Do you know what you want to do for the rest of your life? Some people seem to know exactly what they want to do and that’s amazing, but for many of us, we can get stuck with indecision. It can be overwhelming with too many career paths to take or our priorities have shifted and we want something more suitable. Here’s an exercise to help you gain a little clarity as mentioned in Laura Vanderkam’s 168 Hours – You Have More Time than You Think book. Make a list of your 100 dreams in life. Sort of like a bucket list. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life that it’s easy to forget our dreams with time passing us by. It’s helpful to hit the pause button to reflect on what we truly want for our life.
How to get started with your 100 Dreams list:
- Write down 100 life dreams – an unedited list of what you might want to do or have in life
- Feel free to include things that you have already accomplished
- This is a working list so you can change, add, delete – whatever works for you
- Don’t limit yourself to just professional goals as other dreams can spark ideas and it’s about the whole you.
- Categorize if it helps. Some examples are personal, professional, family, travel, spiritual, health, etc.
I love examples, so here are a few examples from my 100 Dreams list.
- Be a successful life coach to help moms returning to work or switching career paths
- Travel to Japan (was lucky to live there for 4 ½ years)
- Renovate our kitchen
- Annual family vacation to someplace new each year
- Save for our kids’ college funds
- Read the entire Bible (started, but much more to go)
Write down both big and small dreams as you may be able to accomplish the small ones quickly. Just writing down your dreams can create a self-awareness and make them more achievable as it allows you to visualize them and activate the planning part of your brain.
Some dreams may require a bit more focus to turn them into reality. One technique that may help is defining your dreams into S.M.A.R.T. goals. You have likely heard of this acronym, but let’s break it down.
S.M.A.R.T.
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Realistic
T – Time-limited
Having clearly defined goals takes them from fuzzy thoughts to something more attainable. For example, stating that you want to be healthier isn’t a smart goal vs. stating I want to lose 10 pounds by December 31st. This can get the wheels turning on how you can achieve your goals.
Once you list your 100 dreams and define your goals, you can start to research what it would take to accomplish those goals. You may realize they aren’t out of reach as you originally thought.
I challenge you to write your list of 100 Dreams and Goals and please don’t limit yourself. You never know what it might spark or lead to. It can change your outlook!
If you need help defining your goals and gaining momentum, I would be happy to help. Schedule a complimentary clarity call with me. Also, be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive career and motherhood inspiration.
It’s Never Too Late for the Life You Want.
