If you’re like me, writing a list of resolutions or goals doesn’t feel all that comfortable. For one thing, my mind goes as blank as the screen (or paper) I’m facing.
Goals and resolutions are abstract concepts, and trying to express them in concrete form can be very difficult to do (which is why we might default to adopting popular resolutions such as to go to the gym, quit smoking, etc).
An approach that can work better than list-writing is to visualize your ideal life. Aim for a picture (and, preferably, a movie) that shows what your goals will look and feel like in your own life.
This approach is much easier and far more enjoyable than trying to come up with a list of resolutions (which you will do later on, once you’re clear about the results you want to see in your life).
What does your ideal life look like?
What will you be doing?
Where will you be working?
Will you be working?
Who will you spend your time with?
Where will you travel?
Where will you live?
How will you behave?
How will you respond to crises?
What will you look like?
What thoughts will occupy your mind?
What will an ideal day in your life look like? An ideal week? An ideal month? An ideal year?
Don’t place any limits on what you can be, have and do.
Just let your imagination go wild.
I’ll spare you the suspense and tell you from now that I won’t be saying anything along the lines of “If you believe, you can achieve!”
I’m not saying that you will have everything you want, but it’s important that you’re honest with yourself and are willing to admit what you do want.
A lot of the frustration we experience in life isn’t a result of conscious thoughts, but desires running in the background of our minds. And since these desires clash with our immediate surroundings, we can experience frustration, anxiety and depression.
By clarifying what your ideal life looks like, you will consciously know what you should be aiming for in life (after all, this is your ideal life).
Give this issue careful thought before going to sleep, during a quiet time in your day or while you tend to your work throughout the day.
Be conscious of things in your life you’re not too happy with, and what the alternative you desire looks like.
I can’t tell you how valuable this exercise is, but will elaborate on it in later posts, and you’ll realize why this exercise is such a crucial foundation to personal growth and life success.
It’s time to turn away from the screen and give your life the attention it needs.
Sweet (day) dreams. 🙂
5 replies on “The Countdown – Day 23: Visualize Your Ideal Life”
[…] you went through yesterday’s “Ideal Life” exercise, your thoughts may have been interrupted by a nagging “but I […]
too difficult …
Hi Nemo,
It would help to know which bit you find difficult. 😛
If you can’t tell right now, think of what step you’re getting stuck on.
Is it visualizing? Can you express your ideal life in words (speaking or writing)? If yes, then the difficulty is in visualizing, but there is an “ideal life” you can describe.
If you don’t know *what* your ideal life is, then you might want to look around you and think of things that bother you and you feel need to change. You want to notice how you feel about things, such as where you live, where you work, who you interact with, etc. How do these things make you feel?
Things that “bug” you are a good start. But you also want to notice what makes you feel happy. Spending time with family/friends? Reading? Traveling?
Your ideal life will have more of what you like and less of what you dislike, so you can use your existing likes and dislikes to identify what your ideal life is.
If I completely missed the mark, then feel free to let me know, and what you think might be the reason for why you’re finding this exercise difficult. 🙂
I don’t want to go that far just because I don’t know how to deal with unmet expectations or unachieved goals (I’m talking about external elements that may stop you that you really can’t do anything about)
“Your ideal life will have more of what you like and less of what you dislike, so you can use your existing likes and dislikes to identify what your ideal life is.”
I really like this part and this is exactly what I’m working on 🙂
thanks alot for your posts 🙂
nemo
Hi Nemo,
For the “Ideal Life” exercise to work, you need to suspend judgment of yourself and thoughts of *how* to achieve your goals. You want to avoid the question of whether you will achieve your goals or not at this point, so you give yourself room and breathing space to think freely and to express your wishes, without any reservations.
We’ll soon look at the *how* and you may even realize that some of your goals are within your grasp, but because you’re not clarifying what these goals are you’re ignoring the opportunities around you.
Don’t think too far ahead. Just focus on the day-dreaming for now. 😛
And you’re most welcome! 😀