Dreams influence pace

The Dream Determines the Pace

I have come to believe that the dream determines the pace.

We call it a dream because it is not ordinary. It is something new, something possible but not yet realised. Sometimes it is small and personal. Sometimes it is so big that it changes not only our lives but the lives of others around us.

Whatever form it takes, a dream influences how we move through life.

Every dream requires energy, attention, sacrifice, and consistency. Every day, our actions either bring us closer to it or further away from it. That is why pace matters.

Years ago, I had a dream of becoming an author.

At the time, my son was much younger, and I would wake up early in the morning to write before the day began. It was a season that suited my natural strengths. The pace was demanding but manageable. My focus was simply on writing.

Then the book was published.

What came next was a completely different challenge.

Promotion, visibility, partnerships, networking, media engagement, and strategic positioning all demanded a pace I shook me. At the same time, life was evolving. My son was growing older, our conversations were becoming deeper, and my responsibilities as a mother required a different kind of presence and energy.

The dream had not changed.

But the pace required to sustain it had.

For a period, I tried to keep up with everything. The result was exhaustion.

It was a difficult lesson, but an important one.

I learned that achieving the dream is only part of the journey.

Sustaining the dream requires learning how to sustain yourself.

Today, I am a lot more intentional about regulating myself. Aside from creating personal management structures that help me balance my priorities better, I take meaningful holidays that create space to think, reflect, and recover. This also gives me more inspiration to keep the dream alive. The season was calling me to create new rhythms and eventually evolve.

One of my favourite places to holiday has been Malta.

Standing in the clear blue waters around Comino Island reminded me of something profound:

Some places do not simply help us recover.

They help us dream again. They give us space to revive the dream and cultivate new rhythms.

And that matters.

Because dreams are not just goals. They are fuel. They give us reasons to learn, grow, stay curious, remain resilient, and keep moving forward when life becomes difficult.

Without dreams, we lose direction.

Without pace, we lose ourselves trying to reach them.

Perhaps the challenge is not simply to chase our dreams, but to find a pace that allows us to enjoy the journey towards them.

While the dream determines the pace, it is wisdom that determines whether that pace is sustainable.

Reflection: What dream is currently setting the pace of your life, and is that pace helping you thrive or merely helping you survive?