Songs to Live By: Carly Simon (Stuff that Dreams are Made of)

Sometimes my clients find that their current career path is actually pretty close to what they need to be doing. They realize, during our coaching sessions, that they have actually steered themselves in the right direction, but just need a few tweaks to make their careers and lives fulfilling.

Whenever this happens, I'm reminded of a song I sang in a benefit cabaret several years ago.  The show was entitled "Reflections on Life and Love," and this song, written and originally performed by Carly Simon, remains one of my favorites to this day.

Although Ms. Simon writes about rekindling a romantic love, I think the lyrics resonate beyond that. The song can remind us of the fact that what we have-in many aspects of our life- is sometimes exactly what we truly need. Perhaps we are right where we should be, even though it isn't exactly the exciting image we'd originally envisioned and dreamed up for ourselves.

In fact, when we stop and think about the achievements we've made, the relationships we've fostered and the people we've become, we realize that our lives are actually fuller and richer than the dreams we once conceived.

Perhaps we just have to "adjust the tuning" to invigorate ourselves once again.

"It's the Stuff that Dreams are Made Of"

by Carly Simon

Take a look around now

Change the direction

Adjust the tuning

Try a new translation

Don't look at your man in the same old way

Take a new picture

Just because you don't see shooting stars

Doesn't mean it isn't perfect

Can't you see...

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

So what's this about your best friend?

She's got a brand new shiny boy

And they're moving out to Malibu

To play with all his pretty toys

And you feel closed in by the same four walls

The same old conversation

With the same old guy you've know for years

But use your imagination

And you will see....

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's the slow and steady fire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

It's your heart and soul's desire

It's the stuff that dreams are made of

What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale

Is right here in disguise

And what if the stars you've been reaching so high for

Are shining in his eyes

Don't look at yourself in the same old way

Take another picture

Shoot the stars off in your own backyard

Don't look any further

And you will see

It's the stuff that dreams are made of....

Check out the video!