Create your best life

In the last year or two there have been a flurry of books focused on lists and on inviting readers to think along the lines of "things to do…"

• 100 things to do before you die
• 100 places to go before you die
• 100 albums to listen to before you die

Without focusing too much on the dying bit there is good evidence to suggest that most of us work better to deadlines, so setting a time limit on doing what we want to do is not such a bad thing. 

A useful exercise is to set aside some quiet time to imagine and visualise your ideal life ten years from now (depending on your ability to look ahead you might want to make this period shorter or longer). Imagine yourself and your future in as much detail as possible. What would you be doing; who would you be doing it with; and where would you be doing it?

Try to list ten things you’d be doing differently, or more of, that you’re not doing now; list these as specifically as you can. Don’t list negative or problematic things you want to stop or eliminate, but rather list positive and constructive behaviours you want more of in your life. 

You now have your own list of ten things to do in the next ten years! How cool would it be if you could start doing them and eventually complete them all? 

Ask yourself two key questions:

First, what are you doing now, or what strengths, talents, abilities, resources do you have now that will help you achieve these top ten behaviours? 

Second, what else do you need to learn or acquire to help you get to where you want to get to? Alternatively, who else can help you with what you’re striving to achieve (remember, we don’t need to do everything by ourselves)? 

Set aside half an hour or so to develop an action plan; this might involve breaking down some of your goals into smaller, more achievable chunks, and ultimately should include everything you need to do to hit your targets. 

Put your plan into action. The best plan is worth nothing if it’s just a few words on a piece of paper or an idea in your head; to really mean something we need to bring our plans to life…and although this can be difficult at times the benefits are immeasurably wonderful. 

(Source: Prof. Timothy Sharp: Happiness Institute: July 2009)