Every morning, many of us wake up, go to work, pay bills, and repeat the cycle. We don’t think of the dreams we once had as children anymore. Why? They have been buried beneath the weight of responsibilities. 

But here’s the question I would like us to consider: Are we truly living, or just paying bills?

1. The Survival Mode

Society and our upbringing have conditioned us with the mindset: go to school, get a job, pay bills, retire, and you can hopefully live happily ever after.

And then, adulthood sets in: piled-up bills, rents, and loans. The dreams we once had have slowly slipped into the background.

Research shows that this isn’t just a phase but a human experience. It isn’t limited by age. Whether you’re 22 or 54, the question remains:

What happened to that dreamer inside us?

That dreamer may be quiet now, but they’re not gone. Life may have buried them under routines and responsibilities, but the spark is still there waiting to be reignited.

2. We Weren’t Born Just to Pay Bills

There is more to life than our paychecks and even our to-do lists.

I’ve realized I, too, have been living by that same script. I allowed the responsibilities of life to keep me in survival mode.

Those childhood dreams and visions we once held aren’t gone; they’re still there waiting to be reignited.

No, we don’t need to abandon everything to chase a dream. But we do need to move beyond survival mode if we want to truly start living.

So, where do we go from here?

3. We Can Still Find Our Way Back to What Matters

We’ve been in survival mode for too long. It’s time to reconnect with what truly matters.

We can reconnect with our dreams and reignite the spark.
Ask:

• What brings me joy beyond survival?
  
• What positive activity did I once enjoy but have stopped doing
  
• What’s one small step I can take toward that again?
  
•  

Even small progress is powerful. Dedicating just a few minutes daily to what fuels you can shift everything.

Our dreams aren’t gone — they’re just quiet, waiting for us to listen again.

4. You’re Not Alone in This

Responsibilities are real and can’t be denied. Many of us feel stuck, tired, and disconnected from what we truly want.

A few years ago, I found myself in that exact place, unfulfilled, disconnected, and merely existing. After deep reflections, I embarked on a journey of rediscovery.

As a child, I loved writing just for the fun of it. So I asked myself:

Why not begin writing again?

That’s how evolvingwithcheta was born.

Moment of Reflection

Yes, responsibilities are real.
But so is the part of us that truly longs to live, with passion, purpose, and meaning.

So…

Start re-evaluating your life, and note what changes you need to make. 

It’s time to stop going through the motions and start living beyond survival mode

The world requires us to embrace our lives fully, not merely exist.

Start Now. Start Small. Just Don’t Stop.

You can share this with someone who might need to hear it. You never know who you might inspire to live again.

I would love to hear how this post resonated with you in the comments.