Why Should We Try To Fulfill Our Dreams?

When I was very young I thought the whole purpose of life was to make people happy and to laugh. Then as I got older I learned that the purpose in life was to make money and to have ownership. Then after I had indulged in all sorts of materialism and hedonism, I embraced acetic living and minimalism. Every time I made big changes in my life it was in reaction to something I learned or something I witnessed. The key was that I was reacting and not truly living. Unfortunately for me I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to my very knees on death's doorstep to finally have my NDE (near death experience) that changed my life profoundly.

Now I have come full circle and realize that for me the purpose of life is to create happiness and to share that with other happiness creators. The pursuit of money property and prestige only diverts me from higher spiritual purposes. I still own a house and a car and I take vacations, but now I am extremely sensitive to the suffering of others and I am not afraid to share their pain and cry with them.

for me, it is to realize my potential as an artist and human being. To be all that I can be. But not in the army.

Well with me the best way to be is positive. Like if im always negative than its like im attracting negative energy. By me thinking positive I have been able to reach a lot of my goals over the past 8 or 9 months.

But why be all that we can be? for what? why even strive for anything? I'm not being negative I agree with all of you, I'm just trying to provoke the convo' a little bit here, give me a little more. pretty please!

Well I think everyone wants to succeed in something in life. If not then theres not much for on to live for.

what is the underlying reason for wanting to succeed though? aside from for example pride, power and wealth depending on what constitutes success for you personally of course. Why succeed? most of what people strive for has been accomplished by others in the past anyway, so why?

keep it coming people! Give it all you've got, I'm really interested in what you all have to say

Because it's what you wanna do!

hello mobius2012,
if we don't live our dreams, simply put - then its a nightmare.
we would certainly, (at least theoretically) have a much happier, calmer, nicer, kinder,healthier world if people realized it would help raise the vibration level of this reality we share if people released themselves from the bondage of other's limited belief systems on what they think they should be doing instead of following their bliss, or their own internal heartbeat (the drummer).

So SeaJade- you think that it's because we are called to do so? By a divine source of some kind? I'm torn between self fulfillment and collective fulfillment, whats the whole point or purpose rather of fulfillment? is it for self? or for all? and if so why? I have my own understanding of it, but I'm curious as to what others think. Smile, I'm loving this so far

I agree with SeaJade, and I would add that we are all conditioned by tradition and religion to pursue some sort of success be it economic or religious; we are constantly being challenged by media, politics, socioeconomics, religion and for some a love of humanity to pursue dreams and goals. These are programmed into us from an early age.

I believe the fulfillment is bliss or happiness that most people seek, but how that is defined is subjective to the individual seeker.

I personally believe that my drive is both individual and collective, but the collective part was a learned process as I increased my awareness of others and their struggles and pursuits; and as my love for the whole of humanity has increased over time. I feel that I am compelled by a higher power (which I have no need to define in precise terminology like god, or Jesus, dark matter, the force, blah blah) but whatever that is, it compels me to both self and collective fulfillment.

"I'm torn between self fulfillment and collective fulfillment" -

in line with what jubal said, Mobius, you needn't be torn when you receive personal fulfillment in contributing to the collective good. A cohesive and harmonious collective is a virtuous goal. And, like jubal said, this was learned (but not taught).

My purpose, more concretely, is to promote a positive outlook towards the future and to encourage sustainable ways of living such that our species might stick around and find ever-expanding definitions of God.

a couple thousand years ago, for example, we didnt even know we were strapped into a globe/orbit/solarsystem/galaxy, etc. This relatively recent understand has helped us see greater truth to the nature of things. Should we live long enough to explore even greater reaches of space, communicate with other societies, etc, we will understand more about our own nature. And that's pretty exciting.

As a smaller scale analogy, I have learned and grown a lot since I left my home town after high school. I've explored a few parts of the world, learned to speak other languages, engaged with people of all walks of life, and thus learned much about my own capacity for love, will, empathy, and adaptability.

I appreciate your bringing up these questions. I've asked myself the same many times. What are we living for, if we know we're going to die? The answer is either "I'm living for twinkies until the twinkies run out." or "I'm living to be part of something greater, a civilization whose ever-expanding consciousness may one day do great things in the universe."

striving for your dreams, and them accomplishing them is one step closer to perfection. I'm not talking about personal dreams, I'm talking about the ones that are there and you know deep inside they are there for a reason to challenge you to become a better person. It's kinda like how do you know what type of job is for you...you don't, you just feel it based on your perception of who you are as a person. And if you're instinct is right, there's a rewarding future in that job. I think the Lord Yahweh (or God for the laymen) certainly has his hands in our lives one way or another, but we have free will...and sometimes that can give us many choices, but when you make the right ones you're set to receive all that you deserve in heaven and Earth.

did you know?

"ya guey" (pronounced Yahweh) in spanish means,

"Enough, dude!"

let it be said,
that words and names are arbitary,
for lords and laymen alike.

I believe that our restlessness in life is quelled by a sense of accomplishment, but success is nothing more than a mere illusion, or rather, a social delusion. Programming or conditioning is right Jubal, many of us are socially conditioned into believing that we must ''become'' successful, as though we aren't. As living life forms with an equilibrated consciousness we are successful and already accomplished. We pursue our dreams because our minds are infinite and we as infinite beings want to , progress and expand. We as thinking life forms cannot be inert, it's against our nature, we must be mobile, ever evolving without end, and thats the beauty of life, that it's perpetual energy can never be exhausted. The divine intelligent forces compel us to strive, for the goal is synchronicity, harmony. We as energy producing beings contribute to the overall balance of collective energy, we understand balance, we can identify it, we love it we need it, and balance is accomplished by feeling accomplished and this sense of worth gives birth, to peace, and in turn we pervade that peace to everyone and everything around us. So, I feel that there are two types of success, one is social and merely a farce illusion, the other is profoundly substantial and one that is universally and collectively beneficial . The pursuit of ones own dreams is more of a quest for fulfillment, ultimate satisfaction, serenity...

"As living life forms with an equilibrated consciousness we are successful and already accomplished."

I agree with you there. Sometimes I find myself torn between doing nothing and racing to do everything.

fact is, there are a lot of problems in society, and If i dont make a personal attempt to correct them, and if no one with a conscience makes an effort to correct them, then things will turn for the worst, i.e. mother nature will wipe us out, or we'll wipe ourselves out with nuclear war.
those are my two greatest concerns.

Your an Altruistic character there stephenthomson. Props!

Since this is a personal non-news thread, i'll forward you an email exchange I had with my friend, who lives in NYC, concerning my most recent video (The "is-is" epidemic)

I've been brooding on this for a few days, and I was really concerned with the way my friend reacted to the end of the video.

I agree with mobius and stephen, goo dstuff, that's what i wanted to say but couldn't find the right words. Thanks

He said:

>>>cool man, I really like this one. Its short and snappy and interesting and entertaining. I think its in the top 4 things you've made.
I was struck by my reaction to the fast cut false ending montage of gloom and doom at the end of the video. You displayed all the worst shit in the world all at once, and I was completely and sincerely seduced by that imagery. It was like I really loved seeing all that stuff, like eye candy. And it reconfirmed a sense of how we (modern folks) make fetishistic use of disaster and tragedy, we (I) have a visceral taste for it, and how amid all the intellectual condemnation of things like the iraq war, sept 11, global warming, the failing economy-- I crave the madness.

A few days ago I saw Planet Terror, Have you seen it? that movie is filled with some of the grossest shit anyone can think of. Robert Rodriguez was intentionally super heavy handed with the sickout imagery, but in the whole thing was served up like a savory dish, and I loved it.

Its strange that this video is made by the same person who made the Al gore video. That was was sort of sincere and doughy-eyed, while this one is cunning, layered with irony, and successfully embodies the absurdities of the modern condition.
word.

and I responded, disappointed, confused, and angry:

>>>My good friend,

I am not surprised to read that you reacted that way to the end of my video.
Personally, I had a hard time compiling all of it. I had put it off for weeks, dreading having to play with images of some of the most horrific unethical unforgivable human error ever committed.

But I am not surprised that you were fascinated by my montage of horror, and pulled into it, like a mosquito to a burning light bulb. If only the mosquito knew...

"And it reconfirmed a sense of how we (modern folks) make fetishistic use of disaster and tragedy, we (I) have a visceral taste for it, and how amid all the intellectual condemnation of things like the iraq war, sept 11, global warming, the failing economy-- I crave the madness."

...You see for me, and for many people, it's more than intellectual condemnation. It's empathy.
Empathy is the closest thing to spirituality that an atheist will ever have. It is real. You actually feel an overwhelming emotional pain. And when you do, you no more wish these things in existence than you would upon your mother wish the same suffering. Strangers are people too. And photos are more than photos. These are images of realities that if you sit back and say 'oooh, yummy, give me more' - then either you're the devil incarnate (which I don't think you are), or you haven't really felt the gravity of their meaning.

You are correct, the execution was rather ironic, rather entertaining. Perhaps it is there that I made the mistake. My purpose was not to give you eye candy. I despise Robert Rodriquez for that very reason. Perhaps I feel this video I made is more noble than R.R.'s work because it is the work of reality, of non-fiction - not of vampire sluts wielding shotguns at a border town saloon.

You are not meant to say 'give me more'. You are meant to see these images and say, 'Oh my god, there is so much injustice, so much cruelty, so much apathy, and so much WRONG that I don't know where to begin. But begin I must.'

st

not to seem insensitive brother, but how is this contextual? I'd like to know more.

you mean how does it apply to this conversation?

I guess it's a show of two ways the individual can be in the world with his fellow man. 1) Either disinterestedly and unsympathetic, or 2) altrustically and concerned.

If you are actively concerned for the well-being not only of yourself but of your society, then there is individual fulfillment in doing good for the collective. It turns into a win-win.

better yet, why dont you tell me how you've felt torn between individual and collective fulfillment? in what ways?

I'm glad you elaborated on that brother, definitely correlates with the discussion, thanks for clearing that up! as for me being Torn between individual and collective fulfillment, take a deep breath, one for me too!

Well, I struggle with doing for myself, i'm disinterested with ''Me'' and more concerned with others. I kind of neglect my own life because I feel like when I do for myself, no one really cares anyway, so why do for self? and most of what people pursue in life has already been pursued and achieved. So, i don't really see the point in pursuing much of anything, maybe I lack ambition? where does ambition come from? cause I don't have it. I'm also kind of ambivalent towards others because of their self- centerdness and this inturn affects my charitable nature. Thats how I'm torn, I know, It's wierd bro.

StephenThomson has the floor and good question Mobiur2012
I read everything and it's all good!

Open minds that have seen other stuff in the world. That have jumped out of the matrix and entered other reality.

Mother earth is dying and the human animal is the cause of her cancer. Individualism has become more and more of a selfish behavior.

Money compared to living happy. Health and family. Love vs respect. A lot of questions but seeing a lot of things gives me the belief that we are the Human animal.

We act just like animals and if we want to understand us more, study animal behavior.

Kill or be killed. Shelter and food. SEX to reproduce and not just to have fun. Security!

In the Spanish culture, it varies but one thing that impressed me in a 3rd world country was the value of health. They value nutrition and family but don't have the access of education and security.

"a life is worthless, except the effects it has on others that make that life real" someone told me this.

Taking care of the ones you love and money is a new god. Money buys anything and is the new slave owner.

The poor are all slaves and women have the power to control men because of love and sex. A stupid women is dangerous because they can create hell for males. A smart women (common sense smart not book smart) is a queen.

The cow feeds billions. The bull protects and mates.

A dream is a goal set. It becomes real when you try to get the dream. Having big goals to always keep you motivated and constantly moving forward. Time is always against us.

"Life is an adventure, not a problem. Problems are created by ourselves. The human animal"

In my opinion and respects to the gods.

One major problem is the idea of the rat race. Counting minutes, productivity, getting ahead in order not to get stepped on. A struggle to survive amidst a lost sense of community.

I dont know how to combat these things. I do know from experience, however, that Gandhi's "be the change you want to see in the world" will always be relevant and accurate.

I want to see more community, more abstinence (from materialism), more care given to every action that we take. American society is like a big soft voice that says "keep spending money, you're doing good. Dont worry about anything, you can buy the solution to any problem."

How many of us, when we eat an egg, think about the chicken who laid it? When we buy a new car, how viscerally do we feel the process by which it became manifest, or connect to the lives of the people who assembled it? When we use electrical appliances and power our machines, how fully do we understand the carbon emissions used to generate the energy?

The discontinuity puts ethics in the shadows. How many people have I killed already?

Fascinating, thought provoking thread.

'Well, I struggle with doing for myself, i'm disinterested with ''Me'' and more concerned with others.'

Mobius2012, looks like we're in the same boat. though, it's not that i'm disinterested w/myself, it's just that my passion lies more in the happiness of others.

...i was once asked what my passion is. embarrassed, i couldn't bring my lips to form a word. not a single
Art, or
Music, or
Architecture...

i cried at the possibility of not knowing what my passion is.

later, i felt ashamed for not being passionate about something more... great. ...or, worthy.

now, i can't think of anything more great than caring about people and doing everything within my means to make their lives easier.

Tingaling- I appreciate your honesty sweetheart, really.
This is fantastic my friends, let this be a haven for your thoughts, don't hold back. lets talk about the TRUTH! Yeah!

StephenThomson- Thank You for your critical input brother, your a brilliant man with a good heart, go out there and galvanize the masses brother!

I'm trying to Mobius, with media and video. But even that is coming up short.

I'll be leaving Current in July. I cannot sit in front of a computer for 12 hrs a day anymore. I'd like to find work that is more directly environment-related. I'd like to forget time, stop counting minutes, enjoy the nature all around me and foster its conservation, be the change I want to see.

I'm also considering taking a long hike from San Francisco to the tip of South America and back. carbon-free travel. journey of a lifetime.

I once had the dream to be a movie director. Supposedly i've been working to fulfill that dream ever since. But now things have changed a little bit. I'm no longer willing to waste time doing ANYTHING that I dont feel is valuable to the one central organizing principle of my life - that of contributing to a sustainable future for humanity in which we no longer have to view ourselves as Earth's cancer or virus.

I for one refuse to be another cog in the wheel, another cell gone cancerous.

This trend is amazing!

Stephenthomson, are you interested checking out Ecuador?
The currency is u.s. dollars and having legal representation. Guayaquil, the major city and is equivalent (Boston) in a 3rd world country.

Anyways, opinion, working with the power of the internet is important. You have some power and you have planted a seed that could grow into a nice tree.