by Karen McMahon
If you could design your ideal life what would it look like? Most people actually don’t know. We are so programmed to think about what we don’t want, couldn’t afford, can’t have, what won’t work…that we rarely give ourselves the gift of dreaming about our true desires, all obstacles aside!
Ask a child to tell you their dreams and they can immediately start rambling about what they want, who they want to be, and all types of details about their desires. They have not yet learned to be stifled by potential obstacles. They do not operate from a place of fear and unbelief in themselves but rather embrace the possibilities the world has to offer. We, as adults, put ourselves in a box each time we deny ourselves the opportunity to tap into our deepest desires and allow ourselves to manifest them in our lives. Perhaps we need to be more child-like.
So, back to your ideal life… How do you begin the exciting process of creating your new life? What area of your life do you desire to re-create: relationships, career, finances, lifestyle, physical or emotional health, personal development or a deeper spiritual connection?
Start with asking yourself key questions. If I could have “X”, what would that be like for me? If it is a relationship you desire with your children, family or a new partner, describe the ideal. Make a list of the attributes of the relationship; interactions that you would want; details of what might grow from such a relationship.
If it is a new career or the ability to make more money; what does that look like to you? What do you most enjoy doing and what gifts, talents and skills do you have to offer the world? If you could create your perfect job, what would you do; what would your day look like from the time you awoke until you lay your head back down on your pillow?
Perhaps you want to live in a different place or in a different way. Describe your ideal living situation. Where do you envision yourself living, what does the home look like, where is it located, how many rooms, what is the floor plan, describe the grounds, what does it have that makes it fit who you are? What else is important in your living situation?
If there were no obstacles, no time constraints, no money concerns, nothing standing in your way, what would your new life look like?
Take some time to imagine all the details. Use all your senses. Smell the coffee as you begin your day, the flowers in the garden you sit in or work in, the fresh breeze you smell from your porch or while riding your horse or boating on the open sea! Feel the flow of your day, the comfort of your living room, the appreciation of your office; or the excitement or passion in your work or the feeling of being in a healthy relationship. Touch your favorite chair, the dirt in your garden, the hand of your partner, the horse’s mane. See the details… your healthy body, the attributes of your new relationship with your kids, friends, partner; the particulars of your new job and what talents and energy you bring to it.
If you are going through a divorce and grieving the loss of your marriage, ask yourself what you want in a committed relationship? How would you change to be a better, healthier partner? What would you look for ina partner? How might your priorities have shifted after what has happened in your marriage? What have you learned and how might you take those lessons into your next relationship?
As you do this exercise, it is natural for all the negatives to rear their ugly heads; all that you can’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, won’t, and don’t do. Notice what they are and how they make you feel and then put them aside, for now. You must first know what your aspirations are, all possible obstacles aside, in order to figure out how to attain them.
Now begin to create a plan. Baby steps are the key.
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Clarify your desires. What awareness has come to the fore? If you are a writer, write about it; an artist, draw it; an extravert, talk to a friend or loved one to process it. Whatever your way is, draw out that dream in as much detail as you can.
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Challenge your fears. What fears and obstacles come up for you? Write them down and challenge them. How true are they? Try to look at your situation from a different lens, shift your perspective. How true is it that you cannot attain your goal? What is another possible way of looking at the situation? Prioritize your fears from the greatest to the least and begin challenging them from the least up to the greatest.
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Take Action. What is one baby step that you can take in the direction of your dream? A baby step is exactly that…a very small step. It can be to meditate on the dream, write about your desires, research some small piece of information that will help guide you, make a phone call, buy a book on the topic. Take one small baby step toward your dream and see how it develops, one step at a time.
Congratulations! You have begun a journey through which you will create a life that fulfills you. Believe it. Embrace it. Watch it unfold, one step at a time.
