It can be scary to be a dreamer nowadays. Apart from the doubt, the fear, the people telling you that you can’t do it, there is also the uncertainty that there will be an adequate future for you to see those dreams fulfilled. We are on the verge of ecological Armageddon, and whether or not we manage to avoid it, that future will likely look very different than the world we live in now.
But when I say “dream danger,” I’m not saying that the dreams are in danger, rather we are in danger from dreams. Our dreams are very much influenced by the avarice of our society and our culture. Many of our dreams include not just personal growth, but personal economic growth. We want big houses, nice cars, extravagant parties, and exotic vacations. These dreams fuel the very economic growth that threatens humanity and all life on this planet.
This is not meant to be a censure on dreams and aspirations, but when did personal growth become synonymous with wealth? Why do we think we need exorbitant amounts of stuff (which create exorbitant amounts of waste) to be happy ? Those aren’t the dreams of people, those are the dreams of corporations and the religion of capitalism, and we’ve fallen prey to their marketing schemes.
It’s true, economic growth and capitalism has afforded humanity countless benefits, and we would not be equipped to face our modern problems without it. But I think it is time for us to take a step back and take a critical look at the ideas and institutions that truly govern our lives in the 21st century.
nANIMOv 
feeling personally attacked by this post (jk) niko, you sound like my horoscope 😦 don’t think i’ve ever thought to pursue anything else other than wealth, and now that i have the opportunity to start dreaming for myself i don’t even know where to start. ps will be in SB again next month let’s catch up – didn’t get to see you this time around!
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Well I had you in mind specifically 😛 I kid, but also based on what I know of you, youre motivated by more than wealth — experiences, impulse, etc. I also don’t think most people are motivated by wealth itself, but by the possibilities and opportunities it provides. Some experiences are only accessible with wealth, but what makes those experiences more valuable than any others? Perhaps ’cause they are less common? Rarity is mostly valuable because of our economic mindset (Low Supply/ High Demand, thanks AP Econ). I think we do have an evolutionary imperative to seek new experiences, that’s part of what makes us human. But I do think there is a point where that urges loses its usefulness. Just like we have an urge to eat large quantities of carbs and protein, which may have been helpful as hunter-gatherers, but now just leads to obesity among other things.
Anyways sorry, I kinda just went full stream-of-consciousness there. But yea we’ll catch up next time 🙂
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