How do you distinguish between a dream and an obsession?
The difference of a dream and an obsession
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HI freinds !
in quote of the day Paulo did answer the question in qoday’s quote for the day
“The heart never suffers
when it goes in search of its dream,
because every moment of the search
is a step towards encountering
God and Eternity.
(The Alchemist)”
so pain or pleasure is the key, pain or pleasure of the heart; may be diffrent from pain of pleasure of the body.
yagna – its was nice to see your ‘old flow’ and u r right we have a awesome group of wols here. may be not all of us are great warriors, may be we are still in training school ( life itself is a trining school ), but what the heck here all are one and one is all.
Hi wanbliska – u r right maybe reading him more can help me fathom his views more clearly, but impateint that I am, with a very very short term memory of specifics, i would expect paulo to do the hard work !! ;-) lazy that I am !
Hi Agni,
I have been reading your comments ( and most others too ), I hope you just know that acknowledgement and ‘thanks’ is there, although i don’t specifically mention thanks, I am shy u see ;-). but don’t ‘just let me be’ count me in OK.
“…and I think it hurts to say more..” most intriguing, would u mind making it a bit more clear. I don’t mind if I am refused a request, just as it is my freedom to make a request, it’s “HIS” freedom to accept or reject it, I respect my freedom, I respect others freedom.
Luce,
You make an excellent point about obsession, it is often considered bad. But that made me think (one of the things I love about this is that often our responsed to the questions make us think even more than the question itself). Is obsession really bad, or is it just a connotation that society has placed on that word.
I decided to look both words up in a dictionary (I know that is kind of nerdish a bit but I am an engineer…so what do you expect). Obessions is defined as “the domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistant idea, image, desire, etc). A dream is defined as “an asperatio, goal” or “to think or conceive of something in a very remote way”.
To me, neither one of these seem to be negative in any way. But often in society obession is used in a negative way, actually it almost always used in a negative way. When saying someone “is obsessed” or “has become obsessed”, it is typically used as a sort of insult to that person.
But I have to disagree with this use of the word. To me, we are surrounded by middle of the road people, people who like dreams because they can be abandoned easily and safely without any damage to ones heart or ego. Obsession on the other hand does not let go, it influences what we do, how we do it, and as such when we fail it hurts.
In a world where people give up on their dreams every day, move on to safer more realiable lives, perhaps a fear of obsession has grown because people hate seeing others go after their dreams with their entire heart and soul the ways they did not.
To me an obsession is a refusal to quit, and refusal to let your dreams drift away without every going after them, and also being willing to risk what you have now in order to obtain it. Our heart betrays us because it is afraid that in going for our goal we will loose all that we have gained to this point. People are afraid to loose, thus they hold onto dreams and try not to let them become obsessions.
Maybe we all need more obsessions, things we are willing to fight for, to sacrifice for, and to loose for.
Agnieszka,
Just one thing.. Aditya is a guy :)
and his pretty awesome if do say so myself.. :)
Mwah
Yaj
Hello dear friends, I could say so.. I hope,
Please…leave Aditya be…she already understands…and I think it hurts to say more..
lots of love
Agnieszka
Maybe obsession conduces to soul emprisonment, jealousy, self delusion. But I’m not sure of that.
Alike, a lot of warriors said here, Dreams are rewarding.
Like being in alift, obsession would bring us to the cellar, whereas dreams will put us up at last, to the last floor.
Enjoy that 1st day of May. :)
Dear Aditya,
Maybe reading his book would be an answer, to have his point of view. Or go and interview him. :) I think you will have a lot of questions.
Nevertheless, I’m convinced Paulo’s answers are alive. He always answer to us in a way, plus, a magic one.
As Yajna said, you got the answer. But even if he’s buzy as you wrote, he’s here. And gratitude for who can tell he can directly or indirectly speak to a so magic person?
Have a good day dear.
With Love.
a dream can turn into an obsession. there is such a fine line between them how do we tell the difference? a dream will fill you with a belief thet all the worlds strenght and power rests in you that you can achieve anything..an obsession will blind you to this knowledge..dreams will pass you by and you wont see them…because yr too buisy grasping on to what you believe is “IT”…
i completely reconcile wid wat omaira hs sd abt dreams n obsession becos myself i cn experience myself goin thru the same thing at the momnet ……….. :) thnks for giving words where i wsnt able to find any omaira ….
Obsession may be positive or negative, depending what your mind can conceive and how your body acts on it, it’s not necessarily a negative trait which everyone may seem to look at. Sometimes it can lead you to a positive behavior on things and sometimes it can lead you to make unlikely decisions that can lead to drastic actions. Whereas dreams, I always have them and for me they are thousands of idiosyncrasy figure and thoughts that’s just poppin out of your mind. It’s subconcious, and before you know its meaning, it has happened already to you.
I think dream and obsession are two different kinds of treatment with a same motive energy .they both cause a movement but in opposite directions. so they are identical and this is difference between consequences that makes them different.
Aditya,
my friend, i can understand your frustration at times, but you know, like most warriors of light, you’ve answered your own question, and i bet that you feel a bit better know. Its true isn’t it, once you write something, you’re free of it. Paulo is a busy man.. I don’t expect anything.. But you know.. You got a pretty awesome backup of warriors to share views here. I was thinking.. If anyone else has any worries.. Or frustrations or whatever, they should share it. Don’t be a afraid.. Just be whoever you want to be in that moment.. It helps :)
lots of love
Yajna
Dear Paulo and friends,
it seems to me that everyone here has an idea of the difference.. And many people have come with dictionary definitions.. Including me.. But i wonder is that the purpose of this question? Have we ever stopped to ask if we can tell the difference between OUR obsessions and dreams? Forget the dictionary and society for a second and analyse yourself..can you identify and accurately see whats going on inside you? What are you obsessing for no real reason? What do you truely desire? Maybe this question is for us to realise what we truely want and focus solely on that. Maybe, just maybe.. This question has more purpose than definitions. Maybe its for us to think within and improve ourselves.
Thank you for being
Yajna
Dreams of vague, unspecific desires. They are often utopian in nature, whithout going into the specifics of them too precisly. As such, they are easy to let go of and easy to change.
Obsessions are clear, specific desires of the heart. They include every necessary detail, they are very direct and very powerfull. As such, they are very difficult to let go of or change.
An obsession can consume you. Drive you to become a different person, influence your actions and the way you approach the world. A dream is rarely a powerfull enough force to make someone act.
Hi Omaira I like your definition :-) I want to add my update to omaira´s very good, short, cogent and clear definition.
From my point of view:
- obsession is that what you want/ sometimes dont want /sometimes we dont know about at all – to have without thinking if you desire it…
- dream is what you desire/like/dislike/sometimes we love our dreams/ sometimes we are afraid of/ sometimes we hate most without putting much effort to have it and the possibilty that you can have it..
But the main difference is:
the obsession can make as unhappy, especiallyif we are struggling for something what is stronger as we are.
And maybe it is very difficult for some of us to distinguish between them:-) sometimes.
I like this question, it opens lots of doors in my mind.
For me obsession is negative and consuming, leading to extereme “machiavellism”.It is one way track where person is like ship stuck with broken wheel.
Obsession might be limitless but it limits person who suffers it.
On the other hand, dreams are limitless and they are almost always in plural. They pop from nowhere, they move world forward, they might be fulfiled or unfulfilled but they always add something to your life : expectations, hope, joy, tears, stary eyes, ache…
In short dreams are giving while obsession is taking.
Love
Luce
i think a dream is your souls purpose it keeps you goin,gets you up in the morning fills you with self love and belief. an obsession is an ilness as a result of not knowing your souls purpose clinging on to something we know out of fear.or maybe an obsession is our unconcious keeping us buisy out of fear that we mite realise our dreams and try to follow them so maybe someone with an obsession is closer to their dreams then the rest of us. when we have a dream we have faith a knowingess that we are part of a bigger picture that we are not alone. when someone has an obsession they act out of fear not out of faith…well thats what i think anyway
wanbliska Hi
““requesting paulo to share his views is useless, still request him too !”
Could you explain what you mean, please?”"
see paulo throws these topics at us, we share our views on them. Normally paulo does not contribute to the ‘sharing’ other than introducing the tpoic, setting the ball rolling. won’t it be nice if we hear what paulo’s views are on teh issue, e.g. how does he diffrentiate between dream and obsession. and may be write a few line while concluding the topic. may be useful ! no !
but then again, the poor fellow alreday does more than his share for the wols, he has provided them a platform and he shares with them time daily, expecting more may be asking of too much of his time, so i am Ok with it, whatever is his consious decision !
love
aditya
Without reading any dictionnary or Comment ( Sorry i’ll read them ) after my coment.
Obsession has only one dimension but a huge one that goes on every part of our life without boundaries .. Dreams on the other side can have boundaries. Also from a night only to an entire life they can, from our day to day life, enpower our lives.
while obsession aren’t leaving us and put weakness in other vues of life, dreams push us to realize and to open to new worlds.
In clonclusion I would say that, that while obsession is about one egoist world, Dreams are about new worlds to discover each days…
Thank you for havieng read this. :-)
Aditya,
“requesting paulo to share his views is useless, still request him too !”
Could you explain what you mean, please? That’s not the first time I read this in here…
Thank you.
obsession is that what you wanted to have without thinking if you desire it…dream is what you desire most without putting much effort to have it and the possibilty that you can have it..
To me an obsession is an act that one does over and over again that they become so focused on that one thing that it becomes an obsession ..it literally consumes them .A dream is a persons destiny ,fate ..it is a path they are walking that changes with twists and turns ,up or down and in doors and out ..it keeps you longing for your calling and to make a difference and become your legend ,a dream is all of those things like taking a risk ,rising up, not giving up and getting excited about your journey living everyday and being grateful ,it stirs passions and wonder dreams ..but obsession is very rigid I think ,and a bit of a short term thing for some people till they find another obsession to fix upon .Also obsession is a very nice perfume too…Love ~ Light~Tania~
In a dream you wake up, in an obsession you snap out of it;)
I like the way Maria-M described. But in my own words, dream could also mean misson. which brings you+your neighbor a lot of rewards+blessings later.
“It’s one thing to follow our dreams and to believe in the signs that guide us on our way. Then we have a goal to aim at, but we also enjoy the journey and fulfill our personal legend. With a Zahir we don’t get that same feeling of joy with every step we take, only the stubborn desire to get what we believe to be necessary for us to live.” Paulo Coelho
I will answer by myself later on. :)
hmm..Vicky..it’s interesting what you wrote:
“an obsession is better because it shows there’s life inside you..”
it’s like …enjoying…? :-)
probably all depends what it is..
love
Agnieszka
thank you Leaf
lots of love
Agnieszka
Obsessions consume you, dreams liberate you!
Balance.
The soul is both a terribly mysterious thing, and yet even its most hidden movement will eventually move even the mundane aspects of your daily existence. Therefore, if your dreams have become obsession, the delicate balance of the soul will be lost in the depths; Slowly, even the surface will move. When an immoderation exists in your appetites and activities, causing rupture and sorrow to both yourself and all around you, then you must pause and reflect upon your goals, and the way in which you pursue them.
The dilemma, however, is that perfect objectivity is the province of no individual. Discovering our dreams, and banishing our obsessions, requires one another. The Desert Fathers of the fourth century knew this. No monk would be sent out into solitude freed from the common Rule and the fellowship of the community if he had not passed beyond the tremors of the soul-seeking-balance into the balance which is held by Another.
A dream is just a wish,but an obsession enters your body and becomes you completely;the fact that you suffer is not so important.A dream is something you have and this way you can lose it if a long time passes.But an obsession is something you are,like you ARE the wish,it is all of you inside.So i d say an obsession is better because it shows there’s life inside you,and people need to remember that sometimes.
a dream is a long term obsession
Rebecca
Exquisite x
Agnieszka
Beautiful as ever x
Thanks
LOVE to all
xxxx
Para mi, un sueño es algo que se desea realizar y que aunque pase el tiempo, cuando lo cumples te sientes muy feliz y con una sensación de paz que te ilumina la cara cuando la recuerdas.
Una obsesión, en cambio, no suele aportar ese estado de paz en el alma, sino que crea una cierta ansiedad.
La sensación es diferente. Al menos eso creo yo.
…Dream is a pure desire for self fulfillment while obsession is a desire contaminated by mix feelings of human emotions and society’s pressure. Both Dream and obsessions create imagery of happiness however for different reasons.
A dream is like an image of a little girl smiling as she looks up to the sky, thinking that maybe one day she could be a bird.
An obsession is when the little girl grows up and thinks that ‘thin’ is beautiful, and she ends up being anorexic.
Then, could it be that every obsessions start with a dream or pure desire? If so… I really hope that not all dreams end up to be obsessions…
Between an obsession and a dream I distinguish with the consequences and the freedom involved
Whereas an obsession has a person, a person has a dream.
whereas an obsession sets limits in ones life,
a dream creates a life and unfolds it
obsessions are destructive,
we loose our ability say no! to them and l might loose our lives
dreams are creative, we might say yes! to them and find more of our lives
A dream is a lover with whom I dance lightly, allowing my feet to be guided, a vision of my future that I dance into the present.
An obsession is a stalker who haunts me and will not let go, controlling and sucking my energy and twisting my vision of infinite possibility into cloaked and desparate expectation.
My Dear Paulo!
I listen to my heart. It conducts me to my dream.
At the beginning may be difficult to make the distinction, some times, but time will tell.The dream is a positive resort while the obsession brings us only ache, despair,the loss of self-respect.Yes, when one feels that while hunting an idea or a “dream” had lost his self-respect is a sign that the obsessin had replaced the dream.Pay attention to the feelings .
The difference between these two lies in…peace..in serenity.
When you dream about something, it is usually something beautiful, and because of that even if it’ll not become the reality, you still can keep on dreaming, endlessly, because it gives you this amazing feeling of the unity with the Universe, where all the emotions, dreams meet.
The obsession takes away the peace and the beauty out of it, leaving someone constantly dissatisfied. Realizing that we don’t always can have the ability to make dreams possible, we can… enjoy the moment of dreaming, hoping that this light, this love we give will make miracles…
……
go where no one can find you,
where you are out of reach,
where is your soul,
find this bird from your dreams,
the dove,
see the peace,
bring it..
home.
love
Agnieszka
Obsession drives you insane whereas a dream should leave you in a peaceful state of mind.
i think dream is the ultimate destination we want to reach..however obsession is the restlessness v feel while longing to acheive the dream..
A dream is the perception of something obtainable. Obsession is the path traveled in realizing said dream, for how else would any dream become manifest without the relentless pursuit of its actualization?
There is a tale of a foreign god named Brama who formed things by way of his thoughts. He came to create Satarupa, the hundred-formed, a very beautiful dream of which he relentlessly pursued. Her resistance to his advances fueled an obsession that caused Brama (or Apava) to sprout as many as five heads, seeking out her every turn.
Obsession is not solely a negative trait, but a path traveled too long is sure to bring – headaches.
Dream is no specific. it’s generic ! while obsession may be very specific ! if one does not work towards / for once dreams, there may be a sense of unease and disquite; but with obsession it is much more intense, may result in pschycological disorders !
that was a crude ‘first recation ‘ to the question whcih seems vital ! would be eagerly awaiting response from othere too ! requesting paulo to share his views is useless, still request him too !
love
aditya
Dearest Paulo and friends,
hmmm.. This is an interesting question.. It seems to me that their are obvious similarities between the two.. Both dreams, and obsessions consume you. They can both be an incredible driving force in ones life. Personally, i feel that world has created this, slightly negative, very mechanical image around the obsession- the context that it is used in, generally describes crazed people who one have one thing on their mind, and would go to all lengths to have it. Its generally things that they can’t have, things that are considered wrong, or things that are outrageous. For me, it seems that the word obsession it somewhat lustful, purely needed by the mind.. Yet dreams, are filled with love- desires from the heart.. Desires that people are born with. I suppose thats the best way i can put it. The truth is, the more we read about actual meanings, we find that all of are really obsessed with our dreams. It truely does consume us.. And it will continue to consume us until we satisfy that desire.
Thank you for being
Yajna
control
“Dream” relates to what we want to achieve, “obsession” to the way we try to acheive.
They merge with each other and they hide from each other … they both promote each other.
If the question is intended on the perspective of “dream Vs obsession”, then maybe the underlying concept to explore is the one of “normality” … what is it to be normal? How do we distinguish a normal motivation from a pathologic motivation?
A dream is what allows us to do those things in life we may not neccesarily enjoy, but that will get us closer to our dream. It is what drives us each day, and gives us one of (hopefully) many reasons for living. An obsession distracts us from the beauty of day to day living. An obsession makes obstacles that we face seem like barriers and things to get upset about, rather than an experience and a neccesary part of your journey. The journey to a dream can be as enjoyable as realizing it. An obsession will overtake you and achieving that obsession will only bring sadness at how little you have actually achieved.
the ability to be free is the difference.
A dream, as a dictionary states, is the sequence of images that appear involuntarily to the mind of somebody who is sleeping or daydreaming. Can be also somebody’s hopes, longs, something difficult to attain, an idea or hope or a state of inattention owing to preoccupation with thoughts or fantasies.
The obsession as a dictionary states, is something that completely occupies someone’s mind, the idea or emotion in the mind that is uncontrollable and persistent.
Hmm…aren’t they similar? Yes, to the extent. Where then lies the borderline? The time, the frequency? Or the issue? Can be both.
The obsession…hmm…can it be love? Can we say that someone in love is obsessive? Maybe. But isn’t it something that we can’t control, that controls us? Something that lives inside you and “eats you up” whether you like it or not? Untamed force, and…uncontrollable and…it occupies your mind and your heart all the time. Yes, definitely it can be love. You can try and shut it down; it’ll take time, but it can be done, doesn‘t it? But what if it doesn’t, what if like in this movie: “Love in time of cholera” – this love never ends. Hard to imagine, even harder to live with, but because it is a beautiful feeling, it can only make you a better, more humble, more sensitive person.
Worse if it is a negative emotion, like hate, or jealousy, etc.. These can destroy a person.
So, when we dream about something, when we want something really badly, can this dream become an obsession? I guess it can, and the worst part in it is that it probably hurts the person who is experiencing that, but….with the light inside, with this higher love everything can be healed.
“I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have a light of life.”
John 8:12
love
Agnieszka
I don’t -
a dream is what I see during sleep
an obsession is when I think about it all day.
OR an obsession is a dream/desire which we prefer to keep in the pipe, because of lack of audacity/daring or whatever, and it floats around incessantly, taunting and teasing.
“Everything in moderation” is always good advice – and to me, that includes obsessions.
Two differing definitions of the word ‘obsession’ would be a) constantly aware of, to the point of distraction, perhaps.
b) compulsion /drive
surely
if our dream were our ambition
then
a certain amount of obsession would prove to be a good thing, pertaining towards attaining it.
I am obsessed with
getting it right
it doesn’t matter what it is
it always changes
that’s the way it is
I dream
aspire
to suceeding
and my dream buddies help me
thankfully
Love
xxxx
What does it matter? They are both of the mind and illusory. Just a question of the amount of time and energy you expend on one or the other? Isn’t it preferable to use that time and energy to investigate, focus on and then discover what is real? You can always seem to turn the dream into a reality, but is still remains a dream; you just perceive it differently, give it more substance than it actually has.
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