Lesson 1: What Do You Want and Why?

This is often the most challenging part of the entire process…getting clarity about what it is that you want. It’s an ever-changing thing. But at the core, we all want to BE HAPPY! So that’s a great place to start your thinking.

The definition of success

What is your definition of ‘success’? One of my favorites is from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Transform your dreams into reality

“Dreams come true when desire transforms them into concrete action. Ask life for great gifts and you encourage life to deliver them to you.” --Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

Set aside 20 minutes or so of quiet, private time. Get a brand-spankin’ new spiral notebook for this course so you can record all your thoughts and musings. Buy some colored pens or markers so you can decorate it and highlight important points. Label the first page:

What do I want?

Then start recording the answers to these questions–

Ask yourself:   “What do I want?”

Your answer might be something like mine:

• I want to make a lot of money.
• I want a knock-my-socks off relationship.
• I want a gorgeous house on the water.
• I want a brand-new sports car.
• I want to be an uplifting person.
• I want to enjoy my work and my co-workers.

You may have many things that you want. In fact, I sure hope you do!

For each one, keep asking yourself,  “Why do I want that?” until you can’t dig any further for more answers.

For example, “I want a knock-my-socks off relationship.” Why? “I want someone to have fun with, share intimacy, travel with, have sparkling conversation, challenge my thinking, appreciate and understand me, accept me just the way I am, share family events, enjoy mutual friends.”

Now it’s your turn. Have fun with this!