Are You Chasing a Dream That Was Never Yours?
- Silvana La Pegna
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Ever worked hard toward something…
only to feel strangely unenthusiastic when you got close?
There’s a reason.
Studies in motivational psychology show that when your goals don’t line up with what you really value, your brain produces less dopamine-even if you succeed.
And dopamine matters.
It’s the chemical behind motivation, momentum, and that quiet little hit of:
“Yes. This matters.”
But here’s the catch, dopamine is values-driven.
If your nervous system doesn’t register the goal as meaningful to you, the boost won’t come. No matter how impressive the win looks on paper.
Maybe what you were chasing wasn’t yours to begin with.
Maybe it came from your parent’s version of success.
Maybe from a mentor you admired.
Maybe from a past version of you that you’ve simply outgrown.
Why This Happens
Your brain is brilliant at adapting to social approval.
You can internalise other people’s expectations so deeply they feel like your own…
until your soul starts to push back.
How does that pushback show up?
You feel disconnected from your goals
You procrastinate but can’t explain why
You change direction again and again, hoping to feel something
You can’t get inspired-because you’re not building something that fits
You feel you’re blocked.
But the truth is that path was never meant to lead you home.
What to Notice
If you’ve been working hard but still feel off-track, maybe ask yourself:
“Is this really my dream… or just the one I thought I should want?”
And if that question hits a nerve-good.
That’s clarity letting you know… you’re ready to choose again.
And this time, choose something that actually fits you.
Ready to reconnect with a vision that actually fits?
Awaken Your Vision is a guided experience to help you uncover what your soul really wants and create the kind of clarity that doesn’t fade.
If your current path feels like a borrowed one, this is where you begin again.
