Never settle for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living

On Wednesday 28th August 1963, just 15 days after I was born, Martin Luther King shared his dream with 200000 people in Washington and that dream reverberated around the world.

'I have a dream,' he said and he was not talking about the thing that happens somewhere between when you go to sleep and when you wake up.?His dream was a vision.?Something he saw and believed even though it was not at that time a reality.

For most of us today, it is difficult to imagine a childhood without Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Bambi and so many other amazing, inspiring, frightening and enduring characters created in the futile mind of Walt Disney. One man's dream which began as a refuge from an abusive father, Disney brought the child out of every adult and wonder to the eyes of children.

'If you can dream it, you can do it,' he said. Great lesson right there.

Juan Trippe, president of Pan-Am, had a dream of an aircraft double in size of the largest jetliners that could address the growing airport congestion challenge. He asked Boeing to design and build it and the Queen Of The Sky's was born. The Boeing 747 transform air travel for millions of people the world over.

Released on the 11th February 1990 after 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was not a man focused on revenge, repayment or retaliation. But a man focused on a dream. During his trial in 1964, he gave a 3-hour speech which concluded with,

'I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if it needs to be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.'

And it was with these same words that he concluded his speech on the day of his release.

On the front cover of my first book, I have a Mandela quote that reads, 'there is no passion to be found in playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.' He had a dream and the Rainbow Nation was born.

While being stuck on a delayed train from Manchester to London, JK Rowlings allowed her mind to wander and suddenly characters began to emerge and fill her mind, beginning with Harry Potter. By the end of the train journey, she know it would be a 7 books series and the rest is history. JK Rowlings had a dream which took 5 more years to become a reality.

During that time, she wrote and rewrote the story, developed the plot, the characters and the structure of each book. I have read that there were 15 variations of the first chapter of the first book. But she had a dream.

These are just a few of the millions of business owners, authors, politicians, designers, creators who have seen their dreams become reality and have an impact on the world around them.

Dolly Parton said, 'Sometimes, you see folks who have a negative view of dreamers - people who sit around all day on their hindquarters and do absolutely nothing. These folks aren't dreamers - they are just lazy. To me, dreaming is just a part of being alive, inspired and curious about the world.'

And Dolly, I totally agree with you.

Dreaming is a part of being alive. It is the beginning part of doing things that changes your world. It is the first stage of the legacy you leave when you depart this world.

Martin Luther King, Walt Disney, Juan Trippe, Nelson Mandela, JK Rowlings and Dolly Parton will not soon be forgotten as their dream has left an enormous legacy for everyone who follows though some are still with us. Their dreams have made them legends during and after their lifetime.

And having a dream or vision for the future, something you push yourself to achieve, to do, to become or to overcome is good for your brain and your mental health.

I have always been known as a dreamer, my mind filled with ideas and visions of the things I want to do or want to become and the great things I want to achieve. And to be honest, most have been and still are wild fantasies, but there are those which I know are genuine dreams that I will or have pursued.

I know I will never climb Mount Everest or swim the English Channel mainly because I don't want to, but that did not stop me in my earlier years dreaming of doing it. Just a fantasy. I dreamt of racing in Formula 1, but although I love speed and drive very well, I knew it was never going to happen. I neither had the skill nor did I want to learn the skill. Just a fantasy.

But I also had a dream of becoming a businessman and I pursue that dream. I had a dream of flying to various countries and working with many different companies to solve the change and transformation issues they have and I have pursued that dream. I had the dream of sky-diving and I pursued that dream.Oman for

But the truth of the matter really is, that although most people know it is important and good to have dreams, they have put them aside. You may be in that place, where you had a dream, know it is what you want and go after it, but because of setbacks and failures, you have given up and now just try to get through each day. You have set those dreams aside because it's too hard or challenging. You have set them aside because of what other people, including your friends and family, have said to you.

You may be in that place where you have set aside your dreams because you think of them as fantasies or you have been told you are wasting your time dreaming about a better future. You have become disillusioned and literally have thrown in the towel.

But, like the people mentioned above, don't give up, reengage with your dreams, reignite those things which excite you. If you have been told you should put aside dreams for reality, then dream bigger dreams, dream better dreams and stand up for yourself and what you want.

Don't settle for a life defined by other people and their ideas of what you should do. Grab hold of Nelson Mandela' quote and live the life you are capable of living. Don't live a normal life. Live the life of your dreams.

So why should you have a big dream or 2 for yourself and your business? Here are 4 reasons why you should have a big dream. Now there are many other reasons, but try these for size.

Firstly, research indicates that it is good for our brain health. There are certain neurochemicals that tells the rest of your nervous system that this dream or change you want to make is important and something to pay attention to. They tell the nervous system to get ready for change and to anticipate change and obviously if you have a dream that you want to make a reality, you will need to change.

So when we have these neurochemicals are released, the neurons which are active at the time strengthen or weaken depending on the need, which means your brain changes. And that activity is good for your brain health.

So think of this. Every part of your body is competing for the resources of your brain. And those resources are limited and if you are older than about 25, there is no chance of your brain changing, except if you create a shift in your attention to focus something different in a way that tells your brain it is time for change.

And your dreaming about where you want to go, what you want to do, or who you want to become is such a change.

Secondly, having a dream increases your level of anticipation of the future and raises your excitement about living. Dreaming is a desire for change, a desire for something new and essential for life and living. It gives focus to your day and will cause you to get from the day rather than just getting through the day. So having a dream, and the bigger the better, for your life and your business will empower you, improve the quality of your life and the direction of your business.

And for me as a dyslexic, it helps me remain focused on where I need to be heading. It is very easy to chase the new, bright shiny things, but having a dream focuses me on that thing and puts distracts to one side.

Third, having a big dream or a destination will cause you to learn new skills and grow your existing abilities. It should stretch you into areas you don't already have mastery over. And don't let age be a hindrance. Your brain can change into new areas right until your last day on this planet. Through this thing called neuroplasticity, you can create new neural connections and get your brain to change the signals it is sending.

The activity in your brain because of you having a dream and learning new skills, can promote longevity and lasting brain vitality.

I learned how to use LinkedIn and Instagram after the age of 50 and I have learned new computer skills after the age of 55. I know many people who are learning accounting, psychiatry and neuroscience well into their 60's. And for people with dyslexia, I have worked with people who are discovering their creativity, writing books, learning a musical instrument, becoming a public speaker or a content creator because of a dream.

And fourthly, having a dream will challenge your self-limiting beliefs and those belief's other people have about you. We all know what self-limiting beliefs are and we all know that we have them, but most people are comfortable in that place. Most people feel safe in that place and are not willing to stretch the boundaries and those limitations.

And then there are the opinions of our parents and friends about what we can do, can't do, shouldn't do, don't have the capability to do.

But until you allow your dreams to push you, pull you, challenge you, you will never know. Your belief's about what you can learn, who you can be and what you can do, will dominate you and you simply won't.

So from today, grab hold of your dreams and let go of those belief's which hold you back. Live the life you are capable of living. It may take time, it almost certainly will include challenges and struggles, but in the end, it will be so worth the journey and the ride.

Don't settle for a life defined by your limited belief in yourself or by the limits others impose on you.

You are better than that. Dream big.

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As a neurocoach, speaker and author, I write about neuroscience, dyslexia, business and the things which shape your future. I think LinkedIn is one of the best tools we in business currently have and so I also write about LinkedIn. I help ambitious WFH entrepreneurs & SME business owners shape their future by provoking thoughtful discussion, creating innovative solutions & delivering success.