When I look at myself, I think—how many times have I minimized my dreams. How many times have I thought, “It won’t happen to me,” “Can I do it?”, “It’s not for people like me.” But the truth is, I don’t know how much power is hidden inside me. I haven’t learned to trust myself properly.
I dream, but most of the time I keep those dreams to myself. I don’t tell anyone outside, so that no one will laugh or ask questions. That’s why my dreams are often born silently, silently wanting to grow. But under the weight of reality, they gradually become smaller. I myself minimize them—because of fear, because of doubt.
I have seen many times, others boldly move forward, and I stop. I stop thinking that my situation is different, my responsibilities are greater, my time is less. But when I go deeper and question myself, I understand—the biggest reason behind this stopping is my own fear. I am so afraid of failure that I am afraid to even try.
I often belittle myself. I feel insignificant about my own achievements. I think, “This is nothing.” But when I see the achievements of others, I feel like they have accomplished so much. Then I start comparing myself to myself, and that is where disappointment comes from. I forget that my path is different, my story is different.
I have understood that dreaming big does not mean that everything will change tomorrow. Dreaming big means believing in yourself a little more. Giving myself permission to ask, think, and try. Whether I succeed or not is another matter. But if I don’t try, I don’t know myself.
I have often dismissed my dreams as “unrealistic.” I think that I have a family and responsibilities, so thinking about these things is a luxury. But I now understand that without dreams, even the responsibilities eventually become a burden. Dreams give me strength, a meaning to life.
I am learning to tell myself—Dream Bigger. Think a little bigger. Think beyond what everyone else thinks. Maybe not everything will happen at once, but small steps can be taken. A little today, a little tomorrow. If I don't give myself time, then who will?
I know that my path is not easy. The beginning and end of my day are surrounded by many responsibilities. There is very little time for myself in between. Still, I want my dreams to live on even in this short time. I want to at least tell myself before going to bed at night—I am trying.
I no longer want to leave my dreams to the opinions of others. People will say—good things, bad things. But in the end, my life is about me. No one will take responsibility for my inability. So I want, at least to myself, not to lose.
I have understood that you don't need to be perfect to dream big. You can dream even with a broken mind. You can move forward even with a tired body. I can dream just as I am. Not in the hope that one day everything will be okay, but rather, I can start from where I am today.
I am making a deal with myself—I will no longer belittle myself. I will not neglect my potential. I may walk slowly, but I will not stop. I may fall, but I will stand up. Because my dreams are mine, I have no right to give them up.
Dream Bigger—this is not just a line for me now. It is a promise to myself. No matter how hard it is, no matter how scared I am, I will keep my dreams alive. I may not be able to achieve everything, but I want to never regret not trying.
In the end, all I want is this—to be able to look back one day and say to myself, “I was scared, but I didn’t stop dreaming.” And this belief gives me the courage to dream bigger, a little bit at a time, every day.
