Crafting Your Ideal Life - Journal Prompts
Making a wish, then turning it into a plan.
“I wish I was rich.”
“I would love to be as talented as him.”
“She’s so lucky to get to live a life like that.”
We all have some ideal life we’d like to have, the internet makes it obvious that some people “have it better” than us. But the truth is, the life we want is hidden behind our commitment to make it happen.
Is it easy? No. Is it considerably easier for some? Yes. Does comparing your starting line to theirs get you the results you want? No.
Creating the life you want is more than wishing things could be better.
Making any change in your life will benefit by a clear vision of the end result. The statements above are not clear visions. The more vague your dream, the more easily dismissed and ignored.
Writing this weekend is not about excuses or creating plans, this weekend is simply exploring how much these dreams mean to you.
What is your dream?
Write a statement of what you want in your life. Don’t define your entire lifestyle, just something that you want to be part of who you are. This might contribute to a lifestyle, but let’s start small. Here are some simple examples:
I want to be a guitarist.
I want to be an athlete.
I want to be an author.
With a simple ‘want to be’ defined, you’re already on the path. Let that “I want to be…” statement be the headline for your journaling.
Explore the habits of your want.
With your desire identified, you can start to figure out what needs to change in your life. Here are some prompts to get you going.
Who are some role models what have achieved your dream?
Do you want to be Steve Vai?
Michael Jordan?
Stephen King?
Look for a few people doing the thing you want to be doing.
What do your role models’ day look like:
How much time do they spend in that task?
How much of their life is defined by it?
How does it impact other parts of their life?
What does your life look like if you become what you stated above?
How much time do you spend working on that goal?
What is the measurement for success to say you’ve arrived?
What sacrifices would you make to get these results?
Explore the habits you have.
You can see what your life would look like with that change, now consider what your life looks like today.
How much time do you currently spend on the things that will get you to your goal?
How similar is your life to that of your role model today?
What would you need to change or do consistently to get that result?
What can you do today to start the process?
How many days in a row are you willing to spend doing it to create the habit?
How much additional time will you spend to learn more about it and change your mindset towards being that person?
The problem with creating a pillar habit that changes who you are is that there has to be a willingness to change your mindset as well. Warren Buffett spends a lot of time thinking about money. Leo Babauta spends a lot of time thinking about mindfulness. Besides starting the habit, you need to let that habit be a definition of who you are.
If you practice guitar every day for a month, you could easily see yourself as a musician. If you do 3 different things every day, all relating to improving your craft… not just practicing, then it becomes part of you.
Final prompt, write a short description about your life 90 days from now and 365 days from now that exemplifies what the change you make today has become.
Have fun!
I love this! I will be revisiting it to do the journal prompts.