We all have one chance at life, but so many of us let it slip by, chasing other people’s versions of success, grinding and burning out. When’s the last time you stopped to consider what you really want, instead of allowing those influences to drive you?
I learned that it starts with doing the inner work to uncover what you want, then building the right relationships intentionally to support your vision, all the while creating the financial freedom you need to choose how you spend your time.
Start with these steps:
- Meditate: Sit quietly and focus on your breath or a ‘mantra’ for 5-20 minutes each morning to connect with yourself. “Peace” or “love” work great.
- Read: The book The Four Agreements.
- Make a list: Close your eyes and imagine someone you love. What do you wish for him/her? What you wish for and offer that person are the same as what you need. Stop and consider what those things are, what you really want and need, and how you’re going to start moving towards them.
- Brainstorm: If you’re feeling stuck, begin a brainstorm. Make lists and write down everything that gives you energy, that you loved as a kid, that you are good at, or what makes you want to get up and do something about it. Don’t judge, and keep it going for a few days.
- Find themes: Look for themes in your list. Brainstorm different ways each theme could come to life, even if you’ve never seen it done before, don’t know if it’s what you actually want, or think you can make money doing it.
- Deathbed exercise: Do a ‘deathbed exercise’ and write your own eulogy. If you’re up for it, share it with one or two people who are closest to you. Where do you see discrepancies between how you’re investing your time, energy, and money now, and what you see as truly valuable to do with these resources based on your eulogy? How do you plan to adapt so they’re more in alignment?
- Track your thoughts: Track and write down words and phrases you find yourself saying out loud or to yourself. “I’ll never have enough money for that”, “I’m ready”, or “I can’t wait!” Afterwards, pull out any that you want to say more of and cross out those which you want to use less often or extract from your vernacular. Why? What you believe is what you become.
- Check your decisions: With each decision you make, check yourself to see if it’s something you actually want to do. Begin to uncover what you really want versus what you’ve been programmed to do. Exercise the use of the word NO more often.
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