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Take Action: 5 Steps to Focus Your Journey!

This exercise can help create a life direction that is meaningful to YOU. Here are the steps:

1. Name your vision or your dream. Imagine what you really want and write it down. "If my life was perfect I would really like to __________." It is common for the vision to be many years away – that is perfect. Keep going to the next step.

2. Think about this dream, what is one concrete goal that if you accomplished it would signal to you that you were making forward movement? This step is important as it can take you closer to what the dream is all about – your values. When we clarify our dreams we learn to unearth our core values. By learning to fulfill our core values each day we are able to focus on a meaningful journey.

To help you understand this, consider the following. Two people may both have dreams of becoming experts in their professional fields. One may set a goal of publishing an article in a professional journal while the other sets a goal of mentoring a young protégé. The first person values recognition whereas the second values service to others. Although both have a dream that sounds similar at first, when they start articulating the goal, they get closer to their values and what they really need from their work.

3. In a perfect world, where would you like to be in five years in relation to your dream?

4. Consider what may stand between you and your goal (e.g. financial resources, child care, skills, experience, etc.). Brainstorm options to move through these challenges. Be creative. Come up with every idea you can think of that will get you through your challenges and move you forward to your goal. In the world you live in right now, what steps can you take this year to move you closer? What steps can you take this month? What steps can you take this week? What can you do right now?

5. Prepare to act. Write out your dream. List the value that this dream represents. Identify a role model (personal hero) to inspire you or find someone you know who will support you. Write out an action plan: Five years, three years, one year, one month, one week, now. Engage!

When the journey (and not the destination, i.e. the position, the degree, the title) is your focus, you will be open to serendipitous events that you happen upon. Serendipity takes place when unexpected events occur from which you can benefit. Sometime excellent opportunities to learn something new, take on a project, or meet someone new, occur while you are busy doing something else. Serendipity will happen as long as you stay open to new people, new learning and new challenges. By working toward a concrete goal that is based upon your personal vision you will be inspired and motivated as you focus on the journey each day of your life. Bon voyage!

Wishing you balance, passion and fulfillment in your lifework!

Rob

"We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way." - John Holt, Educator