“Why Most People Are Living Someone Else’s Dream”

CHAPTER 1: THE LIFE THAT WAS NEVER MINE

When I was 7 years old, I told my mother I wanted to be an astronaut. I had drawn rockets on the walls, imagined floating among stars, and memorized every planet in our solar system. She smiled politely and said, “That’s nice, sweetie. But you’ll be a doctor, just like your father.”

And that was it.

The dream shifted—not because I changed my mind, but because I was gently nudged, ever so slightly, off course.

I didn’t question it. Who was I to argue? My dad was respected. My mom was proud. And doctors made money. So, year by year, I stopped looking at the stars and started memorizing textbooks. I passed every exam. I got into med school. I ticked all the right boxes. People clapped. My parents beamed with pride.

But inside? I was hollow.

This isn’t just my story. It’s the quiet tragedy of millions. We’re walking timelines built by someone else, carrying dreams that aren’t ours, chasing goals we never chose.

CHAPTER 2: THE INVISIBLE SCRIPT

From the moment we’re born, a script is handed to us.

It starts with: “Get good grades.”

Then: “Go to college.”

Then: “Get a stable job, buy a house, get married, have kids.”

Who wrote this script? Certainly not you. It's passed down from generations, echoed by teachers, praised by media, enforced by tradition. We call it “being responsible.” But often, it’s just being obedient.

Think about it.

How many people become lawyers because their parents did?

How many marry someone because “they’re a good match on paper”?

How many stay in jobs they hate just for status or security?

We are so afraid of disappointing others that we forget ourselves. We sacrifice curiosity for stability. We swap meaning for money. And slowly, almost imperceptibly, we become spectators in our own lives.

CHAPTER 3: SIGNS YOU’RE LIVING SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM

The thing about living someone else’s dream is—it looks successful from the outside. But on the inside? Something always feels…off.

Here are the subtle signs:

You feel drained, not fulfilled — You’re doing what you’re “supposed” to do, yet every day feels heavier.

You envy people who took risks — Not because they’re lucky, but because they dared.

You lie to yourself — You say things like “It’s not that bad,” or “This is just what adulting is.”

You fantasize about a totally different life — One where you're a writer, traveler, baker, musician.

You fear judgment more than failure — So you play it safe.

If this is you, know this: You’re not broken. You’ve just been conditioned.

CHAPTER 4: THE FEAR FACTOR

Fear is the jailer of your dreams.

Fear of failure.

Fear of starting over.

Fear of what people will think.

Let me tell you about Elena.

She was 38, a high-ranking manager in a tech firm. She made six figures, drove a Tesla, and wore power suits. But she cried in the parking lot every Monday. Her true passion? Wildlife photography.

“But I can’t just leave everything,” she told me. “What would my family say? I’d disappoint everyone. I’d be stupid.”

Stupid?

How did we get to a place where following your true calling is considered foolish, and dying in a cubicle is wise?

Elena eventually took a six-month sabbatical. She traveled across Africa with nothing but a camera and a journal. Today, she’s a National Geographic contributor.

Fear didn’t disappear. She just stopped letting it drive.

CHAPTER 5: BREAKING FREE

So, how do you stop living someone else’s dream and start living your own?

Here’s the hard truth: You have to unlearn almost everything you were taught.

1. Question the origin of your goals

Ask: “Why do I want this?”

If the answer starts with “My parents think…” or “Society says…,” dig deeper.

2. Reconnect with your younger self

Before the expectations. Before the conditioning. What excited you? What came naturally?

3. Make peace with disappointing others

You will disappoint people. But the cost of pleasing everyone is betraying yourself.

4. Experiment with small steps

You don’t need to quit your job today. Start painting again. Write one chapter. Take an online class. Plant the seeds.

5. Redefine success

Not as money or applause, but as alignment. Success is waking up excited about your life.

CHAPTER 6: WHEN IT’S TOO LATE

Let me tell you about Martin.

He was 84, in a care home. I visited him as part of a volunteer program. One day, I asked, “What’s your biggest regret?”

He didn’t even blink.

“I never became a pilot. My dad said it was childish. So I became an accountant. Retired at 65. Had money. But I never flew.”

He looked out the window and said something I’ll never forget:

“Most people think life is long. It’s not. It’s wide. You can live 80 years and never touch your edges.”

CHAPTER 7: THE DREAM WITHIN

You’re not selfish for wanting more. You’re not irresponsible for pivoting. You’re not crazy for refusing to settle.

You’re awakening.

There’s a dream inside you that hasn’t died—it’s just been sleeping under layers of fear, pressure, and practicality. It’s still whispering.

You can quiet it with busyness, drown it with distractions, or dismiss it as fantasy.

But it will keep whispering.

Until one day, it becomes a scream.

The question is—will you listen?

FINAL THOUGHTS

You were not born to fulfill someone else’s expectations. You were born to live fully—to create, to love, to fail, to rise, to explore, to express the unique melody that is yours and yours alone.

This isn’t a dress rehearsal.

You get one shot.

Don’t live someone else’s dream. Live yours.

Cover Design Recap:

Title Font: Bold, clean sans-serif, center top.

Imagery: Split-scene design—on one side, a man in business attire, tired and expressionless. On the other, his shadow as a painter, smiling, vibrant, painting stars on a canvas.

Colors: Muted grays and blues for the current self; bright yellows, oranges, and blues for the dream version.

Symbolism: A road fork or cracked mirror to show dual identity.