I had a dream
I had a dream, and in it, my husband said we should find a pearl. But then, after some contemplation, he said, “Why not let’s look for an oyster, and perhaps we’d find more pearls than we could ever have than just by looking for THAT ONE PEARL.”
We thought about how sound his idea was.
And for the implementation, like how dreams always turn out without explaining whys, I was the only one who was supposed to dive deep into where oysters live. I never even thought about questioning it. I just did, free diving into the open sea, deep into the blue. I’ve never done it in real life, but in dreams, anything is possible.
After some effortless wading into the deep, I finally found where the oysters live. There were many of them, and the options were starting to overwhelm me. What if I pick the one with few pearls in it, worse, nothing in it? But then I started talking myself out of the decision paralysis, saying I needed to learn to trust even when the outcome is uncertain.
And so I did.
After choosing an oyster that’s big enough that two hands can carry, I started to ascend back to the surface, excited for what’s in store, and hurried back to the shore.
I went back to my husband and showed him what I’ve got, and we opened the oyster with anticipation. To my almost disappointment… it didn’t have as many pearls as we had hoped just after we opened the shell. But then… to my almost disbelief… it kept on giving pearls in varied (and even odd) shapes and sizes, blacks and whites.
My husband and I looked at each other and told ourselves that seeking the source of what we want, rather than just zoning in on the thing itself, was the best decision we’d ever made. And as we spoke, the oyster kept giving more pearls than we could ever ask.
When I woke …
After some reflection, thinking about my dream, I realized about how I should move beyond seeking quick and singular victories toward casting a wider net, or more likely, putting our eggs in different baskets. I also thought about the importance of developing trust in my ability to navigate uncertainties and make decisions even when outcomes are not guaranteed. Had I let the decision paralysis overpower me, I might have missed the kind of abundance that doesn’t come from grasping tightly to one opportunity but from courageously exploring the deeper possibilities in life.
jessa 