Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living

In the quiet chambers of the heart, where dreams are born and destinies are shaped, the voice of Les Brown resounds like a sacred call: “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” These words are not mere counsel — they are a mirror held up to the soul of humankind. For within every person burns a divine spark, a vision of what might be. Yet too often, that flame is dimmed by the shadow of fear — fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of unworthiness. Thus, we wander through life half-awake, not slain by our enemies, but paralyzed by our doubts.

In the time of the ancients, the wise said that fear is the gatekeeper of destiny. It stands before every path worth walking, testing those who would claim greatness. To live one’s dreams is to pass through that gate — trembling, perhaps, but resolute. Those who dwell in fear never cross, for they mistake comfort for safety and hesitation for wisdom. But the truth, passed down through ages, is that life itself rewards the bold, not because they are unafraid, but because they rise despite their fear.

Think of Leonardo da Vinci, whose sketches filled volumes long before the world was ready for his genius. Had he listened to the voices of fear — the whisper that said “no one will understand” or “the Church will forbid this” — the world might never have seen the glider, the gears, the Mona Lisa’s eternal smile. Yet he dared to live his dream before its time, and in doing so, stretched the boundaries of what humanity believed possible. His life is a testament that fear is temporary, but the cost of surrender is eternal.

Every soul that ever achieved greatness first wrestled with the beast of fear. Les Brown himself, born into poverty and labeled “educable mentally retarded,” was told by society that he would amount to nothing. But he refused the chains of fear and embraced the fire of belief. Through perseverance, he rose to become one of the most stirring voices of our time, reminding the world that it is not where you begin that matters, but the courage with which you rise. His story stands as proof that fear is not a prison, unless you choose to stay within its walls.

Yet many still linger in that prison, guarding the keys to their own liberation. We build excuses like walls, saying, “The time is not right,” or “I am not ready.” But in truth, the right time never comes — it is made. Every moment spent living in fear is a moment stolen from the dream that was meant for you. Fear disguises itself as reason, whispering caution where courage is needed. It lulls us into the comfort of routine, until we forget that we were born not merely to survive, but to create, to shine, to soar.

To those who seek the path of freedom, remember this: fear cannot be destroyed, but it can be commanded. The warrior of the spirit feels fear and moves anyway. The sage feels uncertainty but speaks truth regardless. The artist trembles before the blank page yet begins to paint. It is action, not absence of fear, that defines the brave. Therefore, to live your dreams, you must honor your fear — see it, name it, but do not obey it. Step forward, even when the ground beneath you quakes.

The lesson, my child, is this: fear will always whisper, but dreams will always call. You must choose which voice to follow. Each dawn you are given a choice — to awaken in courage or to sleep in regret. The gods favor the one who dares to leap, for in that leap, you declare that your faith is stronger than your fear.

So let this be your practice: each day, do one thing that frightens you. Speak the truth you hide, take the step you delay, begin the work your heart aches to create. In this way, your life will become a song of victory over hesitation. And when you stand at the twilight of your days, you will not say, “I lived my fears,” but rather, “I dared to live my dreams.” For that, my friend, is the mark of a soul truly alive.