Achieve the Life You Desire
Here is a different perspective on achieving your dreams, holding on to them, and obtaining the life that you desire. This is a simple and practical exercise that takes only a few minutes of your time to complete, but worthy of reflection that could last a lifetime.
Using a blank sheet of paper, create four columns for short bulleted lists. The first and third columns will be from the heart. The heart responds quickly with what you really feel. The second and fourth columns will be from the head. The head provides a logical perspective with contemplation and calculated planning. Take a moment to prepare your four blank columns and clear you mind of the many other distractions that could lure you away from creating a blueprint for achieving the life that you desire. Go ahead and take a moment to prepare. . . . . .
Label the First Column "WANT".
With the first bullet, list something that you want in the next ten days. Remember, this list is from the heart. Don't spend too much time thinking about your answer, just write down the first thing that comes to your mind and be sincere with yourself. With the second bullet, write down something that you want in the next ten weeks. You might be writing down things that you want to do, things that you want to buy or things that you want to achieve. You won't find the answers in these words, the answer for what you want should be coming from your heart. In the third bullet write down what you want in ten months. In the fourth and final bullet of the first column, write down something that you want in the next ten years. It may take a while for the last one, but make the bullet as big as your dreams are.
Label the Second Column "TO DO".
For the first bullet point of the second column, write down something that you can do to achieve or obtain the first bullet that you listed in the first column. Now it is time for your head to take over the list, because you need to plan an activity that contributes to obtaining what you want. For the second bullet point, write down something that you will do to get closer to attaining what you want in the next ten weeks. Then add the third bullet point action item for achieving what you want in ten months. The last bullet point is an activity or routine that contributes to your ten year goal. This completes your personal 'to do' list.
Label the Third Column "TO KEEP".
Once again, this column is from the heart. The answers should be honest and probably self-evident. There is no limit to the number of bullet points for this column, make as many as you feel are appropriate. Make a bulleted list of the things that are important to you that you have today. List people who are important to you. List things that you have that you would not sacrifice to obtain the things that you want. List items that you have now which represent things that you wanted before. These could be individuals, objects, relationships, personal traits or beliefs that are important to you. This is a list of things that represent you, or things that you do not want to lose. For some people it may include religious conviction, ethics or a sense of humor. For some the list may include a vehicle, a home, a cherished object or a family heirloom. The list may also include your relationship with your spouse or children. There is no right or wrong response, it is simply a list of the things that you want to keep.
Label the Fourth and last Column "THANKFUL".
The last column is for the head to respond to the heart. Review the bulleted list that you created in the third column of precious things that you want to keep. For each of those items you should create a corresponding bullet point in the fourth column of how you can express your gratitude. For example, if one of the objects that you are proud of and want to keep is your vehicle, you might demonstrate that this is important to you by having the car washed and cleaned. If one of the items on your list is something that you cherish for the memories that it stirs, then you might put this object in a place that you can see it frequently and reflect on it peacefully. If your list contains personal characteristics that you would not sacrifice, then think of a way that you can use or reinforce those traits. If your list contains reference to your faith, then think of something that you can do to support this personal conviction. If your list contains people or relationships, think about what you are doing to demonstrate the importance of this to the person on your list. Think about the little things that you do to demonstrate your appreciation. The things that you do to express appreciation in a relationship can be seemingly small to you, but may be very significant to the recipient. Show the people that you want 'to keep' that they are important to you.
Now look carefully at the lists that you have created. Which column is most important to you? Which list really defines you as a person? Which items have been getting most of your attention? Which ones should be getting the most of your attention? Quite often, the life that we have today is very nearly the life that we desired in the past. If you had created this list ten years or ten months ago, there would assuredly be items that have moved from the list of items that you 'wanted' then to the list of items that you want 'to keep' now. How well would you have performed on the list of ways to express your gratitude for those things that you wanted to keep, or the appreciation for the relationships that matter most to you?
It is healthy and productive to be focused on the things that you want and the things that you will do to obtain or achieve them. It is also important to reflect on the things that you want to keep, as these are reflections of the life that you desire. The people, character traits and objects that surround you and reflect you are the same relationships and items that you have previously spent so much time and effort to make a part of your life. Make an action plan to maintain a balance between your 'to do' list for the future and your 'thankful' expressions for what you have and who you are today. Be careful not to risk the personal commitments, beliefs or people that are important to you now as you strive to achieve your goals for tomorrow.
Date your document and keep your lists handy as a personal reminder. Review your lists again in ten days, and then again in ten weeks. Measure your progress not only in how well you have accomplished your 'to do' list of actions toward the goals to achieve what you want, but also assess how well you have demonstrated your thankfulness for the important aspects of your life that you want 'to keep' close to you. Reflect on your priorities and adjust your lists accordingly. You just might be living the life that you desired and missed it all along because you were busy looking for the few things that you thought you wanted.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific."
- Jane Wagner
"I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of
spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I
spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on."
- Beryl Pfizer
"We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what
we are - that is the fact."
- Jean-Paul Sartre
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of
Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving
business practices and developing human capital.
www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for
trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references
to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching.
http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com
provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for
trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are
available for continuous development.
Send an Email to
ExecBlue@aol.com with the Subject: Subscribe, and you will be
automatically added to our permission based mailing list.
This email was sent by Executive Blueprints, Inc, Aliso Viejo,
California. You are subscribed to a permission-based list. To
change preferences or to unsubscribe, simply send an email to
Unsubscribe@executiveblueprints.com
©
Copyright 2006-2007 Executive Blueprints, Inc