Guard your dream like a mother bear guards her cub.
Beware a friend with ulterior motives.
We’ve all had friendly acquaintances that were seemingly beneficial until we discovered the friend’s motive differed from ours. And in most cases the friend kept her motive silently in the background, hidden from us.
Jesus of Nazareth said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Bible, NT, Matthew 7:15 ESV). This is an interesting concept because it may be applied in both the narrow sense of religious faith and in the broader sense of normal life. Jesus warns us that some people will appear to be harmless sheep. They’ll look like sheep. They’ll sound like sheep. They’ll be friendly and feel like sheep. Yet, in reality, they will be ravenous wolves. They will destroy our lives, faith, and dreams. Thus they are false prophets.
Their facade is to deceive you. Their comments may sound encouraging, but they’ll spin them to push you toward their agenda. Their questions may sound objective, as if intended for strategic consideration, but they’ll spin them to create doubt in your mind. Whether its about your faith, your growth, or your personal dream, they’ll subtly entice you to think they are right and you are wrong. Remember, their dream is not your dream. Their goal is not your goal.
And almost always, that wolf in sheep’s clothes will use fear to keep you from moving forward and achieving your dream.
Fear is the Silent Dream Killer.
Fear operates as a powerful internal barrier that often goes unacknowledged. Let’s briefly explore four manifestations of fear in your life.
Fear of Failure
This common fear prevents us from even attempting challenging pursuits. We become paralyzed by thoughts of “What if I’m not good enough?” or “What if I embarrass myself?” This fear keeps potential innovations, businesses, and creative works from ever seeing the light of day. Many successful people report that their greatest regrets involve opportunities they were too afraid to pursue.
Fear of Success
Paradoxically, some fear success more than failure. Success brings change, higher expectations, visibility, and responsibilities that can feel overwhelming. This fear might manifest as self-sabotage just as things are going well or as a tendency to downplay achievements to avoid standing out.
Fear of Judgment
This fear centers on others’ opinions and can severely limit authentic self-expression. It leads to conformity rather than innovation and prevents us from sharing unique perspectives that could lead to breakthroughs. In professional settings, it might prevent speaking up in meetings or proposing unconventional solutions.
Fear of the Unknown
Humans naturally crave certainty. The unknown represents risk, and our brains are wired to avoid risk. This fear keeps us in unfulfilling jobs, relationships, and circumstances simply because they’re familiar and therefore feel safer than alternatives.
Fear doesn’t act alone.
The barrier of fear doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s foundation reinforces other barriers to your growth. It creates a cycle that’s difficult to break without conscious effort. Yet, addressing fear in your context will create a positive momentum to overcome any barrier.
Recognizing the hidden barriers is the crucial first step toward developing strategies to overcome them and unlock your full potential for success. It is also essential to overcome this barrier in order to pursue goals and grow and thrive.
Guard your dream and beware of pessimist friends.
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5b -7 ESV).