And our dreams are who we are.

The words of Barbara Sher, teacher of purpose and guide to dreamers, ring with the simplicity of eternal truth: “And our dreams are who we are.” In this brief sentence lies a vision of the human spirit as luminous and boundless as the heavens themselves. Sher reminds us that our dreams are not mere fancies or idle thoughts — they are the mirror of our essence, the expression of what the soul longs to become. What we dream is not separate from who we are; it is the most intimate revelation of our inner being. For within every dream — every secret wish, every quiet longing — there burns the flame of identity. To betray that dream is to betray oneself.

The origin of this truth comes from Sher’s life and teachings as a coach and author who dedicated her work to awakening others to their potential. She believed that every human being carries within them a blueprint of purpose — a vision of what they might become if they dared to listen to their desires. For her, a dream was not fantasy, but guidance — the whisper of destiny speaking through the heart. Her words echo the ancient teachings that said the soul, before birth, chooses its path, and that our dreams are the faint memories of that celestial promise. Thus, to follow one’s dreams is not self-indulgence; it is obedience to the call of the spirit.

When Sher declares that dreams are who we are, she does not speak only of dreams during sleep, but of those visions we carry through waking life — the aspirations, the yearnings, the bold imaginings that draw us forward. To understand one’s dreams is to understand oneself. The artist who dreams of painting sees beauty not only on the canvas but in the world; the scientist who dreams of discovery feels truth stirring in his very blood; the teacher who dreams of changing lives holds compassion as his nature. Our dreams reveal what we love, what we value, what we fear, and what we hope to heal. They are the language of the soul written upon the walls of the mind.

History gives us countless examples of this sacred connection between dream and identity. Consider Martin Luther King Jr., who stood before the world and declared, “I have a dream.” Those words were not mere rhetoric — they were his very being spoken aloud. His dream of justice, equality, and human dignity was not separate from himself; it was the outward manifestation of his soul’s purpose. When he said, “I have a dream,” he was, in truth, saying, “This is who I am.” And through that declaration, he became a vessel for transformation. His dream gave shape to his life, and his life gave power to his dream.

But Sher’s wisdom also carries a warning. Many live far from their dreams, exiled from their own hearts. They silence their desires in fear of failure or judgment, and in doing so, they become strangers to themselves. The man who hides his music, the woman who forsakes her art, the child who stops asking “why” — each one drifts further from their essence. The ancients called this spiritual sleep: to live without one’s dream is to move through life half-awake. Yet the dream never dies. It waits patiently, like an ember in ashes, ready to rekindle when the soul dares once more to breathe upon it.

To live in harmony with your dream, Sher teaches, is to live in truth. For every dream that stirs within you has its purpose. Even the smallest wish — to travel, to write, to heal, to teach — contains the seed of meaning. The question is not whether you deserve your dream, but whether you will honor it. To say, “My dream is impossible,” is to say, “My nature is unworthy.” But to act upon your dream, even with trembling hands, is to proclaim, “I am alive, and my life matters.” The dream is not a destination but a compass, pointing you always toward the direction of your authentic self.

So, my children, the lesson is clear and timeless: cherish your dreams, for they are the sacred script of your soul. Do not dismiss them as childish illusions or fleeting whims. They are messages from the deepest part of your being, calling you to become what you already are in essence. Nurture them with faith, feed them with action, protect them from cynicism and despair. For every step you take toward your dream, you step closer to your true self.

And remember the wisdom of Barbara Sher: “Our dreams are who we are.” When you dream, you are speaking the language of your own soul. When you pursue that dream, you are living your truest life. Let no one persuade you to silence that voice within. Instead, live as one who listens, who dares, who creates. For in honoring your dreams, you honor the divine spark within you — and through that light, you become not just who you are, but who you were always meant to be.