yourself would like to do and learn how they made it all possible?

This kind of “homework” is powerful because it replaces assumptions with real insights. Once you start gathering actual information, the fears of “it will never pay the bills” or “it’s impossible to make a living this way” often lose their hold. You might even discover options you hadn’t considered—alternative income streams, side gigs, or even creative ways to transition from your current career into something more aligned with your passion. Or, maybe, you realize that this is not for you—which is totally fine, too.

The truth is, no one can predict the future perfectly. But by giving yourself permission to explore, you may find that your dream is not only possible but also worth pursuing.

So, the next time you feel that spark, that glimmer of excitement for a new direction, try pausing before the doubts set in. Ask yourself, How true are these fears? What would happen if I allowed myself to imagine a different possibility?

By giving our dreams the space they need, we can begin to build lives that feel authentic, fulfilling, and—yes—successful on our own terms.