I have been reflecting on the tension between labor, productivity, meaning and the mundane nature of life. As a young child growing up in a tumultuous household, I grew up with dreaming as a refuge, and this pro-dreamer of the past now finds herself at a career inflection point navigating adulthood and work.
I realize that the modern mindset around career growth, hustle culture, and finding purpose through work is often tied to capitalist productivity narratives. Yes, some of us are able to find meaning in our jobs (lucky few), while others find meaning through consumerism (buying things as a way to justify the labor -- also lucky!) regardless both of these serve to keep us productive. Hope (or dreams of big futures) is what separates us from older, overtly exploitative labor systems where in the past there were sweatshops and obvious physical exploitation. Today we’re promised opportunity and growth but it still serves the system of production. This is the modern twist on labor and productivity.
At the same time, most of life is mundane where the source of our suffering is often due to our desire for wanting our lives to be exceptional. Big expectations often set us up for big disappointments. Dreaming big dreams was a coping mechanism in my childhood and I so miss the sweetness of those dreams. The sobering that comes with adulthood--or simply just life is the space where many of us run out of dreams and meet reality.
I have been thinking on what work means to me now. Yes, it's a necessity, where I need to generate income. But I am also thinking of how it can be redefined outside of pure productivity. What does labor look like when stripped of grand illusions? How do I find acceptance and perhaps even quiet contentment? Here are some ways I am allowing myself to dream differently without falling into the trap of chasing grand illusions tied to productivity. If you feel inspired, feel free to share yours by leaving a comment below.
- Dreaming smaller, yet deeper (not every dream has to be big career-defining or life-changing
- Dreaming creatively, without outcomes
- Dreaming relationally, some of my best dreams today are about connection, not achievement
- Dreaming about ease and enough-ness
- Dreaming about my children's worlds - what kind of small, safe world do I want to build for them to dream in?
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