Chase Your Dreams by Living in the In-Between

Dreams are a destination. I used to think that was the whole point. I set goals and intentions, always focused on the big picture. The macro. But the macro doesn't happen without the micro, the path, the actual steps. To really chase your dreams, you have to live in the in-between.

The in-between is exactly what it sounds like. It's the valleys between the peaks, the moments that aren't the big milestones. A lot of us, especially if we're goal-oriented, see these valleys as just something to get through. We don't stop to enjoy them or learn anything from them.

I was one of those people. I charged through, achieving my personal and professional dreams, but ignoring the in-between didn't make me happy. It didn't bring satisfaction. I had to change my approach, evolve my fate and identity. I wrote about that pivot in my book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro.

Taking My Ego Out of the Equation

We all have an ego; it’s a fundamental part of our consciousness. It can serve us well or be a detriment to our growth. My ego often got in the way of living in the in-between. It cared only for the accolades of arriving at those peaks.

Eventually, I came to see the damage it was causing and could take it out of decisions I made and interactions. By doing so, I felt connected and purposeful in the in-between path. I began to embrace being present in micro-moments, and it didn’t deter me from chasing my dreams.

You Can Chase Dreams and Embrace the In-Between

There’s a misconception that pushing toward a dream or a goal is about staying unflinchingly focused on the macro. You may accomplish something, but you’ll look back and see broken relationships and selfish behavior.

So, I was able to reconcile that both these things can be true. I can aspire to fulfill my dreams and enjoy the path toward them. I don’t have to suppress my emotions and reflections to achieve something grand.

Finding this balance between the micro and macro takes time. You’ll fumble along the way because you’re human. You’ll make mistakes and lose sight of things from time to time. How you respond and learn from them is what matters.

The In-Between Is Where Dreams Are Born and Fostered

Maybe it’s ironic to say that dreams originate in the in-between. When we begin to desire something and realize what we’ll need to get there, it’s happening in the in-between. It’s a collection of micro-moments that help us formulate the big dream.

It’s in the micro where we foster and nurture dreams, setting the course for how to attain them. Dreams would have nowhere to go without the micro. Coming to this understanding sets you up to assess your identity and create your intentions for situations that will bring you closer to your dreams.

You can learn more about this process and why the in-between is crucial to dreams by reading my book.

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