Should You Give Up on Your Dream?

There comes a time in our lives when our challenges seem more than we can handle and we’re faced with the option of staying strong, striving to achieve a dream that we believe in, or giving up, which would be the much easier approach to take.

It’s at times like this that self-doubt creeps in and pushes you to question your ability. Maybe you don’t really have what it takes to achieve your dream? Maybe your dream isn’t a feasible one? Maybe you should save yourself the stress and embarrassment by giving up now that it’s still early, now that you’ve not lost too much?

It’s okay to doubt yourself once in a while.

On many occasions, I’ve felt discouraged to pursue a dream I believed in just because the possibility of me failing to achieve the dream was more obvious to me than the possibility of me actualizing it. But after one bitter experience, I hardly ever gave up on my dreams. No matter how discouraged I find myself, I always manage to maintain a positive mindset and fight passionately until I realise my dreams.

I’m this strong-willed only because every time I feel the urge to throw in the towel, I remind myself of a few things it took me long enough to realise:

1. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

One thing experience has taught me is that there’s no such thing as an instant success. The fact that you’re yet to succeed in your dream doesn’t make you a failure, and it doesn’t mean your dream can’t be achieved either.

Achieving a dream is like running a marathon. At the start of the race, you’d set off with all your might, with much interest and passion for the rewards ahead, but a few minutes into the race, you’d find that your strength and zeal wanes with every stride you take.

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Like running – and winning – a marathon, it takes time, perseverance and self-discipline to realise a dream, but it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Truly, time is essential when running a marathon or pursuing a dream, but you should never for a second let how long it’s taking you to realise your dream make you think of yourself as a failure.

You only fail when you give up on your dream, not when you fail to succeed at your first attempt, nor when it’s taking you longer than you had expected to achieve your dream.

2. Mistakes are part of the learning process.

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Before setting out to achieve your dream, accept that you’re likely to make tons of mistakes and that every mistake you make is only meant to help you become better.

The successful people you know today didn’t become successful overnight. Each one of them started out like you and they all had their own share of challenges, setbacks and mistakes.

Take JK Rowling, the popular writer of the Harry Potter series, for example. I learnt that her book was rejected 12 times before it was accepted. Perhaps, it was a mistake she was making that earned her a rejection 12 times? Perhaps not.

But what if she had given up on her dream the first time her book was rejected? What if she had believed she didn’t have what it took to write a book? Or what if she had quitted because of one mistake, instead of trying out another approach? We wouldn’t know the story of the boy who lived now, would we?

But because she didn’t give up, JK Rowling is one of the most successful writers today.

Perseverance and self-confidence pay, don’t they?

Friend, no idea comes fully formed, so don’t be afraid to start all over again when you hit the rock bottom. Mistakes are a sign that you’re experimenting and trying out new approaches. They’re a sign that you’re doing something.

Successful people are what they are because whenever they make a mistake, they don’t give up. They simply change their approach and try again.

3. You won’t be able to live with the regrets.

If you give up on your dream or an opportunity now, you would always wonder what could have been if you hadn’t taken the easy way out.

I’ll never forget when I had the chance to be a part of a programme that gave its participants a shot at studying their desired course abroad on scholarship. I learnt that I would have to take this hard qualifying exam before I would even be considered to sign up for the programme.

Now, there was this really smart boy in my school whom I discovered had already taken the exam a week before I heard about the programme, so I met up with him and asked him to give me his feedback on the exam. He used many discouraging words when talking with me that day but the ones that stuck with me was, “this exam isn’t for people like you.”

And that was how I missed out on that great opportunity. I let someone make me think poorly of myself. I believed I didn’t have what it took to pass the examination, so I didn’t bother taking it.

Every time I remember this misfortune, I can’t help wondering what could have been had I believed in myself that day, five years ago. Maybe I would have been in my final year in the university and not an aspirant like I am now? I don’t know…

While giving up may seem to be the easiest option to take, it’s surely not the wisest. Never forget that a lost dream (or opportunity) may never be regained and one who has failed to achieve his dream is living an unfulfilled life. If these words don’t discourage you from giving up on your dream, I don’t know what will.

4. You’ll be an inspiration to people.

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Before you give up on your dream, think of the people who now look up to you as a role model. And, think of those who will be greatly inspired not to give up on their struggles when they hear your success story. If you’re not going to achieve your dream for yourself, then at least do it for them.

The world could use some more motivation these days and if achieving your dream will motivate many others to achieve theirs, I say go for it.

There will come a time when your challenges will seem too overwhelming to handle and you’ll think you don’t have what it takes to achieve your dream. When that time comes, develop the willpower to battle on and see it through the end. You have it in you; you’re stronger than you think.

And, I know, there will be many setbacks and obstacles in your way, but they shouldn’t make you give up the first, second or even the third time you’re trying. Giving up should never be an option where you’re concerned!

I wish you success in your endeavours, dear reader.

Stay positive. Always.

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