At Compass, one of the most powerful exercises is also one of the simplest. We ask people to list their dreams. Then we ask, gently, for each one: whose dream is this?
The answers are revealing. My father always wanted me to be a doctor. My friends all wanted government jobs. Everyone said this was the safe path.
Many of us spend years chasing dreams we inherited, then wonder why achieving them feels hollow.
Signs a dream is truly yours
- You feel energised when you imagine the process, not just the result.
- You would want it even if nobody else knew you had achieved it.
- It connects to something you have loved for a long time.
- Thinking about it makes you a little afraid, in a good way.
Signs a dream may be borrowed
- You mostly imagine other people's reactions.
- You feel tired, not excited, when you picture the daily work.
- You struggle to explain why you want it without mentioning someone else's expectations.
Letting go of a borrowed dream can feel like a loss. Often, it is the beginning of finding your own.