The Danger of Ignoring Your Dreams: Why You Must Chase What Sets Your Soul on Fire

There’s a particular heartbreak that comes from realizing you’ve been chasing the wrong things. It’s not a sudden epiphany—it sneaks up on you, creeping into the quiet moments when you finally pause long enough to ask yourself, What am I even doing? For me, that realization hit like a wave when I looked back and saw how much of my life I had spent chasing people instead of pursuing my dreams.

I used to believe that time was infinite. I told myself, There’s always tomorrow—to start that project, pursue that career, or take that risk. But instead of nurturing what truly set my soul on fire, I poured my energy into relationships and people who, in hindsight, weren’t meant to come along on my journey. I prioritized them over my dreams, and in the process, I lost sight of myself.

It wasn’t a dramatic shift. It happened slowly, subtly—like walking further and further off a trail without realizing how far you’ve strayed until one day, you look around and have no idea where you are. My dreams, once vivid and attainable, faded into faint, distant memories. I became disconnected from the person I wanted to be, as though I was living a life that didn’t feel like my own.

What I’ve learned through this experience is that the greatest disservice you can do to yourself is to ignore what sets your soul on fire. To not pursue your dreams is to deny the very core of who you are. When you trade your passions for comfort, for validation, or for the approval of others, you don’t just lose time—you lose yourself.

Chasing a person can feel intoxicating, like you’re finally on the brink of finding happiness. But what happens if it doesn’t work out? If you’ve built your world around someone else, when they leave, you’re left with nothing to hold onto. You’ll feel like you’re drowning in the absence they left behind, clutching at empty space. That’s the risk of centering your life around a person instead of yourself—you place your happiness and stability in someone else’s hands.

But when you chase your own happiness—your own dreams, passions, and purpose—you create something no one can ever take from you. You build a life that’s yours, a foundation that will hold you steady even in the stormiest of times. And when you do this, the right person will come around—not because you’re chasing them, but because your pursuit of happiness has made you into someone who attracts the kind of love you deserve. The love that complements your journey, rather than defines it.

It’s so easy to convince yourself that there’s plenty of time, that the right moment will come. But the truth is, time isn’t limitless. Every moment spent chasing things or people that don’t align with your purpose is a moment you could have spent building the life you’ve always dreamed of. Those moments add up, and before you know it, you’re looking back, wondering how you got so far off track.

When I finally stopped chasing people and started chasing my dreams again, I found myself. It wasn’t an easy transition—starting over never is. But step by step, I began to reconnect with the things that mattered most to me. I rediscovered the person I had been before I allowed myself to become distracted. I learned that living a fulfilling life means listening to that fire within you and letting it guide you, even when the path feels uncertain.

If you feel lost like I once did, I want you to know it’s never too late to turn things around. Take the time to reflect on what truly makes you come alive, the passions that ignite your spirit, and make the bold choice to pursue them—unapologetically and relentlessly. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Stop putting others’ expectations ahead of your aspirations. Stop settling for a life that feels less than what you deserve.

Because the harsh truth is, the only thing worse than failing is never trying at all. Don’t let fear, doubt, or distractions hold you back. Your dreams are worth fighting for. And so are you.