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During January, we focused on building confidence. This month, we’ll explore where we want to go and ways to get there. Today, we’ll do a quick evaluation of what we want.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
—Aristotle
We live with so many “have-tos.” We have to get up in the morning and go to work. We have to take care of families. We have to keep track of our finances, so we don’t go so far into debt.
At the end of the day, we’re exhausted. Any wishful thinking about what we may want to do with the rest of our lives has vanished.
We can’t have everything, but it is critical to know what is most important.
- If you woke up tomorrow morning and could do whatever you wanted, what would that be?
- How would you feel? Does the thought of doing that thing motivate and excite you?
- Is there a way you could accomplish that thing?
Now is the time.
Find some quiet space and consider what is important to you. Here are six questions you can ask to start the process.
- What is your passion? What could you spend all day doing without getting tired?
- What excites you? Can you see yourself working endlessly in this area?
- What gives you pleasure, energy, joy, contentment, and satisfaction?
- What would you like to accomplish before you die?
- If you could do anything you wanted to and didn’t have to worry about money, what would you be doing?
- What secret desire or dream have you never allowed yourself to explore?
Get a notebook and call it your life planning notebook. Start jotting down all the things you see yourself doing. Include all your hopes, dreams, and ideas, even if you think they are impossible to achieve.
Be expansive; don’t pre-judge them at this stage – just make a list as long as you can. Over the next several days, go back and add to the list.
Now go over your list and discard those that are old, unimportant fantasies and wishes.
It has been said we can do anything we want to do, but we can’t do everything.
Prioritize
We will need to pick and choose or prioritize. But regardless of your age, or monetary or physical restrictions, if it is important enough, you will find a way to make it happen.
- List your strengths as well as your weaknesses.
- List your past accomplishments. What helped you succeed?
- Then look at the times you failed. What kept you from meeting your goal?
These become the starting point of reflection and serious contemplation of what you can do with the rest of your life.
Review your list once more and pray about it.
If God is an integral part of your life, you will know that He not only has a plan for you, but He will use your talents and abilities in the best way that will be a source of intense joy and satisfaction.
All aspirations require hard work and overcoming obstacles. They also require knowing yourself, accepting your strengths and weaknesses, and determination to be the best you can be.
Taking a risk can be scary. But it can also be the most important and exciting thing you have ever done.