Quit Daydreaming: How to Wake Up & Break Freeনমুনা

The Truth Behind Excessive Fantasizing

Everybody has a dream. Whether it’s a desire to be the CEO of a major corporation, or the aspiration to be the first doctor to come up with the cure for cancer, we all have a vision for our lives. In this context, a dream is a profound ambition or deep desire for something.

Daydreaming, on the other hand, is the “stream of consciousness” we engage in as we detach from reality when our minds wander off.

This means daydreaming in and of itself is not inherently negative; however, the problem arises when we become stuck in a fantasy that causes us to miss out on the real world.

For over a decade, I vicariously lived through my favorite celebrities. I can’t begin to explain the time, effort and resources I dedicated to idolizing these rich, young and famous people.

Here's the catch: While my daydreams served as an escape from my less than ideal life, they never addressed my root problems.

You see, engaging in fantasy was my way to block out the negative emotions I felt in real life. Still, no amount of daydreaming could ever elevate my mood long enough. What it did do however, was plunge me deep into idolatry as I desperately attempted to find lasting fulfillment in temporary things.

While the word 'idol' was used to refer to wooden statues and clay figurines in the Bible, today, the term describes any person, place or thing that we place before our relationship with God.

As humans, it’s natural to seek contentment, but there is nothing that can bring lasting fulfillment apart from the Father.

While it is tempting to use people or things to distract us from pain, we will only end up more disappointed, dejected, and despondent when they inevitably fail to "complete us."

The truth is, if we don't come to God we will seek relief from undependable sources. If we are not careful, we risk walking down a slippery slope of idolatry that can end in our own destruction.