by Jad Bakkar

This post is a little personal and it is one that is coming straight from my heart. Before you read it, full disclosure that I do not harbour any negative feelings towards my parents, society or anyone. In fact I love my parents and I will forever be grateful to have them in my life, for everything they have done for me and for all the sacrifices they have made. However, I have reached a point in my life now where I am more aware of my thoughts and who I am as a person. Please read along and I hope the message I am trying to deliver is clear.

I’m tired of society dictating what I should be. I’m tired of society telling me “you should do this” and ‘you shouldn’t do that”. I’m tired of society telling me that I need to stick to this job I have because my dreams are just that… dreams. I’m tired of society telling me my dreams are nothing. I’m tired of society telling others not to pursue their own dreams. I’m tired of seeing people getting bogged down. I’m tired of seeing people not reach their full potential. I’m tired of having to settle. I’m tired of worrying about what society will think of me for doing what I wish to do. I’m tired of the anxiety. I’m tired of not shooting for the stars. I’m tired of aiming low. I’m tired of being spoon fed this load of bullshit on a daily basis. I have been tired all along. 

I shouldn’t blame and I shouldn’t point fingers. But I will take full responsibility for where I am today. I am here as a consequence of my own decisions. I am here because of the actions I took. I am responsible for where I am career-wise and I am responsible for listening to my school teachers who shot my hopes and dreams down. It’s my responsibility for allowing them to manipulate my mind into thinking “that’s what’s best for me”. Most importantly, I take full responsibility for allowing my parents to dictate my life for me. I have grown to realize now, that I should have taken different actions and made different decisions. 

We all have potential and we all have greatness inside. We all have dreams and if we stick to them we can achieve them. Each one of us wants to be something. An accountant, a doctor and an engineer. A programmer or an astronaut. A scientist or a football player. A soccer player or a professional boxer. An MMA fighter a or professional wrestler. An actor, a writer and a director. An artist or a video game developer. A fashion model or an entrepreneur. A chef or a zookeeper and the list goes on and on. We all want something for ourselves, that’s what makes us unique. 

Don’t be force fed bullshit. Don’t believe your parents when they tell you to be an accountant because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t believe them when they tell you to  be a doctor because it’s a great career. Don’t believe them when they tell you forget about art and be an engineer instead because it’s the “safe choice”. Likewise, don’t believe your parents when they tell you to be a musician or a painter. Don’t believe them when they tell you to be a filmmaker or a photographer. Only believe in one person, and that is you. 

If you feel deep down, in your gut that what you are being forced to do isn’t for you, then well it probably isn’t for you. If it doesn’t make your heart beat, if it doesn’t wake you up in the morning all excited and ready to kick the day’s ass then being a dentist, a doctor, an engineer, an accountant, an actor, a writer, an artist, a musician, a teacher, an architect, etc. isn’t for you. 

I am not advocating going against your parents or driving a wedge between you and them. All I want is for you to find your inner voice and make yourself heard. If they don’t support your dreams, don’t let that bring you down. If they have a vision for you and that vision doesn’t align with what you have envisioned for yourself, then you are not obligated to believe in their vision. Find what makes your heart want to jump out of your chest, and do it. No matter what it is.

P.S This article is not written by Xini Concept and doesn't belong to Xini Concept Pte Ltd . We took reference from this website  https://jaybakkar.wordpress.com/