Are You Dreaming or Anticipating?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Make sure you wear your green. As for me, I’m out hunting for a leprechaun.

I’m an anticipation junkie. I think I actually get more enjoyment from the excitement that builds up before doing something than actually do it.  The marathon I ran last year in Eugene, Oregon is a prime example. Every second of training added to the excitement that built up inside me. The day before the race, I could hardly think straight; my mind was fixed on visualizing myself running the course.

I could see myself sweating and grunting. I pictured the water stands and running by them, knocking over five cups as I grabbed one to splash in my face like they do on TV. I saw myself crossing the finish line and collapsing in exhaustion. It was glorious.

Of course, the actual event was fun, but not really anything like what I’d planned in my head. I drank a few waters, ran a steady pace, and then fell down at the finish line to puke on the track in front of hundreds of spectators. To say the least, I’d seen better days.

This is how a lot of my big plans turn out, and I’m perfectly okay with that. I enjoy the anticipation just as much as I enjoy the event itself or the memories that follow it. In fact, I don’t think I’d be lying if I said the actual event is the least enjoyable part of the whole experience.

During the build up, I get to create a dreamscape and visualize a momentous achievement. Afterwards, I hang onto the best parts of the experience and the bad pieces slowly fade away—or at least soften enough to be looked back on fondly.

When you have a vivid imagination, what’s the use in reality, right?

All the same, anticipation is a dangerous game. To utilize it safely, you need to make sure you actually have something to anticipate. If you want to enjoy anticipation, it has to be tied to a real event that will actually happen. Day dreaming has its merits—I try to make time for it every day—but I also try to remember that day dreaming won’t physically take me anywhere. Only acting on those dreams and putting one foot in front of the other will.

For a long time, I hated anticipation.

I was caught up with instant gratification and I wanted everything now. This was because I had no follow through. I dreamed up fantastic scenarios for my life, and then abandoned them as meaningless daydreams. Anticipation was frustrating because I didn’t really have anything to look forward to; I didn’t act on any of my dreams.

The only way I got any satisfaction was by buying something small or doing something insignificant to satisfy a craving—to give myself a taste of what could be if I’d just commit to an idea. Of course, that satisfaction passed quickly and then it was onto the next thing.

So far, the 1% Club is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but not because the things on it are the best experiences I’ll have. If I weren’t 100% committed to completing all these wacky challenges, it would just be another exercise in frustrating dreams. In committing to climb mountains, run marathons, live homeless, etc., the act of working to accomplish them becomes a more meaningful exercise. I know they’re going to happen and I can see them taking shape, so I don’t get depressed when I think about it like I used to.

Doing something big is important, but overall, it’s a small fraction of the whole experience.

I think it’s important to dream impossible things, but don’t simply wait for them to happen. The universe only aligns for you when you show that you’re willing to meet it half way.

Dreams don’t change your life, you do.

So what are you anticipating? And what are you doing to make sure it’ll actually happen? Share your story in the comments.

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Image by: nicole.pierce.photgraphy