The title of this week’s post is a line from Carl Sandburg’s 1922 poem, Washington Monument at Night. The poem is a tribute to George Washington and the fourth stanza says, “The republic is a dream. Nothing happens unless first a dream.” In the early 17th century, many left the shores of Great Britain and settled in what is now the United States seeking a land where they could practice their religion without fear of persecution. By the late 18th century, many living in America (like George Washington) did, in fact, have a dream. The dream was to be independent from Great Britain and to have a ‘republic’ where those who made laws(especially those dealing with taxation) were made by people who could understand the needs of the colonists.
Dreams signify something about which one might fantasize; something for which one is ambitious; a desire; an aspiration. Dreams are very similar to hopes, but there is a subtle difference. Hope is where one wants or expects something, especially something that is likely to happen.
L.J. Suenens said, “Hope is not a dream, but a way of making dreams become reality.” To turn dreams into reality, we must have hope along with action. Dreams will stay dreams unless the object of the dream is turned into action. In the 17th century, those in Great Britain who dreamed of religious freedom had to act on that dream (they left their country and traveled to a new land) to make it happen. In the 18th century, those in America who dreamed of a country where those living in it were the ones who enacted laws that governed their life had to act on that dream (they engaged in a war when other means failed) to make it happen.
One way to turn a dream into reality is by setting goals (I am sure the Pilgrims and the founding fathers all had specific goals for what they wanted to achieve.) Goals are our plans for the future. Goals are what we are trying to achieve. When we set goals, we determine what result we want and then we put forth effort to achieve that result.
Why are dreams important when managing change and transition? With change, something becomes different. We are moved out of the comfort zone. Both our personal and professional lives can become unsettled. Dreams are a way of helping us deal with the unsettled nature of things. If we dream about something happening and really desire that to happen, we might work hard to make that dream come true. Dreams give us possibilities. Our dreams should be BIG; small ones cannot ignite the flames of enthusiasm, excitement, and passion. Remember, anything that can be imagined can become reality under the right circumstances.
Dreams help us navigate the waters of change and transition. On his 1991 album, Ropin’ the Wind, Garth Brooks, has a ballad titled The River. In this song, a river is used as a comparison to one’s dreams. In the first stanza, Brooks writes, “You know a dream is like a river, ever changin’ as it flows. And the dreamer’s just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what’s behind you, and never knowing what’s in store makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shores.” The chorus of the song tells us, “And I will sail my vessel ‘til the river runs dry. Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky. I’ll never reach my destination, if I never try. So I will sail my vessel ‘til the river runs dry.” The second stanza continues, “Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away, ‘Til what we put off til tomorrow has now become today. So don’t you sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids, and dare to dance the tide.”
This song highlights the importance of pursuing our dreams. Brooks talks about never reaching one’s destination if one doesn’t even try. It is our dreams that provide the destination. Brooks talks about needing action to make the dreams a reality when he talks about not sitting upon the shoreline. And, Brooks encourages us to take on any challenges along the way with his words, “…choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.” Indeed, dreams are powerful and can set the stage for a new reality especially in a changed environment or situation.
So, whether you have a dream that will bring about a change in your life that you really want or whether you have a dream of something new and different because of a change that has happened in your life, you are moving in the right direction to controlling and managing change.
Remember, as Brian Tracy said, “you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.” As we wind down 2015 and look forward to 2016, resolve to make dreaming one of your change strategies so that you will be able to better handle any change that comes your way in the New Year.
Author Becky Johnen 