Dreamers vs. Doers

I am a dreamer, or I like the term, thinker, so I spend a lot of time living in my head. The world would have us believe that acting or doing is the way to be. I wish I had more of a balance, but honestly there is nothing at all wrong with being a thinker. We are often more content in being - just being and not as easily swayed by the trappings of the world. Doers are movers and shakers, grinders; they make stuff happen. Thinkers are big picture people, they are more sensitive to the universe; they know what is going to happen. Both types of people may deal with negative internal influences. Actors/doers don't usually like to be alone, because thinking about past occurrences can be painful. Thinkers want to be alone, so they can protect themselves from the pain of outside entities. Most highly "successful" people are balanced.

President Barack Obama has a proclivity toward being a thinker. It took us awhile to get use to his deliberative speech pattern and many are annoyed by his unwillingness to act in the case of foreign affairs. As a country, we decided that we did not want more war, so we elected a thinker to be our president, but not everyone is comfortable with that. People want him to do something. He is a big picture person and doesn't feel forced into immediate action, especially when that action could possibly run contrary to his future desired outcome. He enjoys personal time reading and with his immediate family.He has been chastised for not being social enough, not schmoozing with his cohorts,  but he is unwilling to reduce his office to a popularity contest. He believes people should do what is right because it is right. That is how thinkers behave. But doers know that other doers have huge egos that need daily strokes, and it is the doers, grinders, hustlers that make things happen; sleazy or not people perceive them as getting the job done. Now, surely President Obama has worked hard and done a lot to become the lead actor on the world's stage. However his actions are based on his internal compass, pure and not for the sake of busy work or pointing to "look what I did." Most dreamers are also awesome "performers"; hence, the awe inspiring speeches. But that isn't who we are; it is a talent that we turn on, and then sigh when it's over and resume where we left off in our real lives. In a nutshell, thinkers will do everything within their power to save the earth for future generations; doers will lie in bed with the oil, coal and fracking industry, if when they get up, everyone is a little more green.

Oprah Winfrey is a doer. She is social, loves to throw big parties and host guests, but doers are not naturally the best "performers". They are more comfortable in their skin and do not adapt well to turning on and then turning off. That is why everyone is so comfortable sitting and talking with Oprah; she is being herself and not "performing." Oprah makes things happen; builds a school in Africa, starts her own network, introduces America to the next POTUS. Oprah is a self made billionaire because she is brilliant and business savvy. But Oprah recognized early on in order to keep herself out of the muck and mire of people who will utilize any means to get to their desired end, she had to surround herself with dreamers; Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Inyanla Vanzant, President Barack Obama. Again, the most successful people have a balance. Oprah embraces her role as a doer, and strives to create balance internally and externally.

Musical genius comes from dreamers/thinkers. For example, Prince and Michael Jackson. They are ahead of their time when it comes to creating and they give the best performances. However, they are extremely hesitant, even shy and often misunderstood when it comes to giving personal interviews or just sitting and talking with small groups of people that are unfamiliar. Dr. Dre and Diddy are doers. They smell opportunity and seize it. Doers often criticize and even take advantage of thinkers. They see them as lazy, inept, unable to take the necessary steps to get from A to desired B. So, they usher dreamers into the arena of "success" as managers, producers, agents, and publishers. Thinkers pass judgement on doers and find them morally bankrupt, self-serving, and manipulative. Thinkers know that without their art, there would be nothing to "sell", and because they see their art as a part of their being, they sometimes feel exploited and often are. But in the end both parties are needed!

If you are not rich nor famous, many thinkers are looked at as odd, unwilling to work hard, and do what it takes to get ahead. They are sometimes loners, misunderstood, and they question their own inability to be like "everyone" else. The world tells us that we should have places to go, people to see, posts and pics on social media. But being a dreamer is okay. Actually, it is awesome the more in tune you become with self. The key is for dreamers to realize who 

they are and what they should be doing will happen naturally. Doers who have not hit it big are in an equally precarious position. They are the people always doing something. The people we see coming and just want to yell, STOP! But they cannot. They always have a business, a hustle, and 2.5 jobs. All of their endeavors don't seem completely on the up and up, but you will see their pics and posts on social media here, there and everywhere. The key for doers is the same as dreamers; realize who you are and the what you should be doing will become clear. Knowing who we are is as important for what we lack as it is for what we have in abundance. Acknowledge the need for balance through self discovery, acceptance, and positive outside influences. Allow God to introduce you to you and fall head over heels in love! Then dream big and for goodness sake, do something!