I've been following Charlie since 2010/2011? and it's so inspiring to hear him reflect on all this time. It's really only when I hear others talk about how they've grown that I've realized how much I've grown as well.
It's so weird when you're following a dream and you're doing all these things in order to achieve it but then you stop and realise you were too busy working to realise you don't want that dream anymore. Like it seems like an obligation just because that's what you used to want to do...I think that's what Charlie was touching upon and I love this talk, well done☺
Amazing talk. I've always wanted to become a broadway singer but I just began to realize that it's not going to happen in this life time, so I'm trying to move on from that dream. I feel like my parents and the parents of many others in my generation just give us the feeling that we can do and achieve everything even when that's not really possible. The message "You cannot achieve everything you want but that's okay" really resonates with me. Thank you Charlie for talking about this!
Vienna Books I went through this recently as well! Left performing arts college last January, and am so happy that Charlie has brought this up. It's tough feeling like you couldn't achieve something that you were told was possible, but hopefully more people will come to understand the horrible failures and negativity that also comes along with being fixated on a singular and specific dream. Here's to finding our new one, ha! 😊
Vienna Books same here. As a teenager I was convinced I would become a rockstar - and it was very crushing when I realised it wouldn't happen. It annoys me when people who have "achieve their dreams" say that "if you want something bad enough and keep trying it will happen" as that's not actually true! And it implies that if you don't achieve your "dreams" that's it's somehow your own fault
Yikes! Another good lesson to learn is: "Don't base major life decisions on a video you watch on the internet!" Would really suck if it could have happened for you but you gave up because of this video.
Leah O I haven't based my decision on this video, I've been 'unfollowing my dreams' for months now but it was great to hear this talk none the less since it gave me confidence with my decision. But you are right, no one should stop following their dreams because of this or any other video on the Internet.
That's odd I feel the complete opposite I was told growing up to be as realistic as possible, don't do anything creative it won't earn you any money. From my experience society loves talent, and loves to make people believe in over-night success. When the fact is most people who achieve their dream do so by working really really hard for a long time. Casey Neistat said something that stuck with me, to paraphrase "the people who want to achieve their dream will do so because they will die trying." It really spoke to how I wanted to spend my life, and I realized I would rather spend the rest of my life failing at what I love then succeeding at what I hate. Similarly, it's okay to give up on a dream that has changed. Keep singing, if you still love it, but if your dream has just changed then that's okay too. But, don't get discouraged if you think it's too hard, lot's of things in life are hard, so what would you rather be doing? is the best question.
I like how he uses the word 'progress' to replace 'mistake'. Progress is when you notice something's wrong with your life and you move on. In that case it would be a mistake to keep your line. People change careers all the time: engineers become teachers and vice versa. The train will keep moving, but it's never too late to switch tracks.
he got my taste. when people said I should chase my dream , I stressed out. I think I wouldn't enjoy drawing if I aware that what I do is related to my dream or career. I like drawing for fun ,not like for business.
thank you! about two years ago I made the decision to unfollow my childhood dream to become a teacher, even though I was very close to graduation. It just didn't suit me and after living in denial for the first two years of my studies, I finally admitted it. It's scary to do so, but I haven't regretted it for a second!
I feel like this is going to be one of those videos that I come back to every now and again and remind myself of this goodness. Wise words well spoken. Sometimes I feel like a guinea-pig-millennial-vlogger out here on a limb... then I remember folks like Charlie were out there when there was no path to follow and just judgementalism, passion and a new art form floating around like a big blob of putty in an internet orb. Anyhoo. Big respect. Much appreciations for this.
Charlie! I've been a fan of you since your quite early TH-cam days and I must tell you how proud I am. Some days I really miss the kinds of videos you made a few years ago, and mostly how often you uploaded them, but at the same time I'm really amazed at how far you've come. You are such an inspiration and you have so much of importance to say, I feel lucky for being able to follow your journey. Best wishes and happy holidays!
I agreed with what he's saying.. some people would achieve their dream and be comfortable with it. but theres also people who actually did achieve but not satisfied, or worst, didnt manage to achieve the dream that they have because it is not for them- their personality doesnt fit what they fantasised themself to be. and this could crush their hope. therefore, it is really important to know yourself by heart. and NEVER EVER GIVE up! nothing in life is easy, therefore, work hard. and it will be worth it if you work hard, for things that you love and enjoy doing :) Thanks for the very wise sharing, Charlie! been a fan since i was in primary school haha. Cheers from Malaysia!
This is a valid point and I admire that someone had the guts to present and advocate an idea in public that is potentially received as unacceptable by many audiences. Bravo :)
I still find it amazing that Charlie has never had to work at the supermarket or a bar or something just to earn money to go out with his friends, etc. He's never had to have a job he doesn't like for not much money.
Great talk Charlie - some necessary realism in a world of such vast opportunity. The Hank Green quote you mentioned reminded me of one of my all-time fav' lyrics: "Rehearsing who we think we are." :)
Powerful speech... I gave up on my dreams of working in a games design company, because I thought it wasn't professional enough, or didn't pay enough. Made me think! Really liked this, Charlie!
Thanks, Charlie. This resonates with me. My dream was to become a high school music teacher, but in the end pursuing a degree in music wasn't the right fit for me. I was incredibly unhappy in university and began suffering from severe performance anxiety, but I kept at it for five years with no end in sight. I didn't enjoy music like I used to, but I felt like I had to keep trying because it was my "dream" and I would be a disappointment to my mom if i didn't achieve that degree. Meanwhile, outside of school, my volunteer efforts and summer jobs led me in the direction of parks and environmental education. I had no idea that park interpreters existed when I was a teenager, and I'm so lucky to have found this path. It suits me. I finally plucked up the courage to admit to myself and to my mom that a degree in music wasn't right for me and I dropped out. I couldn't be happier with how life is going for me now.
This is so important!! I realized this last January, and felt as though I was betraying both my friends, family, and mostly myself for not feeling comfortable with my dream anymore. Thank you for sharing this very important message, Charlie! 😊❤️
Such a good point. I never knew what I was going to do but as life happened around me I made my best choices and had disappointments all along the way. Now I’m my 40’s I am kind of in limbo of what my dreams are. Since I never got to follow any dreams of my own for more than 10 years ( a situation, I realize now, I allowed to happen) I am not looking at my life being over. More like it’s just beginning and without the childish hormones getting in my way. I’m free to choose a path and still don’t know yet what will happen. But I know LOVE will guide my steps because that’s all I want to convey to the people around me. To show as many people as I can that they are worthy and deserving of happiness. So they can love themselves.
Maybe you will become a life coach? or a pastor? have you heard of Craig Groschell (Life Church Online Pastor) or Claire Zammit (Life Coach for Feminine Power) these professions help people and share love and teach people worthiness and happiness and loving themselves.
What an amazing talk Charlie! Going into college I wanted to be an anthropologist but I realized halfway through that that dream wasn't working out. I switched majors to Speech Pathology and it was like everything fell into place. Creating new dreams isn't a bad thing!
Great speech, Charlie. I have learned, over these many years, that accepting ones own limitations can be freeing. Keep up the great work, on yourself.....and thank you for sharing.
That's great, absolutely great for an art student like me. I've just finished 3 years at uni and ever since I started I promised myself that I was going to apply to film school and become a director or a showrunner for an amazing tv series. A movie/shows geek like me, perfect dream right? I've always been told to DREAM BIG don't limit yourself ! However, there was always that tiny thought at the back of my head "that's not what you want". 3 months before the entrance exam the thought became louder and louder until I just couldn't repress it anymore. Basically, one night I fell asleep and when I woke up I decided that I wasn't going to apply to film school, well not exactly. I passed the entrance exam for multimedia journalism a month ago, and reconnected with an old dream of mine. I don't want to make films, I want to talk about them. That's my thing, not a huge dream but it's enough, I don't need more and I feel way more comfortable now.
I'm gonna say it, TED talks... not a fan. However, Charlie's talk was excellent; totally worth the listen because of how authentic Charlie presents subject matter. Great talk.
You are not obligated to follow the dreams you had when you were five years old, so why should your dreams from five years ago, or five months ago, be any different? The only person you'll definitely always know better than is your past self.
I dunno I still think it would be cool to pursue my dreams as a 5 year old child of being the first ballerina-astronaut in space. :) And do live-streamed dance performances on the moon while collecting space rocks.
@@lemurlover7975 Dude, we had the exact same dream. I was always fascinated by the cosmos and also loved ballet. I spent 14 years on ballet and quit after I realized I had too many health issues that would prevent me from becoming professional. Chose to focus more on my interest in science. Years later I'm wishing I had just kept dancing as a hobby or a side passion, even though I have no intention of pursuing it as a career. I suppose it's not too late to get back into it.
Sometimes canned expectations are not always the path of happiness for everyone. This is reassuring and inspiring. Thank you Charlie for your bravery! Cheers love!!
Thank you for that great talk. As a 58 year-old man (highly gifted, multi-talented underachiever), I got a lot out of it that is helpful to me. Good reminders, and a good conversation for many of us to have with ourselves at certain points in our lives!!
This talk made things more clear in my mind. So many times i've let my old self made choices for me, I just realised this right now. I've got so obsess about achiving a dream, that I didn't have the concious to look around, and wondered if I really want what I was craving for. This is really meaningful for me, thank you Charlie.
Great talk! I've recently 'added' another dream. I say 'added' is because I still can't let go of my previous dream. This has been good to listen to so that I no longer think I'm letting go of it but rather, I've moved on and am progressing. Thank you.
Ten years ago I had a dream to move to Japan and enroll in a Japanese language learning school for at least three months. I still plan on following that dream. It's why I am where I am in my life right now (teaching English at a university in China).
This talk hit me in the middle of my final year of high school and I didn't know what to think about it at the time. Now entering my final year of college, I think I've begun to understand what it's about. Four years ago I decided to follow this dream that led me to the end of my degree. Four years is a long time, and over these four years especially I have changed immensely. There are new dreams I want to follow. There are things I'm interested in now that that I didn't know existed four years ago and that I didn't know I was capable of four years ago. And I think I owe it to myself to try those things and find what's the right fit for me now. Thank you for this talk that I needed to hear, Charlie.
I'm just about to start uni after 8 years of giving up on my dreams completely because I was so unwell...now I finally had an operation that's given me a second chance, and I'm terrified in case I fail at my dream...watching this gave me so much comfort and made me feel so much better about walking forward and giving it a go...thank you Charlie
I have watched Charlie for years and I never thought he would be changing my life in such a strong way. I watched this video a couple of months ago, mostly because I was curious he was in it, and without realising it resonated with me in a really powerful way that set me on a path of change and self discovery. I've had multiple dreams throughout my life and 3 years ago I made a decision that I was going to follow this one thing. But after this long I realised focusing and closing myself like that was making me really unhappy, and ended up affecting everything in my life including my relationship with someone I still really love. Watching this video challenged my perspective of how I was living my life, it unburried things that were deeply hidden in my subconscious. I am still finding exactly what my dream is but as he said 'that's not failure, it's progress'. Thank you for inspiring me like this Charlie and I'm sure you have inspired a lot of people as well.
damn it!! he's right... when you spend so many years trying and can't break trough, you start to think that way... but how do you do that when your dream is the only thing that makes you happy? when it's the only thing that you know how to do, and you know that you'll be happy doing it?
Fascinating and so well articulated. In my opinion dreams are an ideology and all ideologies are extreme and wrong. We are too focused on what our profession is, to define us. I have had many (weird) careers. Actor, Mentalist/Stage hypnotist, Musician, Programmer, Engineer, VFX artist. The thing is that with all these careers, it never had been my dream! It became my interest, I would absorb all knowledge I can on a subject. And I just got lucky. The only constant is my engineering because it pays the bills (easily). Some of my IT customers ask me, why someone who has played music with some well known (Dutch) musicians, worked on a Hollywood feature, had a show of his own is or wants to work as a programmer or engineer. Because these other jobs are dream professions. The thing is, a job is a job! Once you do it long enough, you get bored with it. Some jobs (especially in a small country) don’t provide constant work. Some jobs make it hard to pay the bills. The only thing you can do is absorb knowledge and experience of things that you like. Share the results of your labour, at the right places that matter, and people will find you! But don’t make a profession a dream! A professional is a job.
I love this so much! I used to tend to make decisions based on my very much younger self, but once I cut my hair and auditioned for a musical I felt more free, like I could anything.
I returned to this video after I dropped off one of my passion which I planned it for years and I was in the process doing so. But half of the way I figured out I wasn't in full heart of it. And wasn't sure about it either. I don't know what made me stop. Maybe bad workspace? Bad interactions with my instructor? I was sure of it till I realize the way to chase my dream just wasn't for me. I unfollowed my dream today. I feel somehow glad and yet very uncertain and even afraid (also hinds of sadness) I spent rest of the day pondering what I'll do next but soon realized I was burnt out. The process of achieving my previous dream was more toxic than I thought it would be. This video today really helped me. Gives me strength that this is not a failure but a progress. Thank you Charlie. I've been his subscriber for Idonnohowlong and I know your writing and video experience has combined and you are now a writer for a TV show. You truly inspire me
oh shit. Thank you. I have only just begun to wonder if what I have always dreamed of doing is what I actually want. But I thought I was crazy, I thought that I needed to keep pursuing it, I feel obligated. I'm trapped, and you may have just offered me the rope I need to start my journey out.
This really resonated with me. Ever since I was a kid I would tell people that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer; specifically a novelist of YA fiction. That's still something I'm interested in, but as I've grown older I've realized how much I enjoy other art forms like music and acting and comedy. I've since broadened my dream to "storytelling" in general, and I hope that one day I can do it professionally, whether it's through sketches, songs, or plays, and I'm much happier for it.
This is really helpful, cause I found myself in quite the same position as charlie. I always had that dream of being a filmmaker, so I startet studying film making but now that I have opportunities and time to really do it I realized something that I couldn't understand, till I watched this today. I forced myself to follow this dream but always felt like the progress of writing screenplays and storys for my projects was what I really enjoyed. Now I realize just how charlie said, that this dream of being a filmmaker is currently not suitable for who I am today. And maybe I should unfollow my dream and choose something like writing, because it is something more suitable for the type of person I am. Thank you so much charlie, this really opened my eyes. I always felt bad because of this, this video made me feel a lot better. I hope that I can build up the courage to do what I love and enjoy. This speech was really relatable for me, thank you so so much!
Congratulations Charlie! You make a great deal of sense. Many jobs in the future are jobs we can't even imagine. :) I've been following you for years, since the Vlogbrothers told me to check you out.
Yesterday (in the abstract sense), I dreamed of wanting to be a journalist or a politician. This, in turn, replaced an earlier dream of being a presenter or a professional musician. Today, all of these still float in my head, as I don't know where to move on to from here. I don't even know what to dream anymore. I seem stuck. That said, Charlie's words on dream collapse here are reassuring, and perhaps offer a glimmer of hope.
This is so important. I've had many dreams, and I'm only 18. When I was little, I wanted to be a hairdresser. When I started doing musicals and got a distinction in Grade 8 Musical Theatre, I wanted to be a director. When I realised that I'm actually kinda clever, I wanted to be a doctor. And now that I've accepted that that won't happen because I'm just not cut out for it, I want to study languages, and go on to do some form of international journalism. Noone took my new "dream" seriously, because everyone thought that being a doctor was better. But guess what? I'm really good at German. I love German. I love Germany. I love everything about the language, the history is fascinating, German literature is incredible, and I'm GOOD at it. And yet, despite having 5 university offers for German, some people still don't take my new dream seriously, because it's new. As if at 18, or any age, a dream has to have been since childhood to be legitimate. There's no point to this, it just frustrates me, and this talk made me think. Thanks, Charlie.
Just tell them that you may study to be a Doctor in Germany (if you want to) and then study German and see if you are still interested in medical things.
I've wanted to become a filmmaker ever since I was a kid and I focussed so much onto it. I KNOW that it is going to be hard, I will graduate next year, but I cannot get my mind off of it, and for some reasons this bugs me. I'm scared of what will happen if I won't make it and however long I'm searching another path I could follow, I cannot find anything I would like as much as filmmaking... very inspiring though, good job
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I remember little Charlie dying his hair red, so beautiful to see him mature into such an articulate and insightful individual.
Wow years ago Charlie would never speak in public! Look where he is. So inspiring!
Darlagayle he has a trophy for speaking in public from 2003
I remember him as shy Charlie and now he's doing this. Honestly he's so inspiring :)
He spoke to larger crowds at vidcon almost every year.
I've been following Charlie since 2010/2011? and it's so inspiring to hear him reflect on all this time. It's really only when I hear others talk about how they've grown that I've realized how much I've grown as well.
Jade Eliot I also watch him since around that time, 2010/2011. It's interesting!
its like this time is stuck, and only the things that are on the internet is remembered I think sometimes
I used to listen to him singing about Doctor Who and Bread. Eight years later, I decide to look up his name and find him doing a TedTalk.
you’re in for a treat now if you look him up again
I really like because it's so honest. I feel like it's so rare to see someone brave enough to speak to a bunch of people about the reality of things.
It's so weird when you're following a dream and you're doing all these things in order to achieve it but then you stop and realise you were too busy working to realise you don't want that dream anymore. Like it seems like an obligation just because that's what you used to want to do...I think that's what Charlie was touching upon and I love this talk, well done☺
Amazing talk. I've always wanted to become a broadway singer but I just began to realize that it's not going to happen in this life time, so I'm trying to move on from that dream. I feel like my parents and the parents of many others in my generation just give us the feeling that we can do and achieve everything even when that's not really possible. The message "You cannot achieve everything you want but that's okay" really resonates with me. Thank you Charlie for talking about this!
Vienna Books I went through this recently as well! Left performing arts college last January, and am so happy that Charlie has brought this up. It's tough feeling like you couldn't achieve something that you were told was possible, but hopefully more people will come to understand the horrible failures and negativity that also comes along with being fixated on a singular and specific dream. Here's to finding our new one, ha! 😊
Vienna Books same here. As a teenager I was convinced I would become a rockstar - and it was very crushing when I realised it wouldn't happen. It annoys me when people who have "achieve their dreams" say that "if you want something bad enough and keep trying it will happen" as that's not actually true! And it implies that if you don't achieve your "dreams" that's it's somehow your own fault
Yikes! Another good lesson to learn is: "Don't base major life decisions on a video you watch on the internet!" Would really suck if it could have happened for you but you gave up because of this video.
Leah O I haven't based my decision on this video, I've been 'unfollowing my dreams' for months now but it was great to hear this talk none the less since it gave me confidence with my decision. But you are right, no one should stop following their dreams because of this or any other video on the Internet.
That's odd I feel the complete opposite I was told growing up to be as realistic as possible, don't do anything creative it won't earn you any money. From my experience society loves talent, and loves to make people believe in over-night success. When the fact is most people who achieve their dream do so by working really really hard for a long time. Casey Neistat said something that stuck with me, to paraphrase "the people who want to achieve their dream will do so because they will die trying." It really spoke to how I wanted to spend my life, and I realized I would rather spend the rest of my life failing at what I love then succeeding at what I hate. Similarly, it's okay to give up on a dream that has changed. Keep singing, if you still love it, but if your dream has just changed then that's okay too. But, don't get discouraged if you think it's too hard, lot's of things in life are hard, so what would you rather be doing? is the best question.
I like how he uses the word 'progress' to replace 'mistake'. Progress is when you notice something's wrong with your life and you move on. In that case it would be a mistake to keep your line. People change careers all the time: engineers become teachers and vice versa. The train will keep moving, but it's never too late to switch tracks.
he got my taste. when people said I should chase my dream , I stressed out. I think I wouldn't enjoy drawing if I aware that what I do is related to my dream or career. I like drawing for fun ,not like for business.
thank you! about two years ago I made the decision to unfollow my childhood dream to become a teacher, even though I was very close to graduation. It just didn't suit me and after living in denial for the first two years of my studies, I finally admitted it. It's scary to do so, but I haven't regretted it for a second!
epsbandy That is such brave thing to do. i wish i could have done the same.
epsbandy I literally am going through this right now. I withdrew from Special Education just 2 weeks ago.
I feel like Charlie and I grew up together through his video blogs. Lovely to see the reflective, intelligent and kind person he is.
I feel like this is going to be one of those videos that I come back to every now and again and remind myself of this goodness. Wise words well spoken. Sometimes I feel like a guinea-pig-millennial-vlogger out here on a limb... then I remember folks like Charlie were out there when there was no path to follow and just judgementalism, passion and a new art form floating around like a big blob of putty in an internet orb. Anyhoo. Big respect. Much appreciations for this.
Nothing but love for Charlie
Charlie! I've been a fan of you since your quite early TH-cam days and I must tell you how proud I am. Some days I really miss the kinds of videos you made a few years ago, and mostly how often you uploaded them, but at the same time I'm really amazed at how far you've come. You are such an inspiration and you have so much of importance to say, I feel lucky for being able to follow your journey. Best wishes and happy holidays!
I agreed with what he's saying.. some people would achieve their dream and be comfortable with it. but theres also people who actually did achieve but not satisfied, or worst, didnt manage to achieve the dream that they have because it is not for them- their personality doesnt fit what they fantasised themself to be. and this could crush their hope. therefore, it is really important to know yourself by heart. and NEVER EVER GIVE up! nothing in life is easy, therefore, work hard. and it will be worth it if you work hard, for things that you love and enjoy doing :)
Thanks for the very wise sharing, Charlie! been a fan since i was in primary school haha.
Cheers from Malaysia!
That last line is key! Yes Charlie! Ten years later we’re all still here and progressing with you.
You've articulated something a lot of people have probably thought but never found the words for. That's a gift. :)
Very well articulated and thoughtful, Charlie. Thank you!
He's such an intellectual and on another level. It's no wonder he's so self-conscious, he's incredibly aware.
This is a valid point and I admire that someone had the guts to present and advocate an idea in public that is potentially received as unacceptable by many audiences. Bravo :)
What a great man and speaker. I will always miss him on TH-cam - but - now that I have seen this, I understand his point of view.
I still find it amazing that Charlie has never had to work at the supermarket or a bar or something just to earn money to go out with his friends, etc. He's never had to have a job he doesn't like for not much money.
I just watched Becoming TH-cam again and I wanted to look Charlie up to see what he’s been up to. I was not disappointed. I love it!
Great talk Charlie - some necessary realism in a world of such vast opportunity.
The Hank Green quote you mentioned reminded me of one of my all-time fav' lyrics: "Rehearsing who we think we are." :)
Powerful speech... I gave up on my dreams of working in a games design company, because I thought it wasn't professional enough, or didn't pay enough. Made me think!
Really liked this, Charlie!
I got super excited when I saw Charlie.. and even more excited when i realized that it's a ted talk video
It's TedX, not quite as legit. Still a good talk though.
Although you claim you were uninspiring I felt very inspired from those 13 minutes. Love you Charlie!
This was incredible, so much sense was spoken, thanks for sharing your words Charlie!
Thanks, Charlie. This resonates with me. My dream was to become a high school music teacher, but in the end pursuing a degree in music wasn't the right fit for me. I was incredibly unhappy in university and began suffering from severe performance anxiety, but I kept at it for five years with no end in sight. I didn't enjoy music like I used to, but I felt like I had to keep trying because it was my "dream" and I would be a disappointment to my mom if i didn't achieve that degree. Meanwhile, outside of school, my volunteer efforts and summer jobs led me in the direction of parks and environmental education. I had no idea that park interpreters existed when I was a teenager, and I'm so lucky to have found this path. It suits me. I finally plucked up the courage to admit to myself and to my mom that a degree in music wasn't right for me and I dropped out. I couldn't be happier with how life is going for me now.
that is cool I too am an environmental educator :)
This is so important!! I realized this last January, and felt as though I was betraying both my friends, family, and mostly myself for not feeling comfortable with my dream anymore. Thank you for sharing this very important message, Charlie! 😊❤️
Such brave words, Charlie! Thank you so much for your perspective. I needed this.
This is something I needed to hear due to recent events in my career. This is such an important message
Such a good point. I never knew what I was going to do but as life happened around me I made my best choices and had disappointments all along the way. Now I’m my 40’s I am kind of in limbo of what my dreams are. Since I never got to follow any dreams of my own for more than 10 years ( a situation, I realize now, I allowed to happen) I am not looking at my life being over. More like it’s just beginning and without the childish hormones getting in my way. I’m free to choose a path and still don’t know yet what will happen. But I know LOVE will guide my steps because that’s all I want to convey to the people around me. To show as many people as I can that they are worthy and deserving of happiness. So they can love themselves.
Maybe you will become a life coach? or a pastor? have you heard of Craig Groschell (Life Church Online Pastor) or Claire Zammit (Life Coach for Feminine Power) these professions help people and share love and teach people worthiness and happiness and loving themselves.
What an amazing talk Charlie! Going into college I wanted to be an anthropologist but I realized halfway through that that dream wasn't working out. I switched majors to Speech Pathology and it was like everything fell into place. Creating new dreams isn't a bad thing!
Great speech, Charlie. I have learned, over these many years, that accepting ones own limitations can be freeing. Keep up the great work, on yourself.....and thank you for sharing.
That's great, absolutely great for an art student like me. I've just finished 3 years at uni and ever since I started I promised myself that I was going to apply to film school and become a director or a showrunner for an amazing tv series. A movie/shows geek like me, perfect dream right? I've always been told to DREAM BIG don't limit yourself ! However, there was always that tiny thought at the back of my head "that's not what you want". 3 months before the entrance exam the thought became louder and louder until I just couldn't repress it anymore. Basically, one night I fell asleep and when I woke up I decided that I wasn't going to apply to film school, well not exactly. I passed the entrance exam for multimedia journalism a month ago, and reconnected with an old dream of mine. I don't want to make films, I want to talk about them. That's my thing, not a huge dream but it's enough, I don't need more and I feel way more comfortable now.
This is amazing and I'm so proud of Charlie! One of the first TH-camrs I ever watched :)
I'm gonna say it, TED talks... not a fan. However, Charlie's talk was excellent; totally worth the listen because of how authentic Charlie presents subject matter. Great talk.
This is absolutely amazing and really makes me think about my life. I could listen to Charlie talk all day
AHHHH!! You're on TEDx talks!!!!
He's made it now!
I hate to be that guy but, It's a TEDx talk.... Anybody can do one
Milo Hempel
But "anybody" is not Charlie McDonnell.
Window4503 true that
Milo Hempel, I've never been asked to do one. Have you?
You are not obligated to follow the dreams you had when you were five years old, so why should your dreams from five years ago, or five months ago, be any different?
The only person you'll definitely always know better than is your past self.
I dunno I still think it would be cool to pursue my dreams as a 5 year old child of being the first ballerina-astronaut in space. :) And do live-streamed dance performances on the moon while collecting space rocks.
@@lemurlover7975 Dude, we had the exact same dream. I was always fascinated by the cosmos and also loved ballet. I spent 14 years on ballet and quit after I realized I had too many health issues that would prevent me from becoming professional. Chose to focus more on my interest in science. Years later I'm wishing I had just kept dancing as a hobby or a side passion, even though I have no intention of pursuing it as a career. I suppose it's not too late to get back into it.
Sometimes canned expectations are not always the path of happiness for everyone. This is reassuring and inspiring. Thank you Charlie for your bravery! Cheers love!!
Thank you for that great talk. As a 58 year-old man (highly gifted, multi-talented underachiever), I got a lot out of it that is helpful to me. Good reminders, and a good conversation for many of us to have with ourselves at certain points in our lives!!
This talk made things more clear in my mind. So many times i've let my old self made choices for me, I just realised this right now. I've got so obsess about achiving a dream, that I didn't have the concious to look around, and wondered if I really want what I was craving for. This is really meaningful for me, thank you Charlie.
Thank you, Charlie.
Great talk! I've recently 'added' another dream. I say 'added' is because I still can't let go of my previous dream. This has been good to listen to so that I no longer think I'm letting go of it but rather, I've moved on and am progressing. Thank you.
Adria de Borja You are under no obligation whatsoever to only ever follow one dream. 🙂
That's true in some cases but in mine it's the career I want to pursue. I haven't fully given the other up; I'm just making it my hobby now. :)
Ten years ago I had a dream to move to Japan and enroll in a Japanese language learning school for at least three months. I still plan on following that dream. It's why I am where I am in my life right now (teaching English at a university in China).
That's awesome!
Ian Hollis I wish you all the best in your journey :D
roses Thank you. :-)
I had the same dream and fulfilled it. Now I'm on to the next dream. Good luck to you!
spj4you Thank you!
This talk hit me in the middle of my final year of high school and I didn't know what to think about it at the time. Now entering my final year of college, I think I've begun to understand what it's about. Four years ago I decided to follow this dream that led me to the end of my degree. Four years is a long time, and over these four years especially I have changed immensely. There are new dreams I want to follow. There are things I'm interested in now that that I didn't know existed four years ago and that I didn't know I was capable of four years ago. And I think I owe it to myself to try those things and find what's the right fit for me now. Thank you for this talk that I needed to hear, Charlie.
I'm just about to start uni after 8 years of giving up on my dreams completely because I was so unwell...now I finally had an operation that's given me a second chance, and I'm terrified in case I fail at my dream...watching this gave me so much comfort and made me feel so much better about walking forward and giving it a go...thank you Charlie
I'm glad you got a second chance :) :)
That was so so good! I really needed to hear that, thanks.
Just completely validated everything I've been going through lately. Needed this.
An important message! Also I can see why you won that trophy when you were twelve Charlie! Well done!! :)
one person doesn't like hearing that their dreams may be unrealistic.
Great talk--glad he gave it.
I have watched Charlie for years and I never thought he would be changing my life in such a strong way. I watched this video a couple of months ago, mostly because I was curious he was in it, and without realising it resonated with me in a really powerful way that set me on a path of change and self discovery. I've had multiple dreams throughout my life and 3 years ago I made a decision that I was going to follow this one thing. But after this long I realised focusing and closing myself like that was making me really unhappy, and ended up affecting everything in my life including my relationship with someone I still really love. Watching this video challenged my perspective of how I was living my life, it unburried things that were deeply hidden in my subconscious. I am still finding exactly what my dream is but as he said 'that's not failure, it's progress'. Thank you for inspiring me like this Charlie and I'm sure you have inspired a lot of people as well.
damn it!! he's right... when you spend so many years trying and can't break trough, you start to think that way... but how do you do that when your dream is the only thing that makes you happy? when it's the only thing that you know how to do, and you know that you'll be happy doing it?
Fascinating and so well articulated. In my opinion dreams are an ideology and all ideologies are extreme and wrong.
We are too focused on what our profession is, to define us. I have had many (weird) careers. Actor, Mentalist/Stage hypnotist, Musician, Programmer, Engineer, VFX artist. The thing is that with all these careers, it never had been my dream! It became my interest, I would absorb all knowledge I can on a subject. And I just got lucky. The only constant is my engineering because it pays the bills (easily).
Some of my IT customers ask me, why someone who has played music with some well known (Dutch) musicians, worked on a Hollywood feature, had a show of his own is or wants to work as a programmer or engineer. Because these other jobs are dream professions.
The thing is, a job is a job! Once you do it long enough, you get bored with it. Some jobs (especially in a small country) don’t provide constant work. Some jobs make it hard to pay the bills.
The only thing you can do is absorb knowledge and experience of things that you like. Share the results of your labour, at the right places that matter, and people will find you!
But don’t make a profession a dream! A professional is a job.
wise
He did it so well, oh my god! I'm so proud.
I love this so much! I used to tend to make decisions based on my very much younger self, but once I cut my hair and auditioned for a musical I felt more free, like I could anything.
I returned to this video after I dropped off one of my passion which I planned it for years and I was in the process doing so. But half of the way I figured out I wasn't in full heart of it. And wasn't sure about it either. I don't know what made me stop. Maybe bad workspace? Bad interactions with my instructor? I was sure of it till I realize the way to chase my dream just wasn't for me. I unfollowed my dream today. I feel somehow glad and yet very uncertain and even afraid (also hinds of sadness) I spent rest of the day pondering what I'll do next but soon realized I was burnt out. The process of achieving my previous dream was more toxic than I thought it would be. This video today really helped me. Gives me strength that this is not a failure but a progress. Thank you Charlie. I've been his subscriber for Idonnohowlong and I know your writing and video experience has combined and you are now a writer for a TV show. You truly inspire me
it¿s so great to hear charlie talking about this, he gave really good advice and honestly it hleped me a lot right now. Thank you so much charlie
Such an important message. Thank you, Charlie!
I was watching and enjoying this talk and then three quarters through the video it hit me that this really applies to me
I so needed to hear this. Thank you Charlie xxx
Great talk! Not just because it's Charlie but because it was overall amazing and just: genuine. 👏🏻👏🏻😊
Loved this talk! The whole conference was amazing!
Proud of you, Charlie!
wow Charlie this opened my eyes, I loved watching you grow as a personality
oh shit. Thank you. I have only just begun to wonder if what I have always dreamed of doing is what I actually want. But I thought I was crazy, I thought that I needed to keep pursuing it, I feel obligated. I'm trapped, and you may have just offered me the rope I need to start my journey out.
Charlie, this talk was so good! Thank you :)
so proud of my boy. very articulate & well thought out.
So amazing to see Charlie and how far he's come! Loved this :)
She's indeed come very far!
Such a great talk, felt very genuine and real
This really resonated with me. Ever since I was a kid I would tell people that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer; specifically a novelist of YA fiction. That's still something I'm interested in, but as I've grown older I've realized how much I enjoy other art forms like music and acting and comedy. I've since broadened my dream to "storytelling" in general, and I hope that one day I can do it professionally, whether it's through sketches, songs, or plays, and I'm much happier for it.
Incredible stuff! Hugely relatable, thanks for this Charlie!
Thanks Charlie!
Well spoken, Charlie!
This is really helpful, cause I found myself in quite the same position as charlie. I always had that dream of being a filmmaker, so I startet studying film making but now that I have opportunities and time to really do it I realized something that I couldn't understand, till I watched this today. I forced myself to follow this dream but always felt like the progress of writing screenplays and storys for my projects was what I really enjoyed. Now I realize just how charlie said, that this dream of being a filmmaker is currently not suitable for who I am today. And maybe I should unfollow my dream and choose something like writing, because it is something more suitable for the type of person I am. Thank you so much charlie, this really opened my eyes. I always felt bad because of this, this video made me feel a lot better. I hope that I can build up the courage to do what I love and enjoy. This speech was really relatable for me, thank you so so much!
Such an interesting and insightful talk, Charlie
that was good . i really needed to hear that.
I totally agree! have been feeling this way for a while.
Congratulations Charlie! You make a great deal of sense. Many jobs in the future are jobs we can't even imagine. :) I've been following you for years, since the Vlogbrothers told me to check you out.
Thank you Charlie, I’m at the stage of struggling whether to follow my ‘old’ dream. Those are word of wisdom ;)
Thank you, Charlie. I needed to hear this. And so do others, I think.
Great talk, makes you think
Thank you, Charlie!
He's so good! I'd love to see him do more serious discussion.
Thank you so much for this charlie, this shows another perspective to everything c:
I really appreciate the message you got across, Charlie.
Great personality, great speech.
Thank you for this, Charlie, it's good to see I'm not the only one with these kinds of ideas on passions and dreams. :)
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed...
I love this. I needed this.
That was amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas with the rest of us!
Thank you for this, Charlie!
unfollow = redirection, if you dont stop...
Awesome talk.
I will have to save Mr Green's quote for my future talks.
Yesterday (in the abstract sense), I dreamed of wanting to be a journalist or a politician. This, in turn, replaced an earlier dream of being a presenter or a professional musician. Today, all of these still float in my head, as I don't know where to move on to from here. I don't even know what to dream anymore. I seem stuck. That said, Charlie's words on dream collapse here are reassuring, and perhaps offer a glimmer of hope.
I am so proud of Charlie!!!
He's come so far
This is so important. I've had many dreams, and I'm only 18. When I was little, I wanted to be a hairdresser. When I started doing musicals and got a distinction in Grade 8 Musical Theatre, I wanted to be a director. When I realised that I'm actually kinda clever, I wanted to be a doctor. And now that I've accepted that that won't happen because I'm just not cut out for it, I want to study languages, and go on to do some form of international journalism.
Noone took my new "dream" seriously, because everyone thought that being a doctor was better. But guess what? I'm really good at German. I love German. I love Germany. I love everything about the language, the history is fascinating, German literature is incredible, and I'm GOOD at it. And yet, despite having 5 university offers for German, some people still don't take my new dream seriously, because it's new. As if at 18, or any age, a dream has to have been since childhood to be legitimate.
There's no point to this, it just frustrates me, and this talk made me think. Thanks, Charlie.
Just tell them that you may study to be a Doctor in Germany (if you want to) and then study German and see if you are still interested in medical things.
I've wanted to become a filmmaker ever since I was a kid and I focussed so much onto it. I KNOW that it is going to be hard, I will graduate next year, but I cannot get my mind off of it, and for some reasons this bugs me. I'm scared of what will happen if I won't make it and however long I'm searching another path I could follow, I cannot find anything I would like as much as filmmaking... very inspiring though, good job
amazing, thanks Charlie.