"Hay personas que ponen sus sueños en una cajita y dicen, "Sí, tengo sueños, por supuesto que tengo sueños". Luego guardan la caja y la sacan de vez en cuando para mirar dentro, y sí, todavía están ahí."

Some people have this habit of setting their dreams aside, almost like they’re putting them in a box. They say they have dreams—big, shiny ones—but instead of chasing them, they stow them away. Every now and then, they might take a peek to assure themselves those dreams are still there, but that’s about it. They don't do anything to make them a reality.

This way of thinking probably stems from a mix of fear, comfort, and procrastination. Maybe they’re scared of failing. Or perhaps they find their current life good enough and don't want to rock the boat. Sometimes, it’s just easier to dream about the “someday” than to actually start working towards it.

Think about someone who dreams of traveling the world. They gather brochures, read travel blogs, maybe even buy a world map. But they never book a flight. They keep telling themselves they’ll do it “when the time is right” or “after they save a little more money.” Years pass, and they still haven’t gone anywhere. The dream remains neatly packed in that little box, occasionally taken out to be admired but never acted upon.

Now, let's get specific. Take Sarah, for instance. She’s always wanted to open her own bakery. She loves baking, she’s great at it, and all her friends say she should go for it. She daydreams about her shop, designs logos in her head, and even sketches out the interior. But she never takes the plunge. She’s got a stable job, she’s comfortable, and the idea of risking her financial security is daunting. So, she continues working her 9 to 5, and her bakery dreams stay in that figurative box.

If you're finding yourself doing the same, here’s a piece of advice: start small. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. If you dream of writing a book, start with a page a day. If you want to travel, begin by visiting a nearby city. Dip your toes in and see how it feels. It’s easier to keep moving once you’ve started.

Imagine this: You get home from work, and instead of crashing on the couch, you spend 30 minutes working on your dream. A bit each day adds up. Think of a snowball rolling down a hill—it starts tiny, but as it keeps going, it grows bigger and bigger. That’s how your progress can be.

Let me share a little story. My friend Jake was in a similar spot. He had a dream of running a marathon but kept putting it off. He wasn't a runner, and the thought of running 26.2 miles seemed impossible. One day, though, he decided to just start. He ran around the block. It was tough, and he was out of breath, but he did it. The next day, he ran a little more. Fast forward a year, and Jake completed his first marathon. It wasn’t easy, but he took that dream out of the box and made it happen.

So, take your dreams out of the box today. Dust them off, and start working on them. It’s the little steps that lead to the big leaps. Don't let your dreams just be dreams—make them your reality.