Most of us at some point have felt a strong pull toward a big dream—something meaningful that lights us up in a way that’s difficult to explain. Yet, for many, these dreams remain just that: dreams.
They float around in the realm of possibility, never materializing into reality. Why?
We become passive spectators in our own lives, watching opportunities pass us by, all the while our fears kick in telling ourselves that we’re too busy, too tired, or too overwhelmed to pursue them.
Jess and I just watched the 2016 comedy “Don’t Think Twice.” One character said this quote which inspired today’s newsletter: “Your 20s are all about hope, and then your 30s are all about realizing how dumb it was to hope.”
I think most of us can relate to that to varying degrees.
Indifference often shows up as a lack of interest or motivation. It’s that internal voice that says, “Why bother?” This mindset can lead to a life where dreams are never pursued, leaving us with a lingering sense of a quest unfinished.
A significant part of this indifference is shaped by societal expectations and fears. We’re conditioned to fit in, to seek approval from others, and to avoid standing out. The fear of being different, of walking our own path, can stop any adventurer or seeker in their tracks.
Insidiously, we become more concerned with what others think of us than with what really matters to us without even realizing it. Until one day, you look at your life and wonder how you got there.
The good news is, it’s not too late to join the party.
Dreams worth pursuing deserve your attention. They’re not just distant fantasies but possibilities waiting to be realized.
But the question of whether it’s worth pursuing is a big one.
How do you ensure that the dream you’re chasing will bring lasting fulfillment, rather than just temporary satisfaction?
We’re often conditioned to pursue dreams that are centered around financial success and status. Alone, they’re not enough to sustain a meaningful and fulfilling life. We need to consider other forms of capital that contribute to our overall well-being.
This is where we can look at principles of permaculture.
During the 2020 insanity, we dove headfirst into homesteading partially as a distraction, but mostly because there’s no better way to understand how to live a good life than learning from nature herself.
In permaculture, the goal is to design systems that are regenerative and sustainable like the natural ecosystems they mimic. We can get creative and apply these principles to our personal lives to design a dream that regenerates its “meaningfulness” on multiple levels.
The concept of the eight forms of capital in permaculture originates from the work of Ethan Roland and Gregory Landua. They introduced this framework in their 2011 paper “Regenerative Enterprise: Optimizing for Multi-Capital Abundance.”
Here are the eight forms of capital by Roland and Landua in the context of building what’s next for you:
- Intellectual Capital: Knowledge and skills are important assets. They help you grow and adapt, ensuring that your dream evolves along with you. Pursue a dream that allows you to continuously learn and apply new ideas.
- Financial Capital: While it shouldn’t be the sole focus, financial stability is essential. A dream that supports your financial needs allows you to focus on your passion without being burdened by feeling unresourced.
- Experiential Capital: The experiences you gain along the way are invaluable. Choose a dream that allows you to accumulate rich, meaningful experiences that contribute to your personal growth.
- Cultural Capital: Engage in a dream that connects you to a community or culture, whether through shared values, traditions, or creative expressions. This form of capital can provide a deep sense of belonging and purpose.
- Living Capital: Consider the natural world as part of your dream. A connection to nature, whether through sustainable practices or simply appreciating its beauty, can bring vitality, longevity, and a sense of awe which is a rare commodity these days.
- Material Capital: Physical objects and infrastructure, including tools, buildings, and technology. This includes the physical resources you need to support your dream. Ensure that your goals are grounded in the reality of what’s available to you and how you can use those resources effectively.
- Social Capital: Relationships and networks are crucial. Build a dream that fosters strong connections with others who support and inspire you.
- Spiritual Capital: Finally, consider how your dream aligns with your spiritual or philosophical beliefs. A dream that resonates with your deeper sense of purpose will sustain you through challenges and inspire that indescribable feeling of being guided by something bigger than yourself.
To put this into practice, start by evaluating your current goals. Do they touch on these different forms of capital, or are they primarily focused on one area? If your dream feels out of balance, consider how you can incorporate more of these elements into your vision.
By designing a dream that is rich in diverse forms of capital, you set yourself up for a life that is not only successful but also deeply rewarding.
So, take the time to reflect on what really matters to you. What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Consider the impact of your legacy on others. What experiences do you want to accumulate along the way? By answering these questions you’re taking a big step in embarking on a dream that is worth pursuing.
Cheers,
Jeff Depatie