The Circle

 Some only know to exist under a difficult life because it allows them to make excuses for not being able to make the right decisions to pursue their dreams because the path to making their dream a reality won't be understood by the people around them they're currently getting validation from. They're so tied to the permission of their circle they become afraid to walk alone and put value to the ridicule of their peers. The dream now becomes so scary They hide under the blanket of a difficult life which fuels attention and "feel good" pity. The fear is fake, the attention is superficial. Their circle chains them to mediocrity because they are afraid to see someone from their equivalent circumstance actually make a dream come true, simply because it reveals their own fears and excuses stopping them from pursuing their own goals so they stop anyone who wants to grow. They don't want to see it done so they hold you down. Its not viciously done in most cases. It's done with polite phrases and soothing words, and offers to divert attention. It's a subconscious act, hence why the break away seems so daunting. Your faced with an imposed perception of leaving the warmth, acceptance anf support, for a journey of hardship, failure, loss and most importantly, isolation. You've been successfully tricked your goal isn't worth it and most importantly that their validation and acceptance of you is far more valuable than bringing your dream to life and completing yourself as a self actualized human being.  

But the journey isn't lonely, as you'll be so focused on the win that your vision will keep you warm and sooth you when your days of high effort leave you winded. Your zeal and ambition will be all the company you need. You will validate yourself every day you lay one brick, then another and another towards the dream. Each brick is a piece of that dream becoming real, and one day enough bricks will be laid and your dream will exist for real. Mediocrity is a layer of dust over your eyes. The circle's ritual is to keep pouring this dust in each other's eyes, and say "there now, dream not, for we understand it is hard. Trust in our companionship in this hard world. Stay with us so we can sooth each other about our hardship. Don't go out there alone and leave us, for we love you and care about you. Let's not incur the pain of failure, let's not be alone and cold."

This warmth, attention, acceptance, and validation is attractive but it's only purpose it to sooth them. If you lay in bed at night wanting a dream, wanting better for yourself then you are not cut from the same cloth, you do not have the same blueprint. You're the eagle who's been raised as a chicken. I dare you to take one step, lay one brick and see what starts to light up in you. Feel what starts to grow from deep within. It's a calling to the destination of who you are meant to be and once you start, it will not stop. This is why some remain in agony for years if not their entire lives because they fight this inner voice telling them they can be better. This turmoil is used against them by their circle to prove why it's better to stay with them. There is no turmoil, it's simply the clashing of an oriented behavior against the path you need to take. It's a big black wall but it's as thin as burnt ash. Poke one finger through, challenge their doubt, lay that one brick and you'll see the reveal. 

When they see that you see this, they will start to lash you like you've broken a covenant. They will say things to make you feel bad and threaten to take away the warmth, acceptance, and validation. But that is all they can do. Wash the dust out your eyes, see that the path to your dream is only asking for hard work, dedication and commitment. The journey is not one of isolation and rejection, it's only what they try to make you feel. Lay that next brick and hear the volume of the calling increases. Each brick it gets louder. The days of high effort, feel more satisfying than depleting. The closer you get the warmer you feel. True validation will start to flow from inside you as you see your dream start to take shape. True validation from your own hands, your own work will replace the false and empty words you've been believing all these years. Listen to the ache in your lower spine telling you this is not where you need to be. Listen to it... quiet your mind and listen. Feel how the lines of their blueprint doesn't match yours, feel how your wings and claws spread wider, bigger and sharper than all of theirs. Your difference is not an abomination, your difference is your proof you exist somewhere else and you need to find where you truly belong. Let the calling direct what you do with your hands, let it reshape your thoughts, let it move your feet to a new direction and rhythm. Let it control you, not them. Dreams are meant to be built.