After the birth of his daughter, Zechariah Newman began thinking about legacy, and why a family needs someone to chase their dreams.
It all started six years ago. My world was completely and forever changed when my daughter was born. When our little Zoe Grace arrived, it brought questions into my mind and heart that I had never thought about.
I began to think about legacy. Legacy is something that is handed down or remains from a previous generation or time. I began to think about what legacy I would leave my children.
We as parents need to be proactive with what we want to leave as a legacy. With focus and determination we need to pass down a torch we are proud of.
At this time in my life I was not proud because I had settled for good enough. It is so easy to settle for what is comfortable. When our needs are met the tension to chase a new dream is more difficult.
I had settled for a nice paycheck instead of pursuing my purpose. My business was making money, but felt stale. I own two pizza restaurants and looked at myself as just a pizza maker.
We all need to purposely connect into life in a bigger way carving a trail for our family to follow. Your family needs you to be an audacious dream chaser. To pursue what is in your heart and never settle again. Nothing powerful ever comes from settling.
Chasing your dream will benefit your family in these four ways.
Compartmentalize. Your life bleeds into each other. Over the long-term, it is impossible to segment off and compartmentalize your life. Your hatred for your career will be felt by your family. Usually this comes in lashing out at the ones you love.
Staying in a job you don’t like will not benefit your family. You will be miserable and they will feel it. Chasing your dream will cause bleed over that will benefit your family.
Know the way and show the way. I want my kids to chase their dreams and though it sounds great to say, “Do as I say and not as I do,” that’s not reality. Your kids in one way or another will emulate what you are doing.
Chasing your dream will show your kids that fear will not stop you and that fear should not stop them from chasing a dream. That they are here for a purpose and it is their job to live that out.
Energy and passion increase. Nothing will make you feel more alive than chasing after and getting traction with your dream. When you are doing what you are meant to do, it will increase your energy in all areas of your life.
Chasing your dream will give you energy to be the best dad you are meant to be. Though the dream requires extra energy, it will not take away from your energy but rather add to it.
Dreams unite. If you are chasing your dream the proper way, your dream will unite your family in a greater degree. A vision that is greater unites the family while stagnation is a dividing force. Rally your family around a dream and it will draw you closer together.
Unite your family by having a common purpose. Families that dream together stay together.
Chase your dream with your family. Chase it properly by having firm boundaries, involving them, and celebrating along with them. Change your family tree by chasing a family dream. Teach your kids to be a world changer by the simple act of starting today. Be blessed on your journey.
What other ways does chasing your dream benefit your family?
Photo: Hartwig HKD/Flickr