Creating the future you want for yourself can be intimidating. But you can make it easier on yourself.
- Be clear
- Be mindful
- Use your subconscious
- Make course corrections
Be clear.
You have to be clear about what you want in order to see it & say it
The first step to creating your awesome future is to get clear. If you don’t really know what you want, there’s no way to get it. You’ve got to create a direction for your intention.
When you imagine yourself a year from now, what would make that vision exciting? What would delight you? Or make you proud?
Are you having a tough time getting started? Try looking at your Principled Moments to see about getting more of the stuff that makes your heart sing.
If your goal is to take an awesome vacation this year, what does that look like to you? Who’s with you? Are you visiting a city with lots of things to do? Or are you lazing on a beach with an umbrella drink in your hand?
If you’re aiming to create new habits for yourself, how do they show up? (And don’t make it any harder than it needs to be – read this!)
I’m going to ask you to focus on things you’re in control of (at least partially!). So, getting promoted wouldn’t fit, but showing your best self at work would. Getting a raise wouldn’t fit, but asking for a raise would. Getting in to a specific grad program wouldn’t fit, but having all of your applications showing your best work, and completed by the deadlines would. Make sense?
And remember, you can do anything, but you can’t do everything.
Be mindful.
When you see it & say it, you become more mindful
Once you’re clear, put your goals and aims down on paper, via writing, drawing, or cutting images out of magazines. Or record them on video or audio. Just that act alone can help cement them in your brain.
There’s something magical that happens when you actually write by hand – you create unique neural circuits, stimulate your brain, and enhance learning, according to this article in the Association of Psychological Science.
But whatever way you choose to document your goals, getting them out of your brain and recorded is the most important thing.
Use your subconscious.
Creating awareness happens subconsciously, too
Have you ever noticed that when you’re aware of something, it seems like the universe conspires to show you more of it? Like when we decided to adopt a dog, suddenly every commercial had to do with pets, all of the movies playing featured dogs, and I saw puppies EVERYWHERE.
Believe it or not, the world doesn’t actually change in these scenarios – you do. What’s really happening is that your consciousness is shifting. Because you’re thinking about dogs, or tropical vacations, or family dinners, you notice things related to them in a way you can’t notice them if your wishes and desires are bottled up inside you.
Because you’ve clearly stated or shown what you’re interested in, you’ve moved those things to the top of your mind, and you’ll see more opportunities that will help you get them.
Make course corrections.
Reminding yourself gives you course micro-corrections
Having some sort of reminder, which can be graphic (vision board), written (goal sheet), or auditory (self-guided meditation) is key.
Every time you remember what it is that you truly want, you’re creating pathways in your brain that help you re-orient yourself to align with your goals.
If you want some help creating your awesome future, I’ll be holding a Create Your Best 2019 Workshop in January, 2019. Want to be the first to get updates about it? Email me now to get on the list!