Dreaming big isn’t selfish, dreaming small is!

I guess one major reason why we have trouble dreaming big is because we are afraid to appear as too ambitious, too greedy, and too selfish in the eyes of the people around us. The truth, however, is that dreaming big has nothing to do with greed or selfishness. Instead, it has everything to do with love and generosity.

Every time you dream a small dream, you are asking the universe for just what you need to cover your own immediate needs. Now, that’s selfish! Sinfully selfish. Why? Because you’re putting all the focus on you and you alone. But when you dream big, you are actually asking the universe to bless you beyond your personal needs so that you can be a blessing to other people as well.

In the Bible, there is a very interesting story of Solomon praying to God and making a request most of us would consider as something so far beyond the humanly attainable.

Solomon asked God to help him “live as long as the sun endures, like the moon, through all generations.” He asked God to allow him to “rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of earth.” He prayed that his foes and enemies “may kneel before him and lick the dust.” His dream was that “all kings bow before him” and that “all nations serve him.”

This, to many of us, may sound like an arrogant, selfish, greedy prayer. But did God find Solomon strange or awkward for making such a request? Did He find Solomon to be greedy and arrogant for wanting what he was asking for? Not at all! God was pleased with Solomon. He gave Solomon what he had asked for, and Solomon in his day went on to become a famous and powerful king. A king before whom other kings came and bowed; a king under whose reign Israel experienced its greatest extent of territory.

But the reason why God granted Solomon his request is simple: Solomon—as he further made it clear in his prayer—had the intention and commitment to use his new position to fulfill a higher and nobler purpose. He wanted wealth and influence not so that he could live a selfish life of luxury, but in order to “rescue the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help.”

Yes, Solomon wanted wealth and power because he had the resolution “to free the needy and the oppressed from extortion and violence.” He wanted to be in a position where he could “see the blood of the poor as precious and to save their lives.” You see, Solomon was bold enough to ask the Creator for big things. And because his request was sustained by a strong desire to help others, he was granted what he had asked for.

So shall it be with you. You cannot spend your time dreaming petty dreams and expect to live your best life. You cannot dream self-centered dreams and expect them to be fulfilled. That’s like shooting for the moon and expecting to land among the stars; I mean, you’ll always end up disappointed.

As long as you are focused on just satisfying your own selfish needs, you will never experience the abundant life that God has in store for you. The universe is always ready to give a timely favorable response to any bold request we make, as long as what we’re asking for is connected with uplifting others and making this world a better place for all. That’s one important lesson we learn from Sankara’s life and leadership style.