绘制梦想的地图：梦你所想，方得始终
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老桑说
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「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。」
老桑在美国哲学学会地图展览
我们每个人都会在睡觉时做梦 。但是，你的梦境是否清晰呢？成功人士是这样为了超越自我而付出努力的：他们有远大的梦想，把这个梦想转变成一个更具体的小目标，规划出实现愿景的路线图，之后再通过实施计划来遵从路线的方向——一步一个脚印。
我最近访问了美国哲学学会博物馆，它位于费城的国家独立历史公园。这个由本杰明·富兰克林于1743年创建的社团，在美国的文化和智识生活中扮演了重要的角色。社团成员们在推动人文科学发展的理想中相互支持。
美国哲学学会图书馆
“拥有梦想”是踏上这段旅程的第一步——这看上去似乎很容易，但也可能相当困难。每次当我们想要尝试的时候，总会有很多声音浮现出来squelch（压倒）我们的梦想。例如，其他人会阻止我们。他们可能对我们另有安排，或者他们认为知道什么对我们最好。如果我们的梦想在他们看来很荒谬，他们可能会告诉我们应该“实际点”，把我们拉回到现实之中。
然后我们也会因为各种借口而扼杀了自己的梦想。如果我们想创业，我们认为自己没有足够的资金。如果我们想出国留学，我们认为自己的英语不够好。如果我们想交朋友，我们会找自己的缺点，认为配不上别人。无论真假与否，我们都忽视了自己的梦想。
即使我们能够过滤掉这些消极的声音，内心中的借口也会成为一种障碍，给予我们善意的建议：要实际；务实；充满现实主义色彩。“找份工作，努力奋斗，直到退休。”
美国哲学学会主楼
然而，追随梦想并不意味着拒绝他人的建议。考虑他们的建议是一回事，但遵循他们的建议又是另一回事。我们还需要倾听理性的声音。但是，首先要试着“清空消极情绪”，允许自己有更宏大的构想。你也可以稍等片刻后再回来思考，如何在规划路线图并实施想法时trim（修正）自己的愿景。
我曾经的一位老师认为，梦想就像是做一位疯狂科学家，进行着unabashed（大胆）而雄心勃勃的实验。他们不允许让传统惯例限制了自我。而他们的实验，一旦通过了科学审查环节，往往会产生令人惊讶的结果，从而在该领域做出巨大的贡献。梦想的实现也是一个类似的过程。
我们做个练习。看看你将如何回答这些问题?
你想从生活中得到什么?
你的梦想是什么?
思考一下。即使你认为它们是愚蠢的，也应该尝试着把自己的答案写下来。列一个清单。在继续阅读本文之前，请花5分钟(或更长时间)来回答这些问题。写的快一些，不要想太多。在列清单时，不要分析或纠正自己的答案。花些时间，想一想。写完后再来查看下面的内容。
你从生活中想要得到什么？我想要________。
欢迎回来。做梦是什么感觉？对许多人来说，这是非常困难的。我们经常说，“我想要X，但是……我也想要Y，但是……”一次又一次，每当我们有了灵感，“是”就变成了“不是”，因为我们总是会陷入了一大堆事项的考虑之中。下面是一些例子:
我想创业，但是我没有资金。
我想出国留学，但我不会说英语。
我想交新朋友，但是我不够有趣。
我想要_____，但_____。
诸如此类的还有很多。本练习的目的，即使只需花一点时间，也无需考虑“but”的部分。继续做你想做的。例如:
我想创业，希望创建一个成功的网店，这样我就可以实现经济独立。
我想出国留学，在美国获得学位，这样我就可以使我的视野全球化并增加就业的选择空间。
我想结交新朋友，在生活中体验更高的成就感，这样我就可以和别人分享我的生活经历。
我想要______，希望能______，所以我可以______。
这是一个走出舒适区的方法。与其放弃你的梦想，不如给它们一个理由，因为这将为下一步做准备，为你的梦想绘制一张路线图。
在现实中，没有所谓的舒适区。其实生活在舒适区比追随梦想要困难得多，因为舒适区只是一种illusion（幻觉），但我们的梦想却是真实的。
美国哲学学会博物馆最近举办的展览《地图的历史：塑造早期的美利坚共和国》(Mapping a Nation: Shaping the Early American Republic)，展示了该学会广泛收藏的早期美国地图。这次展览显示出地图绘制者如何为美国塑造国家认同的历程。
地图的历史展览
这次展览的一个关键之处在于，地图不仅反映了当前的地理现实，还隐含着对未来的展望。通过绘制新的地图、教育公民、确定边界，地图的制作者其实是在塑造这个国家。地图帮助美国公民把国家看成是统一的整体，而不是分裂的。同时地图还描绘着国家进步的愿景。
美国袖珍地图集 (1801)
例如，一幅1816年绘制的美国地图吸引了我的注意，那张地图上有英国和西班牙contiguous（相邻的）领地。这位地图绘制者设想美国对殖民持开放态度，将当时的欧洲领土最小化。1816年，这幅地图第一次明确宣称美国的领土从一片海洋延伸至另一片海洋。并且他们是在真正了解事实之前就把它描绘出来了。
1816年绘制的美国地图
这张1816年的地图设想了一个宏大的图景。但这一愿景还是花了数十年时间才成为现实。亚利桑那州是最后一个加入联邦的州，它直到1912年才成为一个州。
早期美国地图
绘制地图的人并不关心这些障碍。他们从不同的来源收集信息，划定疆界，然后利用这些地图开展他们的业务不断进步和扩张。地图反映了他们的梦想，指引他们前进。
地球仪和袖珍指南针
你也可以同样的事。不要说：“我想创业，但我没有足够的资金”，你可以说：“我想创业，我要和其他创业过的人谈谈，看看我怎样才能低成本创业，或者获得一些资金支持。”当你从不同的来源收集信息时，就可以绘制出属于自己的地图，从当下所处的位置开始一直延伸到梦想实现之时。
回到上面的梦想测试。思考一下关于你想从生活中得到什么的问题答案。需要怎样绘制属于自己的地图才能让你如愿以偿到达梦想的终点呢？你应该允许自己想的更长远。当然你可以在之后开始着手实施时调整自己的愿望和计划。
你的地图可以是一系列要做的事情，一条时间轴、一张图表、一份图案设计或是一些组合。你可以运用最适合自己的方式。然后，可以设想一个计划，其中包含执行该计划的操作步骤。
华盛顿家庭 (1789-96)
一个高中生曾经告诉我他想从生活中得到的事物。他的梦想是成为美国总统。他还绘制了一幅实现自己梦想的地图：完成国际商学和政治学本科课程，接着是到法学院学习、参与地方政治活动、在华盛顿特区暑期实习、在美国陆军服役，以及参加社区服务。他显然对自己的梦想思考了很多——以及如何去实现它。
大胆假设,小心求证。但不能反其道行之。先从大到小，再从小到大。
”美国哲学学会图书馆外景
我的朋友，允许自己有梦想是实现你在生活中所希望拥有的事物过程的一部分。让你的梦想塑造视野，然后为你的未来绘制一张地图。予它以名目，告之以誓言，并相信它。梦想可以成真，因为开拓与执行自己筹划的方案终将带你走到梦想的终点。
本文部分图片来源网络。
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英文版
English
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If you can dream it, you can do it
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「 Hello, my friend！
I'm John Smagula. 」
We all dream during our sleep. But, have you ever dreamed with your eyes wide open? This is what successful people do to go beyond limitations: they dream big, convert that dream to a more tangible vision, create a map to achieve that vision, and then implement a plan to follow that map—persevering one step at a time.
I recently visited the American Philosophical Society Museum, located in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. This society, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life. The members supported each other in their dreams to advance the humanities and sciences.
American Philosophical Society Library
The first step on this journey—dreaming—seems easy but can be quite difficult. Each time we try, many voices will surface to squelch our dreams. For example, other people will discourage us. They may have other plans for us, or they may just think they know what’s best for us. If our dreams seem ridiculous to them, they may tell us to “get real” and come back down to earth.
And then we sometimes extinguish our own dreams, coming up with all manner of excuses. If we want to build a business, we’ll say we don’t have enough money. If we want to study abroad, we’ll say our English isn’t good enough. If we want to make friends, we’ll find fault with ourselves and say why we’re not worthy. True or not, we dismiss our own dreams.
Even if we get beyond these negative voices, our reasoning also gets in the way, giving us this well-intentioned advice: be practical; be pragmatic; be realistic. “Get a job, work hard, retire.”
American Philosophical Society main building
To follow your dream, though, does not mean to discard others’ suggestions. One thing is to consider their advice, but it’s quite another to follow it. We also need to listen to reason. But first try to “empty out the negative” and allow yourself to think big. You can come back later and trim your vision down when you create your map and implementation plan.
I once had a teacher who said dreaming is like being a mad scientist, one who carries out unabashedly ambitious experiments. They do not let conventional practices restrict them. Their experiments, once they pass through channels of scientific scrutiny, often result in surprising results that make great contributions to the field. Dreaming is a similar process.
Let’s do an exercise here. How would you answer these questions?
What do you want from life?
What are your dreams?
Think about it. Write your answers down, even if you think they are foolish. Make a list. Before you continue reading this article, spend five minutes (or more) answering these questions for yourself. Write quickly and don’t think too much. Don’t analyze or edit yourself as you make your list. Take the time. Think it over. I’ll still be here when you’re done.
What do you want from life? I want ____________.
Welcome back. How did it feel to dream? For many, it is very difficult. We often say, “I want X, but…; I want Y, but…”. Over and over, each time we have an inspiration, that “yes” becomes a “no,” as we get bogged down in a whole host of considerations. Here are some examples:
I want to start a business, but I have no money.
I want to study abroad, but I can’t speak English.
I want to make new friends, but I’m just not interesting enough.
I want ______, but ______.
And on and on. For purposes of this exercise, if only for a moment, don’t think about the “but” part. Just keep going with what you want. For example:
I want to start a business, to build a successful online store, so I could become financially independent.
I want to study abroad, to earn a degree in the United States, so I can globalize my perspective and improve my employment options.
I want to make new friends, to experience a higher fulfillment in life, so I can share my life experiences with others.
I want to ______, to ______, so I can ______.
This is one way to step out of your comfort zone. Rather than discard your dreams, give reason to them, as this will prepare you for the next step, to create a map to your dream.
In reality, there is no such thing as a comfort zone. It is much more difficult to try to live in a comfort zone than it is to follow our dreams, because the comfort zone is only an illusion, but our dreams are real.
The American Philosophical Society Museum’s current exhibit, Mapping a Nation: Shaping the Early American Republic, featured early American maps from the society’s extensive collection. The exhibit demonstrated how mapmakers fashioned a national identity for the United States.
Mapping a Nation exhibit
A key message of this exhibit is that maps not only reflect the current geographic reality, they also project visions for the future. By creating new maps, educating citizens, and drawing borders, mapmakers gave shape to the nation. Maps helped citizens of the new nation see the states as united, rather than separate. The vision of national progress was portrayed by maps.
Celestial Globe
For example, an 1816 map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish possessions captured my attention. The mapmaker envisioned America as open for settlement, minimizing European territories then present. In 1816, this map was the first to explicitly claim that the United States extended from sea to sea. They mapped it before it actually happened.
Map of Lewis and Clark's Track (1814)
This 1816 map set forth a big vision. It still took decades for the vision to become reality. Arizona, the last territory to join the union, did not become a state until 1912.
The mapmakers were not concerned with the obstacles. They collected information from various sources, drew the boundaries, and then used these maps to go about their business of progress and expansion. The map reflected their dream and guided them forward.
Expedition from Canada (1780)
You can do the same. Rather than say “I want to start a business, but I don’t have enough money,” you can say, “I want to start a business, I’m going to talk to others who did, and see how I can start low-cost or get some financial support.” As you collect information from different sources, you can draw your map, from where you are now to where you dream to be.
Go back to the dream exercise above. Think about your answers to my questions on what you want from life. How can you draw a map to get there? Allow yourself to think big. You can adjust your vision and plan later as you begin to implement it.
Your map can be a list of things to do, a timeline, a chart, a graphic design, or some combination. Use whatever form works best for you. Then, you can create a plan with action steps to carry it out.
Map of Lewis and Clark's Track (1814)
A high school student once told me what he wanted from life. His dream was to be U.S. president. And he had created a map to get there: undergraduate studies in international business and political science, followed by law school, local political campaign involvement, summer internships in Washington DC, time in the U.S. Army, and community service. He clearly had thought a lot about his dream—and how to achieve it.
Plan boldly first, and then carefully verify the details next. It should not be the other way around. Think from big to small first, then from small to big.
”American Philosophical Society
main building
My friend, allowing yourself to dream is part of the process to achieve what you want in life. Let your dream shape your vision, and then create a map toward your future. Name it, claim it, and believe it. Dreams can come true, and creating and following your map will get you there.
{ 今日英文速记卡 }
1.Squelch \ ˈskwelch \
a)含义：v. 消除；压碎
b)例句：
i.Each time we try, many voices will surface to squelch our dreams.
每次当我们想要尝试的时候，总会有很多声音浮现出来压倒我们的梦想。
ii.But now was the time to squelch him.
不过，现在是压倒他的时候了。
c)近义词： crush, silence, squash
2.Trim \ ˈtrim \
a)含义：v. 修饰；调整
b)例句：
i.You can come back later and trim your vision down when you create your map and implementation plan.
你也可以稍等片刻后再回来思考，如何在规划路线图并实施想法时修正自己的愿景。
ii.After your initial brainstorm, you may want to trim it down.
在你最初的灵光一现后，你可能会想修改它们。
c)近义词：clip, cut, shear
3.Unabashed \ ˌən-ə-ˈbasht \
a)含义：adj. 不害羞的；不畏惧的
b)例句：
i.I once had a teacher who said dreaming is like being a mad scientist, one who carries out unabashedly ambitious experiments.
我曾经有一个老师认为，梦想就像是做一位疯狂科学家，进行着大胆而雄心勃勃的实验。
ii.He seems unabashed by his recent defeat.
他似乎对最近的失利并不在乎。
c)近义词：shameless, unblushing, unembarassed
4.Illusion \ i-ˈlü-zhən \
a)含义：n. 幻觉；错觉
b)例句：
i.It is much more difficult to try to live in a comfort zone than it is to follow our dreams, because the comfort zone is only an illusion, but our dreams are real.
其实生活在舒适区比追随梦想要困难得多，因为舒适区只是一种幻觉，但我们的梦想却是真实的。
ii.She is not particularly tall, but her slim figure gives an illusion of height.
她长得并不特别高，但是她身材瘦，给人一种个子高的错觉。
c)近义词： misbelief, misconception, myth
5.Contiguous \ kən-ˈti-gyə-wəs \
a)含义：adj. 连续的；临近的
b)例句：
i.For example, an 1816 map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish possessions captured my attention.
例如，一幅1816年绘制的美国地图吸引了我的注意，那张地图上有英国和西班牙相邻的领地。
ii.The countries are contiguous.
这些国家互相接壤。
c)近义词：abutting, adjacent, bordering
Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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