Olalekan Adebumiti
Everyone has dreams, something they are passionate about and would love to pursue, most times, at all costs. For you, it could be starting your own business, embarking on a musical career, or it’s moving to a different country. It doesn’t matter your dream because all you want is to get something more out of life than working a day job and paying the bills.
You see your future filled with hope, but your parents see it differently and do not support your dreams. When your parents don’t support you in your endeavors, it’s no fun at all and can be devastating. Now that you have decided to follow your passion, the next challenge is convincing your parents because they are the ones who can support your dreams. Are you worried? Don’t be! Sheer determination and patience will solve this problem for you. This brings us to the point where you would need to answer this question because it can make a big difference in helping you get all the support you need;
What Does Dream Fulfilment Mean To You?
What is your dream? Do you think it’s possible to achieve your dreams? Why or why not? Has anyone ever told you that your dreams are impossible, yet you still continue to pursue them? You have to realise that dream fulfillment is not only dreaming big but dreaming specifically. It’s setting specific goals that you can actually get there, but also large enough that they truly fulfill your soul.
So, let me take you through some practical steps that can guide you towards fulfilling your dreams.
Write Down Your Dreams
Writing down your dreams or drawing a picture to depict your ‘Big Dream’, could reflect how passionate you are about it. Be deliberate, talk about it, sing about it, do whatever helps you to really see the dream right in front of your eyes because if you can imagine how it feels to be living that dream, you’re more likely to make it happen.
Make Research
You might have a vague idea of what you want to do, but do you know enough about it to act on it? You must figure out what resources are available to make your big dream a reality. Just because something is a dream doesn’t mean it isn’t real or achievable. You might have to travel somewhere far away or take classes at night while working during the day in order to be able to achieve this goal.
Believe In Yourself
Have you ever heard the saying, “The only limit to your success is your own imagination?” It means that what you believe about yourself and how far you think you can go in life directly affects your success. What happens when your dream just isn’t working out? Do you abandon it or fall back on the default dream of a desk job and 50 years of climbing the corporate ladder? If you want to fulfill your dream, it could be very difficult and challenging, especially when you face many obstacles along the way; the most important thing is to believe in yourself and never give up!
Don’t Be Discouraged
It’s easy to say that you want to do something, but it’s harder to actually do it. It takes courage to realize your dreams, and this can be a challenge for many young people. When the going gets tough, some people can become discouraged and give up on their dreams. Patience and sacrifice are both required if you want to fulfill your dreams. Set aside time every day for working towards your dream fulfilment and make sure that nothing gets in the way of that time slot. Whatever sacrifices need to be made, make them. If money is an issue, get a second job or take any other steps necessary to reach your goals.
Why Your Parents’ Support Could Be Important
Parents’ support is important. It’s not something to take for granted. Parents aren’t just people who give birth to you; they’re people who love us and want us to be happy. Good parents always help their children achieve the goal they have set out to do. These are the reasons why parents’ support is important:
They Can Mentor You
Your parents could teach you many things that you don’t know. You can learn a lot from them because they have been through different experiences and they already know what lies ahead if you do this or that. They will most likely tell you to avoid some pitfalls that they have encountered in the course of their own journey so that you don’t have to make the same mistake.
Their Motivation Will Help You A Great Deal
Your parents want the best for you and could help motivate you when things get tough and discouraging. There are times when you really want to give up but then your parents push you harder and make you work even harder than before until you achieve what you want. It’s their love for you that makes them push so hard for their child’s success.
They Can Relieve You Financially
There are also times when we need help with everyday expenses so we can put every last penny into our business. Even if they aren’t willing to lend money to run your major project, they may be willing to help with other things like rent or relieve you of some other bills if needed until your business starts making money. Having that safety net is vital to give you the privilege of taking risks and trying new things without worrying about how it will affect your day-to-day living expenses.
What To Do When They Don’t Support Your Dreams
Parents are often the most vocal critics of their children, and you would know this if you have ever done something that went against the norm. There are so many things that a person could do, but when it is your parents who are against it, it can be devastating. However, you don’t have to be perturbed, here are a few things you can do to salvage the situation and likely get the support that you want from them.
Talk It Out
Take some time to sit down and talk with your parents about why you want to pursue this path and how it will be different from everyone else in the family. Explain why you feel so strongly about this and how it will benefit you in the long run. If they are willing to listen, they might be more willing to support your choices instead of fighting them every step of the way.
Be Open-Minded
It’s important to be open-minded about other people’s feelings, even if they don’t understand yours. Here is what a young and aspiring friend shared with us sometime ago:
“Hi, I am a high school student, and I have a dream to become a doctor. I know that it is very hard to get into medical school, but I believe that I will be able to achieve my dreams with enough hard work and determination. My parents do not support my dream because they think that it is difficult for me to get into medical school. They think that it is too competitive and that there are not many spots. They think that if I apply and do not get into any medical schools, the amount of money wasted on applications will be too much debt for me to handle- especially since the next year is my senior year. They want me to study business so that even if I fail to go into medical school, I will be able to find a job quickly after college- which they believe is more important than finding a career in medicine.
I understand where my parents are coming from. They have never been through this process before and do not know how competitive it is. The only thing they care about is my future. Although everyone thinks differently about this issue, being honest with myself has helped me understand why they feel the way they do.”
It’s important to be open-minded about your parents’ feelings about your dreams, rather than totally ignore them while in pursuit of your dreams. This will help you to have a very good foundation for yourself, because you need people around you to also accept, validate and encourage what you are doing.
Understand Their Own Perspective
Even if you are very convinced about your dreams, it’s still important to approach your parents to find out their perspective. Try to identify the source of their negativity, is it rooted in something from their own life or is it simply a case of misguidance? If it’s the former, then chances are there’s very little that you can do other than talk about it with them. In some cases, if your parents are negative and controlling, then this can be a sign that they’re not as supportive as they should be because maybe they were never supported themselves.
Tough love is a concept that many parents live by. They know what’s best for their children, and they don’t want them to end up disappointed with life or regretting a decision that they made when they were young.
Whatever their reasons maybe, when you listen to them and understand their perspective, you can know how to convince them. They might have a valid reason for their standing, speak to them about it calmly and logically, be patient and don’t be rude to them. When you do this, both of you are likely to come to a resolution on the matter.
Prove To Them That You Are Serious
When your parents aren’t supportive of your work, it can be a very rocky road. It can be really disheartening to be criticised, especially when you feel that the work is really good and you’re really committed to it. But don’t give up; try your best to prove to them that your dreams are worth pursuing. Proving to them that your dreams are valid is the big one and probably the hardest thing to accomplish. You have to show them that this isn’t just something you’re doing on the side or a hobby; this is what you want to do with your life. Find a good reason they would want to support you; you might need to show them that this is important to you by showing them how much time and effort you’re putting into it and examples of others who have succeeded in the same feat. This will help convince them that this is something worth supporting in every way that they can.
Reach Out To Those Who Believe In Your Dreams
If talking with your parents doesn’t help soften their stance, then you might need to consider seeking help from others who believe in your dreams. Your parents are supposed to be your biggest supporters, but what do you do when they aren’t? Seek the support of your friends, or consider talking to a family counselor or therapist that can help you keep your dreams alive. They can also help you think about ways to convince your parents that your dreams are worth pursuing. You can also seek advice from people who have already been in this situation and who managed to convince their parents that what they were doing was the right thing for them.
Follow Your Heart And Do What You Love
Rejection is hard to deal with, but it shouldn’t define who you are or your future plans. If your parents don’t support you in your endeavors, it may be time to follow your heart and do what you love anyway. But if you will do this, then, you need to be aware that it will not be a bed of roses, but it will all be worth it in the end.
You can always do what you love if you want it bad enough. If you really want to fufill your dream, then what you should just do is go for it!
Conclusion
Remember that positive thoughts and actions are the cornerstone to achieving anything you want in life. If you keep working towards your dreams and have faith in yourself, the universe will conspire to help you reach the goals that you set out for yourself. It may not come in the way that you expect it, but be brave and go after what you want. If you stay focused, things will work out!
