Okay, maybe I’m being overdramatic, but things are very blah in Malaysia right now. A thick blanket of choking ash from Indonesia has covered cities like Kuala Lumpur and Subang Jaya (where I live). The sky is literally grey and there is no fresh air at all. In fact, the pollution is at such unhealthy levels that school has been called off today (thank goodness. Wish we workers had the same privilege!).

And if that’s not bad enough, there is a rally planned tomorrow with distinctly racist overtones.  Ironically, it’s on Malaysia Day, a day where we’re supposed to celebrate my country’s founding.

On the personal front, after just a few days of relatively good health, I get slammed by a cold, and then discovered yet another health problem that will probably take months to heal. I’m starting to feel the bite of my mortality and age more than usual, and it’s leaving me cold.

In the midst of all this, my dreams seem very far away. How does one pursue one’s dreams when there are so many fires to put out?

And I wonder how people like Michelle Cushatt do it. I mean, how do you pick yourself up after having to face cancer twice?

How do you continue speaking positively in people’s lives day after day when you can’t even figure out your own?

I had a conversation with a dear friend the other day about my many fears and she reminded me that I cannot wait for life to get perfect or even the way I want it to be before I embrace my calling.

We have to do what we can in the midst of the chaos and insanity. Write 50 words instead of 500. Read a paragraph instead of a chapter. Just a little bit will get us there.

Meanwhile, I’ll take my eyes off  the storm and focus on something higher than it all: That life is more than our ambitions and goals, that life is more mysterious than we think.  That, although the way or destination isn’t clear to me right now, I’m open to discover it bit by bit.

What do you do when you have a dream but haven’t got life figured out?

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Old Comments

Judy Turnbull
7 years ago · 0 Likes

Liz, good job at trying to stay positive in the midst of difficulty! I like how you said, “We have to do what we can in the midst of the chaos and insanity. Write 50 words instead of 500. Read a paragraph instead of a chapter. Just a little bit will get us there.” I think there is a lot of wisdom in these words. When you are faithful in the every day, doing what you can, those little steps add up to a lot toward living your dream. May you feel God’s comfort, blessings, protection and direction!

Elizabeth Tai
2015

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Judy! I just visited your site and it’s just full of encouragement. You’ve got a new subscriber. God bless!

Haley McManigal
2015

Such a great question, Elizabeth! The great thing about being a writer is that you can share the asking of your question and the searching for the answers and that alone will inspire others. I think that it all comes down to helping others. If you can remove the focus from yourself during the down times, and do some small thing to help someone else, it brings perspective. I also agree 100% with what you said about doing something, anything, that moves your toward your dreams, even if it’s only a tiny step. That will get you there eventually!

Elizabeth Tai
2015

” If you can remove the focus from yourself during the down times, and do some small thing to help someone else, it brings perspective.” So true, Haley! I think when our focus narrows down to just us, we lose sight on how we can impact the world.

Juni Desireé
2015

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve also been suffering from sickness and been in a funk for a few weeks. And great question. Usually I go into a dark place of doom and gloom – haha. I tend to flounder. But I think what I’ve learnt has helped me in those times is getting clarity and believing in the dreams even in times of uncertainty. That usually stops me from floundering and gives me focus.

Elizabeth Tai
2015

I hope you’re better now Juni. I think it’s natural to ‘go to a dark place’ when you’re in pain and not feeling 100%. I think the trick is indeed, like what you said, is to believe in our dreams even when you’re in your dark place.

Angela
2015

Ah such a hard question – the only answer is keep going because there’s always something on the other side. It’s easy to get down when we look at the immediate instead of the long term.

Liz
2015

Yes, there’s a saying in the Christian evangelical circles here: Take your eyes off your circumstances and focus on Jesus. I always cheekily tell them it’s tough to focus on something invisible … But I know what they mean 

Fortunately I remember a time I did give up – I decided to give on my author dreams, thinking that it’s too impossible to achieve. Then I realised that all those years of ‘giving up’ could’ve inched me closer to my dream, especially with the advent of KDP!