People Who Constantly Daydream About Starting Over Usually Have These 11 Reasons
They are trying to escape reality, but nothing comes to dreamers but dreams.
Lopolo / Shutterstock It's not uncommon for people to occasionally fantasize about leaving their current life behind and starting over with a fresh start. That might mean moving to a new city, embarking on a new career, or just escaping the daily hustle and bustle and leaving their responsibilities behind. But for some, these thoughts are consistent. They daydream all the time about starting fresh and making new and better decisions.
For people who constantly daydream about starting over, there is something deep inside them that feels dissatisfied with the way their lives have turned out. If only they could take the knowledge they have gained and start again with fresh eyes. But this habit of imagining an alternate reality doesn't always spell complete unhappiness. There are many valid reasons a person might long for a new beginning.
People who constantly daydream about starting over usually have these 11 reasons
1. Their life doesn't match who they truly are
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When you have failed to manifest your dreams, it can leave you feeling trapped in a life you never wanted. Your job, relationship, and lifestyle don't align with the person you have become, and you have trouble just getting up and facing each day, let alone focusing on what's in front of you. So, you drift off into a world of fantasy, imagining what might have been.
When you find yourself daydreaming frequently, you are subconsciously begging and pleading for relief from your humdrum existence. You want to be aligned with who you truly are so that your inner and outer worlds match.
2. They're tired of trying to live up to other people's expectations
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There comes a time in life when you grow tired of trying to be everything to everyone else and have a burning desire to be exactly who you want to be. Family, social, and societal pressures can put a burden on you that is difficult to carry. You invest so much time living for other people that you have nothing left over for yourself.
You daydream about living life on your terms, unconcerned about other people's judgments. You want to be free of the push to conform to the way you are expected to be. Instead of taking decisive action, you simply daydream about what could be possible if you could just be brave enough to hit the brakes and change direction.
3. They are healing from past mistakes
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Regrets can be a big motivator for reinventing yourself. You might have made mistakes in a relationship and lost the love of your life or followed in your parents' footsteps when it came to choosing a career, but now you know exactly who you are and what you want, and wish you could do it all over again from an informed place.
Many of us make significant missteps earlier in life and later discover what would have been a better alternative. We wish we could reverse the hands of time and get a do-over, but we are relegated to dreaming about what we could have been. But it's important to remember that it's never too late to be what you might have been.
4. They are emotionally burned out
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We have all heard stories about people who had hit an emotional wall and walked away from life as they knew it. Before they ghosted everyone and let everything fall apart, it was evident that they hated where they were in life. Eventually, they felt the need to do something drastic to relieve the sense of burnout.
When people are stretched too thin from taking care of other people, being in toxic relationships, or dealing with overwhelming stress, they often think about escaping reality. They want a reset, where the current problems no longer exist, and they can finally find rest and peace without the demands of life.
5. They feel under-stimulated and unchallenged
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The human brain needs challenge and stimulation to improve its cognitive function. It's a use-it-or-lose-it situation, and when our brains don't receive the necessary exercise, dissatisfaction occurs. When we get stuck in monotonous routines and mindless activities, we start to ruminate about what life could be if we had a fresh start.
We want our talents and positive attributes to be recognized and not feel underestimated or ignored, so we dream of being elsewhere, perhaps in a place where we can actively engage our minds and receive the stimulation and challenge that we so desperately crave.
6. They've outgrown their current environment
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As we evolve throughout life, so must the people around us and the place we choose to be. But that natural evolution doesn't always happen altogether. Things that once felt frightening, like friends, relationships, communities, or careers, can start to feel stifling if they don't align with who we have become over time.
You might long for mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional alignment, but are not brave enough to step out of faith. But that doesn't stop you from dreaming of a faraway place where life aligns with your current level of growth and your relationships are equally fulfilling.
7. They want real connection
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You can be lonely in a room full of people. Connection is not just about physical presence. It's also about feeling understood, secure, and like you can be your authentic self around the people you're closest to. In the absence of those things, you feel judged, fear being vulnerable, and long for people and places where you will be unconditionally accepted, but only find them in your dreams.
Loneliness while surrounded by people can lead you to fantasize about going to a new place where no one knows you, allowing you to build relationships from scratch and control the narrative. You want to find people you can connect with and who pour into you, rather than overlooking you.
8. They struggle with anxiety and depression
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For those who battle chronic internal pain like anxiety and severe depression, the idea of picking up and moving away to start a new life can seem like a fix for all of their problems. They feel out of control of the current circumstance and think that if they just had a chance to do things differently, everything would be okay.
They dream about taking the wheel in the driver's seat of their own lives and relieving the suffocation they feel. But in reality, changing circumstances might not be the quick fix to mental health issues that they think it is. The old problems could go away, but quickly be replaced by brand new concerns.
9. Their creativity is starved
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If you are highly imaginative or creative like me, a regular nine-to-five will leave you feeling as if you are missing out on something. You imagine leaving your world behind in search of a new one where you can survive on your artistry alone and only do things that fill you with passion and purpose.
That can totally happen, but realistically, most of us are not in a position to quit our jobs and move to a beach for the rest of our lives. But they say that nothing comes to dreamers but dreams. If you really want to do what you love, you have to find a way to work on your passions with the same dedication you give to your employer.
10. They feel guilty and want to forgive themselves
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Guilt is a heavy burden to bear. You may have done things that negatively impacted a person and can't get over it, no matter how much they say all if forgiven. You fantasize about a life free of the shame of the past, where you can rebuild with a renewed sense of worth and dignity.
This dream comes from the need to be seen in a different light, especially by yourself. You might believe you have burned too many bridges to recover, or feel like the guilt and lack of forgiveness have ruined your reputation, and want to start anew. But running from problems is never the solution. Get professional help and face them head-on, so you don't have to dream anymore.
11. They love the idea of reinvention
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Some people don't ever take action but are addicted to fantasies about new possibilities. It becomes a compulsion that allows them to escape their current existence, even if only temporarily. The dopamine hit that they get from daydreaming about a life they are not brave enough to go after is enough to sustain them until the next time they stare off blankly and disappear from the presence.
These are the kind of people who never take steps toward change but think about it so much that it's a part of daily life. They deal with the feeling of stagnation by thinking about what it would be like to reinvent themselves. But if they really want to find true fulfillment, taking little steps regularly can help to manifest the life they want and stop just dreaming about it.
NyRee Ausler is a writer from Seattle, Washington, and the author of seven books. She focuses on lifestyle and human interest stories that deliver informative and actionable guidance on interpersonal relationships, enlightenment, and self-discovery.
