Exercise - Perfect days

The exercise

For this exercise you will need to think of a time in the future you want to focus on for your new future. So pick a timeframe that feels right for you.

If you decide you want to make some changes to your life it's important to turn your vision of the future into a short list of actions that will set you on the right path. So, at the end of the exercise write down the most important actions you need to take within the next week to kick-start your new future!

This exercise couldn't be simpler.

1. First, you will need to think how you are going to record your thoughts - are you going to make some notes? are you going to ask someone to sit with you (a bit like a coach) so that you can let your thoughts flow by talking? or perhaps you want to make a personal drawing (You do NOT have to be an artist for this. It doesn't matter if the result looks like a young child's picture - you are the only one who's going to see it unless you choose to share it with someone else.)?
2. Just sit in a quite space, give yourself a few minutes to shut out the busy thoughts from the day and start to imagine the future you would really like.
3. Perfect Tuesday: Now just imagine yourself at that time. What does an ideal working day look like to you? Where are you working? What do you wear to work? What time do you start and finish? What are your colleagues or clients like? Think through a perfect working day and write down in detail a timetable of what you are doing, who with, where, and so on.
4. If you are sketching, draw a small circle - or a matchstick person - with your name in in the middle of the page. - and start drawing this future. Whatever comes into your mind. Or just jot down some notes, or talk to the person with you about what is coming to mind.
5. Perfect Saturday: What about your perfect leisure day? Where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? Write down the details, including times, or make a sketch, or talk to your 'coach'.
6. When you run out of steam, reflect on what this is telling you about your ideal future? Put the two together in your mind and start to think about what you need to do to get there. Do you need a different job, a different place to live? How are you going to go about it?
7. Finally, can you set yourself some really practical goals on the basis of your reflection? Make sure you break your goals into easy steps so that you can see immediate progress. How will you go about reaching them? What actions can you set yourself right now? What can you do next week to set the ball rolling?