My mom taught me to go after my dreams. I have this faith in

The words “My mom taught me to go after my dreams. I have this faith in myself that I must have gotten from her,” were spoken by Amy Jo Johnson, an artist, actress, and musician whose life has been shaped by the courage to follow her passions. Though her tone is gentle, her message is profound—it is a hymn to the sacred inheritance passed from parent to child: the faith to dream and the courage to act. Within these simple words lies one of the oldest truths of humanity—that the first teacher of strength is often a mother, and that the deepest source of confidence is love.

In the ancient rhythm of life, the bond between parent and child has always been the forge of character. A mother, in her tenderness and endurance, teaches without sermon or crown. Through her example, she whispers to her child: “Believe in yourself, even when the world doubts you.” Amy Jo Johnson’s reflection is a modern echo of this timeless truth. To “go after my dreams” is not mere ambition—it is an act of faith, a declaration that life’s purpose is worth the struggle. The faith she speaks of is not the faith of religion alone, but the inner certainty that one’s heart was made to pursue something greater than fear.

Consider, for a moment, the story of Joan of Arc, who, guided by divine conviction and unwavering belief, rose from humble beginnings to lead armies and change the course of history. She, too, carried within her the voice of faith—a voice that might well have been nurtured by the unseen tenderness of her mother. When the world told her to be silent, she listened instead to that inner flame, the same flame that Johnson describes. Joan’s triumph was not merely on the battlefield, but in her refusal to doubt the power of her calling. Faith, inherited and cultivated, gave her the courage to defy the impossible.

So it is with Amy Jo Johnson’s words. They remind us that the faith we inherit is not always spoken aloud; sometimes it is taught in gestures, in the patient eyes of a mother who believes when her child cannot yet see. A child learns courage not from perfection, but from watching love endure hardship without surrender. And so, the mother’s strength becomes the child’s compass—the invisible thread that binds generations in purpose and hope. Faith in oneself, born from love, becomes the mightiest armor against the storms of doubt.

But Johnson’s wisdom also carries a deeper, universal message: that dreams are sacred duties. To go after them is not selfish—it is an act of honoring those who believed in us first. When we chase our calling, we give meaning to the sacrifices that shaped us. The mother who labored, who struggled, who stayed—her strength does not die with her; it flows into the child who dares to dream. Thus, pursuing one’s purpose is also an act of gratitude—a way of saying, “Your faith was not in vain.”

Let us learn from this truth, then. To the sons and daughters of the world: remember the voices that shaped your courage. When doubt comes, as it surely will, hear again the whisper of those who taught you to believe. Faith is not the absence of fear—it is the decision to move forward despite it. And to the parents, mentors, and elders: know that your example is a torch. Your courage, your kindness, your perseverance—these become the foundations upon which others build their dreams.

In every generation, this wisdom endures: dreams are born in love, and sustained by faith. Amy Jo Johnson’s words are a reminder that the greatest inheritance is not wealth or knowledge, but the inner strength to pursue one’s destiny. The mother’s faith becomes the daughter’s wings, and through those wings, the world is lifted a little higher.

So let this teaching be carried forward, O listener of wisdom: honor the roots that gave you courage. Chase your dreams not in arrogance, but in gratitude. For when you walk the path of your purpose with faith, you fulfill not only your destiny—but the silent hope of those who first taught you to believe. And when your own time comes, pass that faith onward, so that generations yet unborn may rise and say, as Amy Jo Johnson once did, “I have this faith in myself that I must have gotten from her.”