Dreaming with Purpose: Envisioning the Future I Want
There is a stage in life when the future begins to feel close, yet uncertain. Questions arise such as: What do I want to be? Where do I want to go? What if I make a mistake? At that moment, dreaming can feel exciting—or intimidating. For some adolescents, the future is an illusion full of possibilities; for others, it becomes a source of pressure and fear.
We are often encouraged to have big dreams, clear goals, and well-defined plans, without being taught how to imagine the future in a healthy and realistic way. As a result, dreaming turns into a burden or something abstract, disconnected from everyday life. But dreaming well is not about escaping reality—it is about learning to look at it with hope and direction.
But… what is the difference between a dream and a goal? Is it wrong not to have everything figured out? How can I imagine the future without feeling overwhelmed? What happens when my dreams do not match others’ expectations? These questions are essential for growing with greater clarity and confidence.
This post invites you to reflect on dreams and goals as tools to build the future I want, step by step and with purpose.
1. Dreams: The Starting Point
Dreams speak about what moves us on the inside. They are not only about success or recognition, but about inner images of how we would like to live, feel, and find fulfillment. Dreaming is a fundamental human capacity that allows us to look beyond the present.
During adolescence, dreams often change. What feels exciting today may no longer feel the same tomorrow. This does not mean a lack of commitment; it reflects a search for identity. Dreaming does not require certainty—it requires openness.
Allowing ourselves to dream without fear of ridicule or failure is the first step toward imagining a future that feels truly our own.
“Dreaming is not a waste of time; it gives direction.”
2. From Dreams to Goals: Keeping Our Feet on the Ground
A dream becomes a goal when it starts to take shape. Goals translate dreams into objectives that are more concrete, achievable, and open to revision. This does not mean knowing exactly how the future will look, but taking small steps in the direction we want to go.
Goals do not have to be perfect or final. They can change over time. What matters is that they are personal, not imposed, and that they help us move forward with greater clarity.
Learning to turn dreams into goals reduces frustration and strengthens the sense of control over one’s own life.
“A goal does not trap a dream; it makes it possible.”
3. Fear of Making Mistakes and the Pressure to Decide
One of the greatest obstacles to dreaming and planning for the future is the fear of making mistakes. Many adolescents feel that one wrong decision could ruin everything. Added to this is external pressure: opinions, comparisons, and expectations that weigh more than they seem.
Growing well means understanding that making mistakes is part of the journey. No single decision defines a person forever. Life is built through adjustments, learning, and changes in direction.
Choosing out of fear leads to paralysis; choosing with awareness allows us to move forward, even when not everything is clear.
“Not deciding out of fear is also a decision.”
4. Envisioning the Future Through Values
Dreaming and planning are not only about what I want to have or achieve, but about how I want to live and who I want to become. This is where personal values come into play.
When goals align with values—such as respect, honesty, effort, or responsibility—the path becomes more coherent and meaningful. The future stops being just a destination and becomes a way of living.
A life project without values may look successful on the outside, but feel empty on the inside.
“A future worth pursuing is one built with purpose.”
5. The Future Is Built Step by Step
No one builds their future all at once. The future is created through small decisions, daily habits, and constant learning. Every choice, no matter how small it seems, leaves a mark.
Dreaming about the future I want does not mean having everything under control; it means walking with intention. It means reviewing, adjusting, dreaming again, and continuing forward.
Growing well is learning to look toward the future without rushing, while keeping direction in mind.
“Step by step, we can go far.”
Final Thoughts
Dreaming and setting goals are not obligations or competitions. They are opportunities to know yourself, find direction, and build a future that feels more personal. Imagining the future I want does not eliminate difficulties, but it offers something essential: meaning.
The future is not predicted; it is built.
And it begins today, with small, conscious choices.
With care,
Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández, your friend in the promotion of health 💛🌿✨
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