Shoot For The Moon, Land In The Stars

Why you should be dreaming bigger — and how to actually do it when the world is telling you to 'be realistic'

What do you want to be when you grow up?

It's a question we pondered often as children, usually eliciting answers like 'an astronaut', 'a popstar', 'an athlete' or — if you're on the younger side — 'a YouTuber.'

As adulthood sticks in its claws and we're faced with the reality of 'making things work', those lofty dreams tend to end up in a mental filing cabinet at the back of our brains. We move onto more 'attainable' pursuits and honestly, it's fine.

And yet, every now and again — whether it be when you're marveling at the Olympics or watching your favourite actor on the big screen — you might feel that gnawing yearning for what could have been.

Chances are, at this stage in the game, your life is at least somewhat set up — even if you're not where you thought (or hoped) you would be. Maybe you've carved out a name in your career and have a partner, friends, or family keeping you in your current location.

In many ways, that's more than enough. You don't need to be a celebrity or have worldwide admiration to live a meaningful life. But at the same time, you (hopefully) have plenty of years left to live. While you don't need to abandon your entire life, you owe it to yourself to revisit those childhood dreams that are still pulling at you. Otherwise, you risk reaching the end and asking "What if?"

While it may sound cliched, there truly aren’t many dreams that are impossible. While privilege undoubtedly plays a huge role in giving some people a head start, everything that exists in this world is yours for the taking. The only thing that stands in the way is the limitations you put on yourself... and sometimes, Father Time. Because, some goals are naturally going to take longer than others to achieve, due to the gap between where you currently are and where you want to be.

For example, if your dream is to go to space (a red flag, if you ask Olivia Rodrigo!) but you’ve never studied astrophysics, it’s probably not something you’re going to be able to tick off the list tomorrow. But, if someone else has achieved it before, know that it’s within the realm of possibility for you, with many years of study or a ticket on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

The worst that can happen when we set our sights higher is that we 'fail' (but really, we just haven't succeeded yet), or that the people around us judge or question us. But the reality is, that's going to happen regardless of whether you play small or dream big. Chances are, there will likely be just as many who are inspired by your boldness and wonder if they're setting the bar too long. When we encourage others to raise the bar and expand their horizons with their dreams, it’s always a good thing.

The idea of ‘impossible goals’ is at the heart of the book ‘The 10 X Rule’ by speaker and entrepreneur Grant Cardone. His rule is simple: If you set targets for yourself that are 10 X bigger than you think you can actually achieve, then it forces you to take 10 X more action than what you would have otherwise. And, Grant teaches, this is the level of action that is required to achieve remarkable things.

The irony is is, when we set smaller goals, we actually become more paralysed by fear of failure — because we know it’s within our reach, and that it’s our own fault if we don’t achieve them. But, when we set targets that we believe are outside the realm of possibility, we’re more likely to think “hey, may as well give it a shot — what do I have to lose?”

But, how do you do this in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming, so that you can start actually taking action? Here’s a step-by-step guide to breaking down your big dreams and start making them a reality