In ballet, dancers are taught to utilize a technique called “spotting.” The basics of spotting are to find a “spot” in the room to focus on in order to keep moving in that direction. If you’re moving across the room you focus across the room, if you want to stay in one place you look directly in front of you, etc. The same rule applies in our day-to-day life. When we have a clear vision, we can make progress towards our goals.
Have you ever noticed when you’re driving that if you stare somewhere for too long, you start to drift off course? In dance, if you stop spotting you’ll end up on the wrong side of the room. In life, if you don’t have a clear vision of your future, you’ll continue to get lost and miss out on progress. Do you see where this is going?
If you don’t set goals for your life, you’ll continue to miss out on the opportunities meant for you. Without a road map, you’ll waste time and energy on jobs, relationships, and activities that don’t serve your future. You won’t feel motivated to put forth your best work because there’s no end goal; you’ll continue to struggle with that feeling of directionlessness.
Does that sound familiar? Are you tired of feeling lost? Are you sick of feeling confused and aimless in your day-to-day life? So many people struggle with that feeling because they don’t know what they want out of life. It’s easier to pave a path towards a life that’ll leave you more fulfilled, motivated, and abundant than you realize. All it takes is a little bit of introspective thinking and work! Today I’m sharing with you the first steps to get from the directionless present to a paved future.
- Determine What You Want Your Life to Look Like.
One exercise to help you determine your vision for your life is to envision your dream day. Sit down with a piece of paper and write down your perfect day, in detail, from when you wake up to when you go to sleep at night. If that’s not what your life looks like now, ask yourself what steps you must take to get there.
Creating a clear vision of what a perfect day looks like helps you articulate what you really want out of life. Oftentimes, what you really want isn’t as glamorous as what society tells you that you should want or even what you think you want on the surface. For example, It really doesn’t take a big house or fancy cars to find happiness.
- Create a 10 Year Plan.
Now that you have a vision for what you want your life to look like, create a plan. Look at your goals and break down the individual steps. You need to start preparing now. You won’t just wake up one day and have the life of your dreams. It takes focus and planning to reach your desired destination. You would never go on a road trip without a map, so why would you risk the direction of your life without one?
Make a list of what you need, changes you need to make, and create a timeline. The biggest mistake people make is waiting for the “perfect” time to get started or until they have all the “right” equipment. You don’t need all this to make small, positive changes. For example, if you want to live a healthier lifestyle, start by going on walks or drinking more water. It’s all about small and manageable changes.
- Prepare for Retirement.
I’m a dreamer, and I truly believe that with hard work and proper planning you can achieve anything. However, you also have to be realistic. Will your plan truly support your future? No one wants to work forever, and the truth is, no one can. Create a plan to start preparing for retirement from the beginning of your journey. That can look like creating a separate fund for retirement, starting to invest your finances intelligently, or maybe getting a job that offers retirement benefits.
Whatever that looks like for you, don’t forget that what you do now has to sustain you later. Calculate what it would realistically take for you to live comfortably in your old age. For most people, it’s not much more than what they have now. Once you look at those numbers, build a plan to help you fill your retirement buckets with the right components.
No one likes feeling lost, confused, or invaluable. These are all side effects of not taking the time to adequately prepare or envision a plan for your life. Most people know what they truly want, but we overcomplicate it with limiting beliefs, opinions of others, and self-doubt. Take an honest look at your life, and create a plan that will not only support you into old age, but will bring you happiness and fulfillment throughout your journey.
Let’s create your plan together. Learn more at www.foundationstofreedom.com