Setting Goals or Setting Yourself up for Disappointment?

If you're have this intense urge to do something, and you daydream about it, is it a passion or a fantasy? Does it make a difference if you've made plans about how to make it happen?  What if you have started doing it or have started learning how to do it? Does that mean you're more serious about it? 

I'm playing around with this idea of a passion to do something versus an unrealistic fantasy about what it's actually like to do that "something." 

I see people who have a goal or vision about what they want to be, in contrast to their current situation. Some, in my eyes, have completely unrealistic goals. To me, it's clearly a fantasy. Others have realistic goals (but big ones) and are going to need to do a lot of work to get there. 

So, how do I know if I truly have a passion, or if I'm living in fantasyland? 

Here are two examples:

1.  Person A is a junior high student who is sure he's going to be on a major league baseball team some day soon. He knows all the major and minor players, attends training camps for kids, plays ball whenever the team plays.  But, he's an average player.  There's no true talent there.  He loves watching the game.  He does practice - as much as everyone else.  He's a nice kid, and thinks he's "hot stuff."  He has no plans to learn any other trade.  His parents always make sure he has the best equipment and cheer his every move. Baseball is all he ever dreams about.

2.  Person B is a stay-at-home mom who wants to be a writer.  She arranges babysitters occasionally, so she can attend conferences when her budget permits (not often.) She has scheduled writing time every day, and usually sticks to it. Just recently, she set up a website with writing samples.  She isn't sure if she has talent, but her friends love her chick lit and keep begging for more.  Already, she has finished three short novels and has gotten the attention of an agent or two.  She hasn't been published, and the agents ultimately returned her manuscripts. She doesn't read all the writing books or hang out at online message boards for writers, but she does write a lot.  And, she thinks she has improved over time.  She daydreams about having a book signing and saying "My agent said . . . "


Aside from the fact that it is statistically easier to get a book published than to become a pro baseball player (I'm assuming that, of course, but I'm pretty sure it's true) are they both passionate people who can go all the way?  I think it's possible, but I also think that both people could be living in a bit of a fantasyland. 

To take that fantasy and make it a reality, you need to have the passion (I think they both do.)  You also need to know what it takes to make it.  It's possible that they both don't know that.  They both need to study their intended "field of dreams" and find out what else they need to do to make it. 

As you might have guessed, I'm tossing this about in my mind to figure out where I fit in.  After laying out on this blog, I think I know where I fit in.  I am passionate about writing.  I'm not a "natural," but I know what it takes (I think!!) to make it.  I'm willing to put in the hard work, but I sure do enjoy dreaming about the success.