To Start Living, Stop Daydreaming

It seems obvious, but sometimes, we all need this reminder.

All of us are living in our own tiny bubbles, oblivious to what’s happening around us. We go through lives imprisoned in our minds, caged by our fears, and consumed by the idea of better lives. But not all of us are driven forward to pursue our desires. Quite the opposite, actually. We spend most of our days fantasizing about the life we want to live instead of making that dream a reality.

Yesterday, I was strolling the streets of the Old Town in Prague with my earphones on. A habit I picked up on when I was about thirteen and never gotten rid of. The baroque buildings of Husova street were glistening in the morning sunshine. The lamps were still on, creating a picturesque combination nothing short of a snap you could find on a curated feed on Instagram. The music in my ears made the experience almost cinematic.

“Whoa! I’m feeling like the main character of her own story,” I thought as I was gazing up, stumbling over the cobblestones beneath my feet.

Are You the Main Character Or the Protagonist of Your Story?

But I already am the main character of my own story, right? If it’s not me, then who? All of us are the main characters of our own lives. We see the world around us, and we are a part of it. We are the narrators. But are you also the protagonist? Are you observing your life, or are you living it?

In storytelling, there is a difference between the main character and the protagonist. They can be the same character but not necessarily.

The main character is someone through whose eyes you see the story. They describe what is happening. This character can be used as a plot device when the protagonist is not relatable to the audience. On the other hand, the protagonist is the subject of the story. The one around whom the plot revolves and the one who changes the most.

To make it a bit more confusing, there are two types of protagonists:

• Passive
• Active

As you can probably tell, a passive protagonist reacts to the events of the story but remain mostly stagnant, whereas an active protagonist takes action.

If you combine the main character and the protagonist in one character, he or she becomes the hero of the story. So, the real question is: are you the hero of your own story? Are you playing an active part, or are you just observing?

Stop Observing, Start Acting

When you are living in your own little bubble, walking around with a pair of earphones on, imagining yourself to be the hero, fair enough, you might be feeling good. But only daydreaming is being passive. No entertaining protagonist has ever remained passive. We enjoy the stories of characters who take action regardless of the severity of the situation.

What if Harry got too scared to fight Voldemort and gave up? What if Frodo threw the ring into the river and walked away from his quest? How would their stories change? Would you even be interested in those stories?

If you were to tell your story as it is now, would anyone listen?

You have to realize that this is it. This is your life. Stop waiting for Hagrid or Gandalf to introduce you to a new exciting world or take you on an adventure. You are living your adventure already. Neither Harry nor Frodo wound up in situations and worlds they asked for. Some situations were enjoyable, and some not so much. But they didn’t settle for the difficult parts of the journey. They kept going no matter how bad the situation was.

I’ve been wanting to travel the world full-time since December 2019. The pandemic has made this dream seem impossible to achieve. But by constantly living in the future, I’m missing out on the life that’s happening right now. I’ve caught myself saying no to dating because, in my mind, I’m going to leave eventually, so why even bother? I would spend my days scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram looking up photos of the places I would love to visit while being dissatisfied with where I am now.

But what about when I move abroad? Am I also going to be saying no to things because, once again, I’m going to be leaving eventually? Am I going to be focusing on the future the whole time? I realized that I’m just waiting for things to happen to me while missing out on real life. Sure, there’s only so much I can do right now, but I won’t get the wasted time back, will I?

Don’t make the same mistake as me.

There is nothing wrong with thinking about the future. But you can’t neglect the present moment because, ultimately, the present moment shapes your future. For all you know, you could drop dead tomorrow or next week. Harsh, I know. But if that were to happen, have you spent your life doing something worthwhile, or were you just focusing on the things you didn’t have?

Final Thoughts

You have to become the hero of your own life. Stop waiting for life to happen to you. Stop daydreaming about the life you want to live. Just daydreaming is not real life and will not get you closer to your dreams. The life you want lies beyond the bubble of your daydream.

I’m not saying you have to stay in control of all aspects of your life. That’s not realistic. But focus on the things you can control. And in those areas you don’t have a firm grasp on, focus on your reaction.

Would the hero of the story you want to live wait for life to happen to them, or would they take action?