As we grow older, something starts to freeze inside 😔. Dreams fade, giving way to “grown-up responsibilities.” Instead of saying “I want,” we say “I have to.” Instead of feeling inspired, we feel tired. It’s like someone hit pause on the movie playing inside us — and lost the remote.

📉 Why does this happen?

We face pain, rejection, limitations. We hear:
🗣 “Be realistic.”
🗣 “That’s not serious.”
🗣 “You need to think about your future.”

And just like that, we start cutting ourselves down to fit into the mold of “normal.” We forget we were once truly alive. Integral psychology says: we sacrifice our dreams to be accepted — and lose connection with our authentic self 😢.

So what does someone feel when they’ve lost a dream?

It’s like eating a beautiful dish — but without salt. Everything’s “fine” on the outside, but there’s emptiness inside. No taste for life. You tell yourself you’re just tired, that “a little more rest and I’ll feel alive again”... Then a year goes by. And another 🕰.

🙈 Why is it so hard to reclaim your dreams?

Because... shame gets in the way. The fear of looking ridiculous. The fear of saying:
🎨 “I want to paint again.”
✈️ “I want to move to the sea.”
🎤 “I want to sing!”

But saying those words — that’s how you start coming back to yourself.

💡 What can you do if your dream feels lost and your spark is gone?

1. Acknowledge it. Losing your zest for life isn’t just “being an adult” — it’s a sign. ⚠️
2. Remember when you felt truly alive. Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with?
3. Allow yourself to be ‘unserious.’ Even just 10 minutes a day: sing, draw, pretend you’re 8 again. 🎈
4. Ask yourself honestly: “What do I really want?” And don’t censor the answer.
5. Have a conversation with yourself. Let your inner child and adult self meet. There may be pain there — but there’s also truth ❤️.
6. Find support. A therapist, a loved one, a piece of writing that resonates — don’t walk this path alone.

Life isn’t just about surviving — it’s about feeling full, real, alive. Joy isn’t a weakness. It’s soul fuel 🔥. It’s what makes us truly alive — not on paper, but in spirit.

Maybe you won’t become an astronaut.
But you can become yourself again — the version of you who still knows how to dream. And that’s not silly. That’s brave, adult courage 🌱.

✨ Not giving up — that’s a dream, too.
And even if it’s not a heroic one — it’s yours.