Dreaming in 2D, Living in 7D

Harnessing my newfound motivation for writing, I decided to explore a thought that has lingered in my mind for years: We dream in two dimensions, but reality unfolds in seven.

Hold my coffee, let me break it down.

When we dream and aspire, we focus on the core elements and desired outcomes. We often envision the success, the love, the achievement, but we rarely account for the ambiguities that lie en route and at the destination of the journey.

Most of us have held that innocent belief at some point - the comforting idea that life follows a straight and predictable course: finish school, land that perfect job, find true happiness, meet your soulmate, settle down, and live out your days in bliss. Even our smaller, everyday dreams tend to follow this same linear thinking - ‘If I just put in the work, I’ll reach this goal by that exact age.’ Yet life repeatedly shows us how rarely these straightforward expectations come true. It’s not that reality is harsh - it’s simply that life unfolds by its own rules, not ours. Things are what they are, not what we imagine them to be.

I still remember the excitement of graduating from pencils to pens in nursery school - using a pen felt like the ultimate rite of passage. But little did my young mind know that ink came with permanent consequences - that mistakes would no longer disappear with an eraser’s swipe.

So, how do we adjust our hopes when reality is more complicated than we imagined? —when you’re passed over for a promotion, when a job opportunity vanishes, or when a health diagnosis changes everything.

There are no easy answers, but here are a few things that have helped me along the way.

I’ve come to understand that life isn’t about selecting the perfect path - it’s about learning to welcome the uncertainties that inevitably arise. No meaningful journey comes without unexpected challenges. That’s why we need to move beyond simplistic, two-dimensional thinking and cultivate resilience. When career changes, personal setbacks, or moments of doubt appear (as they always do), flexibility becomes our greatest strength - the antidote to disappointment. And just like ink on paper, some choices leave marks that last but permanence doesn’t mean failure - even a smudge can become part of the artwork, if you learn to weave your stumbles into the story.

Lastly, forget the pressure to hit milestones by specific ages. Instead, focus on nurturing good values and habits. They’ll help you steer through the ever-changing landscapes of your journey.

The beauty lies not in controlling the journey, but in learning to dance within its chaos. After all, the most profound stories are never straight lines; they’re rich, messy, and multidimensional – Just like reality.

Thank you for reading.