During my time working with young people it has been an interesting journey. In my latter years I have encountered something very concerning… and what I have discovered is many children don’t dare to dream anymore.

When many of us were younger there would be children that would have diverse and crazy aspirational dreams like being a pilot, a princess, doctor or astronaut etc. Now many children that I ask what they want to be a common response with a shrug of the shoulders is “I don’t know”.

We are in such a different time in a popcorn microwave generation who just want to be what they can see (i.e. X factor winners or on TOWIE) with so many people nowadays becoming stars for no apparent reason (being famous for being famous) I guess if you are being inspired by a role model who is famous for nothing in particular it can’t help or can it?

The scary thing is in general there is clearly a lack of aspiration, dreaming or thinking the somewhat impossible which when doing so it can make you think creatively to try and achieve the impossibility or at least creating the imaginative capacity you must have to continually entertain or strive towards a dream.

The reason, I am sharing this is because a had an epiphany concerning one of the core purposes why I advocate mentoring and we do the work that we do and it is to “make children dream again”. This is essential because as times get more challenging it will get harder for students to achieve if they don’t connect their studies to a dream they want to achieve.

I once shared with some children in a primary school that with mentoring we want to help them to find the treasure that is inside of them the talents, gifts, ideas, unique possibilities they have to be great as they are! And just like the movies to find treasure you must dig past some not so nice things such as dirt, sand and other things that treasure is hidden under to find it, and they got it!

Now when it comes to us as humans the dirt or the sand is the issues, disempowering beliefs, low self esteem, battered confidence, feelings of not being worthy or of value. The battles with rejection the divorces children go through the issues they see their parents experience and so forth. No wonder a lot of people in general never mind children stop dreaming.
But what I want to say with some support, some positivity, good encouragement, instruction, structures, people who believe in you, motivation, care and aspirations before you, it is possible to help people to reach again, dream again, stand up again and try again. It is possible!

So when asking young people what they want to do, please don’t accept a “don’t know” if its based on apathy or they can’t be bothered to think, if it is genuine that is fine help them to start thinking but, if it is because they can’t be asked challenge them as the difference between some making it to a desired destination and some not doing so, is the fact that they some have dreamt that they could.

From the age of 8 Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to race is Formula 1, so it does work.
Whatever you do young or old keep dreaming and encourage those around you to do the same too.
Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend.

Image: regainourlegacy.com