Successfully transforming, does it mean dreaming together?

I have always believed that the success of any transformation — whether personal, professional, or collective — rests above all on an unwavering trust in the future and in the strength of the collective. Nothing is built alone, and even less so when it comes to change.

To move forward, it is essential to share a common vision, a foundation of values that unites and guides us.

A Lesson from History

Whenever I have faced moments of transition, I have often found motivation and inspiration in history and philosophy.

History teaches us that the greatest transformations have been made possible by individuals and groups who believed in a better future. From political revolutions to technological shifts, every major evolution has relied on faith in progress and humanity’s ability to adapt. Understanding these dynamics helps us better navigate our own challenges with clarity and determination.

In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari highlights that “all large-scale human cooperation is based on shared myths.” Unlike other species, Homo sapiens has been able to create collective narratives—from gods to nations, from money to human rights—that have enabled us to build complex societies.

These myths are not mere illusions but powerful tools that give meaning to the world and unite millions around common ideals. Without them, there would be no trust, no institutions, no civilizations. Thus, far from being a weakness, our ability to believe in shared fictions may be our greatest strength as a species.

Literature, on the other hand, offers us an essential lens into human nature. Through novels and essays, we learn to decipher emotions, resistance to change, and the driving forces behind collective engagement. The great authors, from Montaigne to Camus, remind us that humans constantly oscillate between fear and hope, between nostalgia for the past and a desire for novelty. Knowing this is already a step toward overcoming resistance and building bridges between individual aspirations and collective ambitions.

Indeed, only a deep understanding of human nature allows us to build a shared myth — one that speaks to the greatest number of people and resonates with a just cause or a powerful emotion.

A Common Myth

Through my experiences with transformation, I have observed that sharing a common belief rooted in unifying values is a key success factor.

When we recognize ourselves in the same culture, when we share the same vision, we equip ourselves to overcome doubts and obstacles. It is not so much the final goal that matters, but the ability to move forward together, with confidence.

To transform is to embrace the unknown with a certain serenity. It is to understand that resistance is part of the journey and that history reminds us that every era has had to face its own challenges. It is to believe that humanity, drawing on knowledge and culture, can always reinvent itself and build a better future.

Allowing Ourselves to Dream?

And what if, in the end, dreaming was not merely a source of action but its very engine?

Dreams and hope are flickering lights in the darkness of uncertainty — forces that allow us to move forward despite the unpredictable.

Hope and dreams are not mere refuges in the face of uncertainty; they call for action, for a will to transform.

Philosopher Alain once said that “hope is a heroic determination of the soul”, emphasizing that it is not about passively waiting but about stubbornly willing.

Similarly, for Charles Péguy, “he who does not dream is a dead man”, but this dream must take shape in active determination, in a fight against discouragement and resignation. In an unpredictable world, hope is not just an impulse of the heart—it is an act of courage and commitment. To dream is to see beyond the chaos; to act is to bring that ideal to life despite uncertainty.

Edgar Morin, in his complex thinking, reminds us that “uncertainty is a fundamental component of the human condition”. But far from being an obstacle, it is also an opening to new possibilities. In the face of the world’s unpredictability, hope is not a passive illusion—it becomes a driver of resilience and innovation.

To dream is already to outline a possible future, and to hope is to commit to building that future, even without guarantees.

Thus, in uncertainty, it is not the absence of certainty that matters, but the ability to create meaning — a shared and common meaning — and to move forward despite everything.