by Anantinee ‘JHUMPA’ Mishra

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

                                                                                                                                ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Dreams are…. undefinable.

Are they a reality which we want to be our own? Or a hazy, jumbled prediction for what’s about to come? Or maybe a projection by our subconsciousness?

‘A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, although they have been a topic of scientific, philosophical and religious interest throughout recorded history.’

This is the bookish or scientific definition of dreams which you will probably find on the internet. But in the vast sea of words, there are some which are impossible to define. Or maybe whose definition varies from person to person, community to community, time to time.

Like for some people, dreams are the sole reason the go to sleep for. But for others, these dreams are the only reason for which they wake up every single morning, for the pursuit of these dreams.

They are fascinating things, dreams. They have no shape, no form, no certainty, no reasonable explanation, just a magnetic compound which draws people in.

There are people who dream to be the, let’s say, the best heart surgeon of the country. Then there are others who dream to be the wealthiest heart surgeon of the country. Then there are others who just want to be heart surgeons, no complications.

But how is this imagery planted in our mind? Maybe because the life of the best, or wealthiest or simply the heart surgeons feels, looks good. And we are attracted to the cause or the lifestyle, and boom, we want to be that person.

Another weird thing about these dreams is that nothing about them is set into the stone. We latch on to one perspective, and then we just decide that it is our dream. But the next second, something more appealing comes on and we become set on it. The cycle goes on and on for a very long period of time

A dream isn’t something tangible. You can’t hold it in your hands. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a formidable force. In fact, dreams shape your actions, for they inspire and motivate you to go beyond your comfort zone and you can do anything you want in your dreams. You’re invincible, all-seeing, possessed of extraordinary gifts and powers. The best dreams allow you a glimpse at your perfect self, the one who embraces change, looks at life in a positive light, works through difficulties with ease and strives to embody hope and joy in everything you do. take on challenges you might otherwise avoid.

Not the nightmares, for those are your subconscious trying to resolve issues or problems or work through grief or some other powerful emotion. The dreams that help shape your future are the ones that uplift and energize, that fill you with passion and make you feel happy when you wake up.

You want to have a life of purpose, to live in accordance with your beliefs and values, to love and be loved, to give back, to make a difference.

The vision that drives you forward could be one that is at the end of a challenging path, requires years of preparation and work, proceeding through a succession of stages or steps.

It could be the realization that the present is a gift and it’s the only opportunity to make things happen.

Your dream could consist of an achievement, happiness, a family, being healthy, financially independent, recognizable success.

It isn’t the what of the dream but the underlying energy it provides to motivate you to follow your passion, to pursue your goals with vigour and enthusiasm.

Dreams…they are undefinable.

About the Author:

Anantinee ‘JHUMPA’ Mishra is a prodigy author, poet and TED speaker. She is twelve years old studying in std.8th at Apeejay School, Saket, New Delhi.  She has published two books and many stories and articles in magazines and journals. At the age of ten, she published a 21,000 worded anthology of stories called ‘Treasure of Short Stories’. Last year her debut Novel ‘Manhattan to Munnar’ got released. Recently she has been conferred with a title ‘PRODIGY AUTHOR’ and an ‘HONORARY DIPLOMA’ by the Hon’ble Vice President of  India Sh. M Venkaiah Naidu.