When your dreams include service to others - accomplishing

“When your dreams include service to others — accomplishing something that contributes to others — it also accelerates the accomplishment of that goal. People want to be part of something that contributes and makes a difference.” Thus spoke Jack Canfield, the teacher of motivation, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and a modern sage of human potential. In this saying lies the timeless law of greatness — that the power of a dream expands when it serves more than the dreamer. The heart that beats for others draws strength from beyond itself, and the path that lifts humanity carries the traveler farther than any selfish ambition could.

The origin of this quote springs from Canfield’s philosophy, forged through decades of study, struggle, and success. He learned that while personal goals may inspire the mind, only purposeful service ignites the soul. His words echo an ancient truth known to every teacher of wisdom — that fulfillment does not come from achieving alone, but from giving, from weaving one’s dream into the lives of others. For when a dream is born in isolation, it flickers; but when it is shared, it becomes a flame that guides many. Canfield understood that the dreamer who dreams for the world becomes unstoppable, for the world itself begins to move with him.

To include service to others in one’s dream is to align the will with the deeper currents of creation. It is to recognize that all true success is communal, that life itself is a great web of giving and receiving. When you work not only for your gain but for the betterment of others, your purpose becomes magnetic — drawing allies, opportunities, and energy from unexpected places. As Canfield says, people want to be part of something that contributes and makes a difference. They are drawn to visionaries whose work carries light beyond their own horizon. Thus, the one who serves becomes the one who leads.

History overflows with examples of this sacred principle. Consider Mother Teresa, who devoted her life not to power or recognition, but to the care of the forgotten and the dying. She had no wealth, no army, no influence — only love. Yet her mission inspired millions, and nations rose to honor her. Her dream — simple service — became a force that transcended borders. Or think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dreamed not for his own peace, but for the freedom of others. His cause drew hearts and hands from every corner of the world, proving that when a dream is rooted in compassion, it becomes a movement, not merely a goal.

Canfield’s insight also holds practical wisdom for every person who seeks success in work or life. A business that serves only itself perishes; a business that serves humanity thrives. A career driven by vanity grows hollow; one built on contribution gains meaning. The student, the artist, the leader — all advance more swiftly when they ask not only, “What can I gain?” but “What can I give?” For service transforms ambition into legacy, turning personal victory into collective triumph.

And yet, this path is not without sacrifice. To serve others requires humility, patience, and faith. It asks the dreamer to see beyond their own comfort — to labor even when the reward is distant. But in that sacrifice lies the secret of power. For those who live for others never run out of strength; they are sustained by the very people they serve. Their dream, once fragile, becomes indestructible, because it no longer belongs to them alone — it belongs to everyone it touches.

So let this be the lesson: Do not dream small dreams of self. Dream great dreams of service. Whatever your craft or calling, find a way for it to bless others. The artist who paints truth, the teacher who awakens minds, the builder who shelters families — all are servants of humanity, all partake in the same sacred purpose. When your dream uplifts others, life itself becomes your ally. Doors open. People gather. The impossible yields.

In the end, Jack Canfield’s words remind us that the surest way to achieve one’s dream is to let it flow outward, to make it a blessing to the world. For the dream that serves becomes the dream that endures. And those who live not only to rise, but to lift, will find that in helping others reach their summit, they themselves have already reached their own.