Finding Your North Star: Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

“There are two kinds of people in this world—those who are always getting ready to do something, and those who go ahead and do it.”— Marcus Garvey

Finding Your North Star: Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

We all stand at a crossroads in life—caught between thinking and doing. Some people spend their lives preparing, dreaming, and planning, waiting for the perfect moment to take action. Others dive in headfirst, understanding that the only way to figure things out is by doing.

But life is more than just a series of actions. It’s about meaning—in success, in failure, and even in suffering.

The Two Kinds of People: Dreamers vs. Doers

Garvey’s words paint a vivid picture of life’s dichotomy.

• Dreamers are the ones who constantly prepare but never leap. They love the idea of success but hesitate to confront the messy, unpredictable reality of taking action. Fear of failure or imperfection keeps them rooted in place.

• Doers, on the other hand, know that action creates clarity. They move forward despite uncertainty, learning and growing as they go. For them, mistakes aren’t the enemy—they’re part of the process. Finding Your North Star: Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

  
  

✅ Dreamers ask, “What if I fail?”

✅ Doers ask, “What if I never try?”

The truth is, you don’t know who you are until you know who you’re not.

Suffering as a Compass: Finding Meaning in the Struggle

If there’s meaning in life, there must be meaning in suffering too. Life isn’t just about achieving goals or ticking boxes—it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be. And that often happens through struggle, failure, and discomfort.

Think about it:

• You discover resilience when life knocks you down.

• You uncover your strength when you’re pushed to your limits.

• You find your purpose when you confront pain and emerge wiser.

  
  

Suffering strips away the unnecessary, revealing what truly matters. It teaches you what you’re not—you’re not someone who gives up, you’re not defined by failure, and you’re not someone who settles for less than they deserve.

When you embrace the struggles that come with pursuing your dreams, you discover who you are at your core.

What’s Your North Star?

In life, everyone needs a North Star—a guiding force that keeps them moving forward when the path gets tough. Your North Star is that unshakable vision, the why behind everything you do.

✨ It’s what gives your actions meaning.

✨ It’s what turns suffering into growth.

✨ It’s what helps you rise after every fall.

Without a North Star, it’s easy to drift. You can be busy but feel unfulfilled, constantly moving but going nowhere. But when you align your actions with your purpose, even the hardest moments have value.

How to Find Your North Star

1. Reflect on What Matters Most: What ignites your passion? What problem do you feel called to solve?

2. Identify Who You’re Not: Define the things that don’t align with your values. Knowing what you’re not helps you stay true to yourself.

3. Embrace Discomfort as a Teacher: Recognize that the hard moments are shaping you into who you’re meant to be.

   
   

Taking Action: Stop Preparing, Start Doing

If you’ve been stuck in planning mode, waiting for the “perfect time,” ask yourself:

👉 What’s holding me back?

👉 Am I afraid of failure or uncertainty?

👉 What will I miss out on if I never start?

The only way to grow, to discover your potential, and to find meaning is by moving forward. Action beats hesitation every time.

✅ Dreamers wait. Doers create.

✅ Dreamers analyze. Doers learn by doing.

✅ Dreamers fear failure. Doers see failure as feedback.

Final Thoughts: Who Will You Choose to Be?

Life offers two paths—getting ready or getting going. You can spend your days dreaming about the life you want, or you can start building it. And when you align your actions with your North Star, even the toughest moments will lead you closer to the person you’re destined to become.

So, what’s it going to be?

Will you keep getting ready? Or will you go ahead and do it?

💡 What’s one thing you’ve been waiting to start? Drop it in the comments and commit to taking action today!