What is my purpose? Why am I here? Is this all there is to life?
These are the questions that many of us ask ourselves at one time or another in our lives. And many say the answers are vague and unfulfilling and others say they get no answers.
It is estimated that 94% of adults struggle with this .. leading a life of “QUIET DESPERATION” as Thoreau described it. It has been also been said that “everyone dies, but not everyone really lives.”
Why is that? And is there hope to finding purpose in our lives?
Based on my personal experience and from reading countless articles and books on the subject, I say that the main reason we end up feeling this way is that we have forgotten what life was like when we were children.
Think about this .. all things created are created for a specific purpose and equipped to fulfill that purpose. From the moment we were conceived, we were doing what we were created to do. That was before “reality” set in and adulthood and the responsibilities and cares that go along with that began the slow and insidious steering away from the originality of who we are, really.
So, what natural bend did you have as a kid, do you remember? What did you dream about when there were no limitations in your life? When you could be anybody, do anything, go anywhere you wanted .. what was that like?
This is the starting point, yet many will be thwarted and shanghaied with their own negative thinking. You know how it goes .. well meaning people who want the best for us start to tell us .. “Grow up and get your head out of the clouds and stop daydreaming – this life is serious, you know!” And, then what’s worse, we start telling ourselves the same thing.
When was the last time you caught yourself dreaming? I say we all should dream during the day, dream at night, dream as often as you possibly can and DREAM BIG!
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Why not take a moment to write down some of those dreams and then dare to believe in the beauty of them, again 
dream big….. u r right we were told to stop dreaming and grow up…. well theres a balance to that statement… cos we have to grow up in the responsibility relm, and some folks, well either they were givin toooo much as kids or given very little… especially in the emotional dept. its a balancing act….and way to often we fall to one side or the other and thus leaving us in a wake of forgtten dreams, or the ability to dream out of trust, IM WITH YOU DREAM BIG……:)
By: leslie ss on August 21, 2010
at 2:57 pm
You understand what I am saying .. it is important to have a healthy vision of yourself – good self esteem is essential. Personal development has done wonders for me.
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:06 pm
Love it, Paula! The great thing is dreaming is free and still unregulated by the government. Dream on!!
By: scott on August 21, 2010
at 4:00 pm
Shhh.. if they figure that out, they might try to tax and regulate us for dreams too! Thanks Scott!!!!
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:07 pm
Great bolg! The Dream Giver has a bigger dream for us than we can imagine!!
By: Sandy Griffin on August 21, 2010
at 6:58 pm
Jeremiah 29:11
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:08 pm
Paula…I am amazed at this article you wrote. Awesome!
So true. Childhood was such an easier, less stressful time. We all can be there again, if we dare to dream and make those dreams come true with believing in God and ourselves!
By: Laura Kozlowski on August 21, 2010
at 9:32 pm
Thanks Laura .. you possess the kind of faith I am talking about; I have seen it .. have fun in PR!
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:08 pm
Beautiful, Paula! Looking forward to more great wisdom from you.
By: Heather on August 21, 2010
at 11:01 pm
Thank you
This is fun!
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:10 pm
I’m not sure dreaming and positive thinking will make things happen – but I am sure that negative thinking will prevent things from happening!
Tom “Big Al” Schreiter
http://www.BigAlReport.com
By: Tom "Big Al" Schreiter on August 22, 2010
at 1:11 am
Oh to be sure… making things happen will take action on one’s part. It is a process
to that for me had to begin again from the beginning in learning how to think powerfully. My thoughts were keeping me sidelined and purposeless.
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 4:32 pm
Awesome Paula!
Ones thoughts (dreams) are the start of everything and builds from there. What is possible, starts from the thought off…… As a child the sky is the limit and no one, on one could stop us, because it was all in our minds eye. As we grow we don’t seam to have the freedom to dream as a child, due to the influence of the people around us. We should teach our children to be themselves and respect others for who they are. Until we can be our AUTHENTIC SELF we are held back from what our true potential.
In the being we are all equal, why are we all not no the same level- we stopped dreaming.
Stop thing/worrying about what someone might say or think about us and be our true self.
“For things to change – We must change”.
Jim Rohn
By: Ian Hurley on August 22, 2010
at 6:01 am
Absolutely Ian .. I love the Jim Rohn quote .. he taught me a lot about good healthy thinking philosophies!
By: mspaulamc on August 22, 2010
at 11:10 pm
Thank you for sharing with me!
By: Carol Kokkeler on August 22, 2010
at 9:28 pm
And I appreciate all that you have been sharing with me too… you are SPOT ON
By: mspaulamc on August 23, 2010
at 12:05 am
Amazing insight Ms. Paula. I’m learning that very thing myself right now in a series that I’m listening to. Going back to being like a child, imagination, and total and complete trust- Jesus talks about that in Matt. 18:4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The childlike awe, wonderment, amazement and surprise, and trust- that IMHO, is where our miracles are.
By: wonderwoman on August 23, 2010
at 9:52 am
I could not have said it better myself
Thanks Jo!
By: mspaulamc on August 23, 2010
at 10:21 am
Congratulations Paula! You have birthed something that is and will be wonderful if your first post is anything like what is coming!
I would like to add something. We need to dream big, but most people don’t dream big enough! I have to keep reminding myself not to limit my dreams. If I dream of 1 millon dollars, why not 5? 10? If I dream of a trip to Tahiti, why not around the world?
I think people need to keep reminding themselves to dream and think bigger. If you do, you can’t help but live bigger and how fun is that!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com
By: Candace C. Davenport on August 23, 2010
at 2:56 pm
So true Candace! Your life will only make room for what you dream for it .. that is something to think about .. every day!
By: mspaulamc on August 23, 2010
at 10:15 pm
Wonderful article dear Paula, you are full of Wisdom, and I know you have big Dreams of your own…. ones HE has planted in your heart and soul. Keep dreaming and encouraging others to dream as well, and put their plans into action. The more dream seekers we have, the better this world will be
Carolyn J
By: Carolyn Jones on August 23, 2010
at 7:36 pm
And, I know you are joining me on my DREAMQUEST too .. dreamers are the key to what ails the world!
By: mspaulamc on August 23, 2010
at 10:16 pm
that is precisely why I work with young children — they remind me to be in the moment! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Paula.
By: Cindy on August 26, 2010
at 1:57 pm
How fun to read your blog! I will look forward to more posts!
Vangie
By: Evangeline Waybright on August 29, 2010
at 11:55 pm
This is why you have not heard from me! What an undertaking this was and still is. Do you know anything about blogging? I am around Monday afternoon and most of Tuesday, let’s talk then. Let me know so I can book it
By: Paula McInaney on August 30, 2010
at 12:37 am