“When I grow up, I want to be…” is a phrase that children all over the world are both asked and ponder. As we grow and mature, we discover individual strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes and our childhood dreams evolve; but, when the clock strikes twelve and it's time to pursue our passions, why do many people feel forced to choose plan B over plan A?

Is it societal pressure, stigmas, lack of self-confidence or resources?

In 2011, the phrase “#YOLO” - You Only Live Once -  took over the Internet (26,881,512 #hashtags to date) but, the acronym actually serves as an incredibly simple reminder for us to pursue our personal dreams and turn our passions into our professions. I mean, every human lives once, so why not live life doing what you love?

I know, I know, that’s easier said than done. You don’t just wake up one morning and go from entry-level employee to CEO, but determination, persistence, frequent personal reminders and recognition and celebration of small successes on the journey all attribute to writing the success story that you want. You can be your biggest cheerleader or your own worst enemy; it’s all about your mindset. Each of us have unique talents, capabilities and ideas, and we are fully capable of making our dreams a reality. We just need to challenge ourselves to imagine, believe and endlessly pursue our dream with all of our being. What is life without dreams and what is living without pursuit? Heck, the experience of pursuing our dreams is often more rewarding and more enlightening than the achievement of our dreams themselves. 

Get up, get out and get going. Pick your passion, do your homework, strategize a plan, seek out your resources, and just *start.* 

For extra inspiration on putting the pursuit of dreams into perspective, I've compiled a list of insightful quotes from people who got out there and did it!

1. "You have to dream before your dreams can come true." - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
2. "Once in awhile it really hits people that they don't have to experience the world in the way they have been told." - Alan Keightley
3. “Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.” - Elizabeth Gilbert
4. "I have lots of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly." - Oprah Winfrey
5. "Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you." - John Wooden
6. "You will never find time for anything. You must make it." - Charles Buxton
7. "Never be ashamed! There's some who will hold it against you, but they are not worth bothering with." - J. K. Rowling
8. "I can't imagine a person becoming a success who doesn't give this game of life everything he's got." - Walter Cronkite
9. “Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” - Deepak Chopra
10. “What you seek is seeking you.” - Rumi
11. "When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure."- Mary Kay Ash
12. "Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life." - Ray Bradbury
13. "I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest." - Venus Williams
14. “A person is the product of their dreams. So make sure to dream great dreams. And then try to live your dream.”-  Maya Angelou
15. "Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead." - Nelson Mandela

What are you dreams and how are you going to pursue them?