Goals over Dreams: A Lesson Every Student Should Learn

If you wish for something but don’t take action, it remains just a dream. Goals, on the other hand, are a different story—they're the driving force that turns dreams into reality.

When you set your mind on achieving something and map out a plan to get there, that’s a goal. Goals are better than dreams because they involve action, and action is what makes things happen in the real world. Dreams are important, no doubt—DREAMS ARE AWESOME—but they are just the starting point.

Dreams Don’t Cost A Thing

Everyone dreams. We all have those moments when we imagine what our lives could be like, and sometimes these daydreams stick with us, popping up again and again.

Dreaming is free, and that’s why it’s so easy to get caught up in it. You could spend hours, days, or even weeks dreaming about the things that excite and inspire you, without spending a penny.

But here’s the thing: dreaming alone isn’t enough if you want those dreams to come true. If you want to live your dream in real life, you need more than just imagination—you need goals.

Goals Bring Dreams To Reality

Dreams are open-ended and don’t come with deadlines. For example, you might dream of having a large social media following, but unless you set specific goals, that dream will stay just that—a dream, with no clear path to making it happen.

A goal is a concrete plan that you work on every day to bring your dream to life. Goals can be short-term or long-term, depending on what you’re aiming to achieve. The key difference between a dream and a goal is action. Goals require you to take specific steps to move forward, while dreams remain in your mind, waiting for "someday."

The Difference Between A Dream and A Goal

A lot of people confuse dreams with goals. They might think they’re working toward something when, in reality, they’re just dreaming.

The major difference between a dream and a goal is action. When you take daily steps toward achieving something, you’re working on a goal, not just dreaming.

Storytime:
Mia, a 13-year-old, had always dreamed of getting her mom a special birthday present. Her mom loved gardening, and Mia noticed that she could use a new vase. With her mom's birthday in April, Mia set a goal at the end of January. She saved a portion of her weekly allowance, and by April, she had saved $8 to buy her mom that vase.

Mia’s dream of giving her mom a meaningful gift came true because she turned it into a goal. She took action, saved money, and by the time her mom’s birthday rolled around, she was able to buy the vase. That’s how dreams become reality—through goals.

Here’s a simple summary of the difference between a dream and a goal:

• Goals are plans that you act on every day.
• Goals have deadlines.
• Achieving goals requires effort and hard work; dreams don’t require any effort to exist.
• Dreams stretch your imagination, while goals stretch your real-life abilities.

Are You A Goal-Setter Or A Dreamer?

This is an important question to ask yourself.

You can be both a goal-setter and a dreamer. Dreams inspire you to think about what you want to achieve, but goals are what make those dreams come true. So, while dreaming is important, goal-setting should be your priority if you want to see your dreams become reality.

Now’s the time to set some goals so your dreams can come true.

I hope this helps!