If you can dream it…
Hello there,
Twelve years ago, I stood on the edge of the world.
Surrounded by ice, silence, and the kind of raw beauty that takes your breath away, I finally reached my dream destination: Antarctica.
Facebook (yeah, I know...) just reminded me of that moment, and while the picture brings back a flood of emotions, there’s something those snapshots don’t show.
The years of sacrifice.
The endless setbacks.
The moments when this dream felt so far away that I almost gave up.
“Because here’s the truth: wanting something isn’t enough.”
The Price of a Dream
I had wanted to go to Antarctica for as long as I could remember. But this wasn’t a trip I could just book on a whim.
It wasn’t something that happened because I put it on a vision board or wished hard enough.
To make it happen, I had to make a choice—one that required me to leave everything familiar behind.
In my case, the path to Antarctica meant committing to a PhD on the other side of the world.
It meant breaking away from the comfortable life I had built in my hometown—the friends, the routines, the security.
It meant taking a leap of faith into the unknown, with no guarantees that it would work out.
It meant betting on myself, even when it felt terrifying.
And even then, it took years of pushing through obstacles before I finally saw the ice.
The Myth of “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It”
We love the idea that simply wanting something badly enough will make it happen.
That if we dream hard enough, visualize enough, or believe enough, the universe will somehow conspire to make it real.
But here’s what’s missing from that equation: relentless effort, persistence, and a willingness to sacrifice.
Getting to Antarctica wasn’t a simple case of “I dreamed it, so I did it.”
It took years of studying, working, sacrificing other opportunities, and saying no to short-term comfort in order to chase something bigger.
And even then, there were moments where it felt impossible.
Overnight Success is a Lie
These days, we’re constantly sold the idea of overnight success.
Social media makes it seem like people just wake up one day with the dream job, the perfect body, the thriving business, or the epic adventure.
What they don’t show?
The years of hard work behind the scenes.
The sacrifices that made it possible.
The fear of failing.
The moments of doubt when quitting seems easier than pushing through.
Antarctica didn’t happen because I manifested it.
“It happened because I put in the work, took the risks, and kept going even when it was hard.”
But more than that, it happened because it was my lighthouse.
Every decision I made, big or small, was guided by that one goal. When faced with choices—what to study, where to live, what risks to take—I asked myself: Does this bring me closer to Antarctica?
If the answer was yes, I leaned in.
If the answer was no, I let it go.
Dreams don’t happen by accident.
They happen when you let them shape your direction.
Antarctica Became a Part of Me
The funny thing is, I thought Antarctica was just a place I wanted to visit.
But when I finally got there, I realized—it wasn’t just about reaching a destination.
The journey to get there had changed me.
The sacrifices, the risks, the persistence—it all shaped who I became.
Antarctica was no longer just a dream.
It was a part of me.
A reminder of what happens when you commit fully, when you allow a goal to guide you, and when you’re willing to do whatever it takes.
Your Dream vs. Your Willingness to Sacrifice
So here’s my challenge to you:
What’s your Antarctica?
What’s the thing you say you want—but haven’t yet matched with the level of sacrifice it requires?
Because dreams don’t come true just because we have them.
They come true when we’re willing to pay the price—whether that’s time, effort, money, or discomfort.
So ask yourself:
Are you truly committed to your dream?
Or do you just like the idea of it?
Because if you can dream it, you can do it… but only if you’re willing to do what it takes.
