Are you chasing a chimera?

The Danger of Chasing the Perfect Dream: When Your Goals Need a Reality Check

I’m all about dreaming big. Seriously, go wild—create the vision, imagine the possibilities, and aim for the stars. But here’s the thing: dreaming big is only half the story. At some point, you’ve got to take those dreams and bring them back to earth so you can actually make them happen.

Because if you spend all your time chasing an impossible fantasy, you’ll never reach the finish line.

Meet Sarah.

Sarah’s been dreaming about her “perfect” house for years. In her mind, it’s a total masterpiece—gleaming white kitchen, ocean views, a cozy reading nook, maybe even a secret wine cellar (because who doesn’t need that?). She’s attached so much emotion to this fantasy that it’s practically grown wings and flown into a utopia.

When Sarah finally started house hunting, you can guess what happened. Nothing—absolutely nothing—was good enough. One house had the perfect kitchen, but the backyard was too small. Another was in the right location but had awful flooring. And don’t even get me started on the places that “didn’t have the right vibe” (you know what I mean). Every house she saw fell short of her lofty, Pinterest-board-worthy expectations.

But here’s the thing: Sarah wasn’t looking for a house anymore. She was chasing a daydream that didn’t exist outside her imagination. She’d built up this image of perfection so much that reality never had a chance.

So what’s the solution? It’s simple. Sarah needed to bring her dream down to earth. Sure, having goals and high standards is great. But when you get stuck chasing a unicorn that doesn’t exist, you’re going to end up feeling frustrated and stuck. What Sarah realized (after way too many searches and a glass or two of wine) was that no house was ever going to tick all the boxes.

And that’s okay.

The key was to focus on what actually mattered—like finding a space that felt right for her lifestyle, even if it didn’t have that dreamy ocean view or a butler’s pantry for all the snacks. Once she let go of the fantasy and embraced the reality (with all its messy, imperfect details), she could actually find a place to call home.

This applies to pretty much any goal you’ve got in life. Whether it’s your career, relationships, or even that wild fitness plan you’ve pinned your hopes on, chasing perfection is like running after a mirage.

The goalpost keeps moving.

The secret is to set grounded, achievable goals and be flexible enough to embrace the messy, imperfect reality that comes with them.

So here’s the moral of the story: Don’t let your dream become a prison of impossible standards. Drop the fantasy, get real, and start making things happen. You might be surprised by how much better life feels when you stop chasing unicorns and start building something real.

Thanks for reading! 🖤

Aitana