What do you really want? What is the one thing that you don’t have now that you would like more than anything?
For some of you that question is easy to answer … for others you have no fucking idea.
I know a way to find out what you really want in less than two minutes. All you need is a pen and paper or somewhere to write on your computer.
Here’s what you do. You write twenty (20) — no more and no less — sentences starting with the words “I wish …”
You can write about deep desires or shallow wants. You can wish for impossible things or things that are just out of your reach. There are no rules.
Around about No. 10 you’ll start to get stuck. Don’t give in, just keep on going.
When you are done take a deep breath and get ready for the next part. You’ll have to look in the comments to see what to do next (to stop you cheating).
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Now you have to be brutal. 10 things stay and 10 things go. You are only allowed to have half of the things on your list.
When you have the top ten things, it’s time to get even tougher. Cut it in half again — these are your top five dreams. Are there any surprises?
Tell me what your top five wishes are in the comments below. I’d love to see what you dream of. I might even let you in on mine.
1. I wish my memoir was published
2. I wish I could earn my living doing what I love
3. I wish I could always keep studying and learning
4. I wish I had even more passion, (self) love and sex in my life
5. I wish I could have more holidays on the beach
I know this is serious and I’m not mocking you or the process but I’m feeling jovial.
What about if you get “I wish for a packet of tim tams that never ends?”
Sounds valid on a Friday afternoon
1. I wish I wasn’t in pain all the time
2. I wish I was loved (by a man)
3. I wish I had more energy
4. I wish I didn’t suffer from anxiety
5. I wish my cousin Peter was still here
Thanks. I loved that exercise. I had some crap on there I thought I really wanted…. but when it came to the crunch there were other things I wanted more.
Geeez mine’s a bit fucking depressing isn’t it hahahaha
I want one of Shelley’s Tim Tam’s now!
My only question is — do you want things to be different that you have no control over?? That might be why it is depressing …
Is there anything on your list that is under your control that you can change?
I’m working on the three that are within my control. I just get a bit tired of working on them.
I know — sometimes it gets exhausting ♥
I’ve been totally inspired by this exercise and am starting a new blog to crap on a lot about trying to change those things I CAN change. http://www.project-frankie.blogspot.com it’s not up yet as I need to format it and such. xxx
Sounds fabulous — I can’t wait to read it
OMG, Im doing this tonight, just what I need right now. In fact Ill do it whilst eating one of Shelley neverending tim tams…………Ill be back……
Just remember not to spoil your dinner
1. I wish I enjoyed playing with my kids
2. I wish I was consistently sober
3.I wish I owned a house in the country with a bedroom for everyone, a big kitchen and a big garden.
4. I wish I loved to fall asleep with my husband
5. I wish I could drive wherever I wanted without crippling anxiety
A very personal list — thank you Vic x
Actuall scrub that – I want to change no 2 to…..
2. I wish I could maintain a weight that was right for my body
Maybe achieving the original #2 might lead to the second #2?
Yes it would without a doubt. I only overeat when I am drunk/hungover. Original list stands then!
1. I wish I was eating mindfully to honour my body
2. I wish I felt energetic, vital and healthy
3. I wish I felt balanced and calm
4. I wish I could do Bikram yoga more often
5. I wish I was happy with all that I had / was
The list might look vastly different in a week’s time
Great list Magda. And changing your mind is always a good thing in my book.
What a cool exercise! It made me feel much less overwhelmed with my life!
I also wanted to thank you for your guidance the other night and let you know that I took the leap actually had my first session yesterday. It was a fluke that I got in that quickly with her, I was super lucky to get a cancelation. I think I was meant to be there. It was mostly intake but totally fabulous. The woman is wonderful and welcoming…I am so excited for next week : ) I truly feel like I am on my way….
Birlliant news Jessica – I’m so glad you’ve got an expert on your team x
Great exercise!
I wish:
• I wish John would never have another seizure ever again
• That a publishable story would just flow out of my brain to my finger tips
• I could handle drinking like a normal person
• I could travel more and fly first class each time
• Australia and the US weren’t so far apart
I wish teleporting was real — that would help!
1. I wish I owned a house.
2. I wish I had more than enough money every month, and that I made it through my art.
3. I wish I could travel wherever and whenever I wanted.
4. I wish I had a book published.
5. I wish I had a creative support group of friends in real life.
Thanks for this. I was very surprised by what ended up staying on my list and what was cut. This was a great and very simple exercise.
That’s a great list Carmen that would fit me exactly too!
Told you I’d be back. This has been amazing for me Katie. It has brought all sorts of emotion forward – realization, sadness, happiness, gratefulness…….
Thank you so much for this exercise, more people should do it.
- I wish I could have my family near.
- I wish I was one of ‘those’ mums naturally and it wasn’t such a hard slog to even just manage being a mum.
- I wish I could run my own business.
- I wish I had told my Grandad, before he died, exactly how great my childhood was because of him.
- I wish I could respond better to/change the relationship with my daughter
What a great list Shar … I’m hatching an idea for taking this exercise further …
Please do hatch an idea Katie!!
Just a follow up question, once we have our 5, do we look at what is within our control to go get, make happen, works towards?
What about those out of our control? they made it to the top five from 20, they are importent but you can’t do anything about them? what then? any ideas……
Tomorrow all will be revealed … (a hint ~ it’s not about your specific wish but what it represents at a deep core level – once you know that then you can be certain about what is right for you when you make any decision about what to do next).
This was a really interesting exercise, even to see what made up my top 20, 10 and 5.
My top 5 are:
1. That I could do makeup full time
2. That I could work in something that I am happy doing
3. That I was 30 kilos lighter through exercise and diet being healthy
4. I was able to enjoy life rather than being sad
5. My block of land would sell for more than I paid for it
First time I have been “brave” enough to put my thoughts out there.
Love your blog
Hi Lars and welcome. Congratulations on being brave and I’m glad you enjoyed discovering a bit more about your true self.
Thanks for this, was feeling especially low on a Saturday night, missing my son (18) who recently left for the Marine Corps.;
1. I wish Dave would come home (and stay home)
2. I wish my dad wasnt sick with Cancer
3. I wish I could trust people
4. I wish my family were closer
5. I wish for stability
Hi Lauri. Thank you for sharing your most personal wishes. I really appreciate it.
I just did this.
1. I wish to live bravely, love without fear, and always to feel wings of grace near. (My favorite lyrics by Jewel.)
2. I wish someone would pay me to read for a living.
3. I wish I could visit and/or live in (at least for a year) Australia and Scotland.
4. I wish to leave this world a better place than I found it.
5. I wish to use my innate, God-given talents in the best ways I can and be the best me I can be.
I’m a little surprised that two and three made the cut. I thought those were just small, never-going-to-happen dreams of mine.
Thank you for this!
What a great list Teala.
If you come to Australia, make sure you come to Sydney so we can hang out!!
I’ve decided to go with Wordpress so changed to http://www.project-frankie.com
Don’t know what it’s gonna be…. but it’s gonna be fun, and honest and …. the usual
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