Just let go – chase your dream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years ago, I watched a speech that motivated me like no other. I’ve seen it multiple times since then, and it was one of the driving forces that helped me realize just how to obtain my dream.

If you haven’t already, I implore you go watch Steve Jobs’ commencement speech for Stanford University, given in 2005. It’s a phenomenally moving  address and will shake the apathy right out of you.

There is a particular quote in the speech that resonates with me to this day: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Those words have haunted me in my pursuit for a career. You see, I’d given up on all of my loftier ambitions and couldn’t find anything more grounded that appealed to me. Because everything I looked into didn’t fit for me, I was afraid that I’d end up with a dead-end job, living in a trailer eating discount lunchables for the rest of my life. I kept picturing Steve shaking his head in disappointment at me.

After a while, I came to a realization what I wanted. I love movies and am enamored with visual storytelling. The idea of being transported to a new world in a one-to-three hour sitting is magical. My moment of clarity came when I realized how much joy and enlightenment films bring me, and how I want to bring that kind of joy to someone else. Ergo, I want to be a filmmaker — specifically, a director/writer.

However, I still couldn’t truly see myself going for it. I found that letting go is the hardest part. There is a certain stigma to how we divide careers, passion and happiness. It’s not easy to accept the fact that you actually can do something you love for a living.

It’s also hard to face the social opposition. When I decided to go forward with my plans, I could picture all the restrained grimaces of people reacting to such an ambitious goal. If your dream isn’t among the vanilla blend of “acceptable” careers like business or medicine, then it’s deemed unimpressive or illogical. But, who cares?

If you have people who support you and think you’re making the right decision, that’s great. And if they don’t, they can have a word with the bird. This is how I look at it: You shouldn’t measure something as obtainable by other people’s standards. Just picture your road to obtaining the dream. How are you going to do it? Can you do it? And most importantly, would it make you happy?

Ever since I accepted my calling, my thoughts are dominated by all things film. I’ve been writing screenplays, reading screenplays, picturing shots, evaluating movies, and learning about directing — all with a childish glee. Never before has my mind been so focused on one thing, and so excited for my future.

I’m telling you, if there is some kind of inkling towards a greater passion that you’ve been burying, just go for it. Why spend the rest of your life regretting what you never dared to fulfill? And, it’s never too late to turn back.

I just have one caveat: You should dive into your dream headfirst, but you should also have something concrete to fall back on. I could very well crash and burn in the filmmaking industry. Nothing would bring me greater disappointment, but not having a degree (such as the bachelor’s degree in communications I’ll have) and a backup plan would only make the pain more severe. Shoot for the stars, but make sure you have a safe place to land.

Steve Jobs’ words hold so much merit because he was living proof of what can happen if you follow your heart. He put all his energy into what he believed was important. I’ll leave you with another one of his many nuggets of wisdom:“If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”