Do you think it’s crazy to follow your dreams after 50?
I was just over 50 myself when I changed my career (for the third time) to become a self-employed career coach. I found it exciting, scary, and energizing all at the same time.
What if your dreams are there for a reason? John Updike wrote that if dreams weren’t meant to come true, “nature would not incite us to have them”. Your dreams are an indication of what you’re meant to do, a reflection of your authentic self.
What Makes People Give Up on Their Dreams?
Here are five reasons people often give for not following their dreams:
What will people think?
There will always be some people in your inner circle who will be less than supportive of your wish to change. I found a great response to this question in Dr. Wayne Dyer’s blog post, Whose Opinion Matters? Dyer believes it’s important to honor your dream and follow your path, while at the same time encouraging the dreams of those around you. To follow your dreams in an authentic way may mean going in a direction that’s totally different from what’s expected by those closest to you.
Pursuing my dream will take more than I have to give.
To follow your dreams is hard work. It takes perseverance, courage, and a lot of energy. It may seem easier to just show up for any old job. But at what cost to your soul? What if you could wake up each morning eager to begin your day, looking forward to contributing in a way that only you can? Dreams give your life purpose, and following them can be fun.
It’s unrealistic.
I’m never sure what this means. Is your dream unrealistic because you lack training or experience? Or is it because it’s a “stretch”? And what exactly does “realistic” mean? That 9-to-5 job you outgrew? The career you stayed in for years, even though it wasn’t a good fit? People who say that to follow your dreams is unrealistic often doubt their abilities and end up deciding it’s “not meant to be”, without even trying.
As you follow your dreams, you may find that you no longer want what was important to you when you were younger – things like getting ahead, moving up in the corporate hierarchy, making more money than you really need. Your values and priorities have likely changed.
There won’t be enough money (or security).
This is a common concern, especially in the current economy. But as we now know, there are no guarantees in life! We fear starting over when the outcome is uncertain. We’re afraid of the unknown, frightened of letting go, of losing income, status, the status quo. But how much meaning does any of that have?
One way to control your fears is through managing change and making sure your transition happens gradually. If you don’t have sufficient savings, you may need to plan on using your old skills for a while longer or find an opportunity to enter into your new field in an entry position.
I’m too old.
When I hear this, I think of the old saying – that even if it takes you 3 or even 10 years to “become” what you want to be, you’re going to be that many years older anyway. Wouldn’t you rather be 10 years older and doing what you dream about? If you’ve put your dream off, you may feel it will take too long to start over. But if you don’t begin, you’ll never know. Do you want to risk having regrets later?
Reinventing yourself after 50 offers you an opportunity to consciously choose what’s important to you at this point in your life. You get to define your priorities and goals.
If you want to follow your dreams, you’ll need to take a leap of trust. I think one of the hardest lessons for me was learning how to trust… not only in my dream, but in the often slow process of change.
Your dream may seem too large or unreachable when you look at it all at once. Start by identifying one or two small steps you can take now that will lead you in the right direction. As a sign over my computer says, “If not now, when?”
Have you given up on your dreams? What can you do to follow your dreams and make them come alive again?
Photo credit: zenera / CC license
