To understand whether we are falling into the trap of unrealistic, illusory dreams, we should ask ourselves: To what extent do our goals correspond to reality and are truly achievable?

Anchoring Dreams: Pursuing Achievable Goals

To understand whether we are falling into the trap of unrealistic, illusory dreams, we should ask ourselves: To what extent do our goals correspond to reality and are truly achievable?

If we notice that our visions of the future resemble the building of castles in the air rather than the concrete planning of steps to realize them, it may be a sign that we are fixated on fantasies instead of acting in the real world.

For example, one source (source_file: link txt) describes this state:
"A person sits, lies down, or walks, and—as is often colloquially said—thinks. In reality, he is not solving any problem but simply lets his mind wander: 'I’ll go over there, I’ll buy that, I’ll achieve this'—he builds plans, castles in the air, and paints an imaginary future for himself. Why does the elder warn against this? Because when a person’s soul drifts into the unreal world, into the realm of illusions, the devil is right there..."
With this quote, the author underscores the danger of dissolving into dreams that lack a real foundation, and how this can lead to losing touch with what is truly attainable.

Another idea from a different source (source_file: link txt) also makes it clear that if our actions are diverted from a true, important goal, we may find ourselves in constant wandering instead of making progress:
"If, by evading the true goal, we strive for falsely fabricated aims, then all our actions and our entire life will consist solely of constant wandering along crooked paths, an unending chain of mistakes, stumbles, and falls..."
This suggests that a true goal helps us navigate life, and if we become engrossed in unrealistic dreams, our efforts dissipate and fail to bring satisfaction.

Therefore, to assess whether we are clinging to illusory dreams, we need to objectively compare our fantasies with concrete, achievable plans and reality. If the dreams seem distant, unjustified, and are not substantiated by real steps toward their achievement, it is a clear signal that it is time to reexamine our priorities and set goals that are truly attainable.

Supporting citation(s):
"A person sits, lies down, or walks, and—as is often colloquially said—thinks. In reality, he is not solving any problem but simply lets his mind wander: 'I’ll go over there, I’ll buy that, I’ll achieve this'—he builds plans, castles in the air, and paints an imaginary future for himself. Why does the elder warn against this? Because when a person’s soul drifts into the unreal world, into the realm of illusions, the devil is right there and begins to impose his will on the person through these dreams..." (source: link txt)

"But all the individual goals of all our actions must relate to and be subordinate to one main purpose in life... If, by evading the true goal, we strive for falsely fabricated aims, then all our actions and our entire life will consist solely of constant wandering along crooked paths, an unending chain of mistakes, stumbles, and falls..." (source: link txt)