Start at the End
Principle #2: To begin, start at the end
I spent some time a few years ago doing a holistic management course with farmers
The room was filled with old cockies who wanted to change the way they were working with nature
There was one exercise which I have never forgotten
When they were asked to write down what they wanted
(In order to build a plan to help them get there)
They wouldn’t do it
Pages sat blank
Grown ups turned into infants
Emotions ran high beneath stoic postures
Eventually, one farmer said:
“What if I write it down and it doesn’t happen?”
Bingo
In the years I have spent passing work onto artists
I have seen it over and over again
The avoidance to honestly and clearly state what someone really wants
To say it out loud
To see what it looks like on a piece of paper
As if letting it out into the world means something other than what it does
This is simply one step in the process
A step which will help the rest of the process flow
Start again
What’s your harbour?
Where is the place you would like to end up?
Be clear
And be honest
There are many exercises to help us
Lets just use one
Simple & effective
To begin
We start at the end
Exercise: My Beautiful Day
Step #1: Put aside a day. Clear it in the calendar. Communicate with any potential interruptions that you will be offline that day.
Step #2: On the day, turn all technology and distractions off. If you want to change your environment in order to feel more energised and focussed, do so.
Step #3: Pencil & Paper. Water. Music maybe?
Step #4: Begin writing.
Ten years from now
It’s July 2031
Write your day
Your beautiful day
From waking up to falling asleep
From pillow to pillow
Anything you want
Write the day your inner child would be proud of
What does your life look like?
How does it feel as you wake up?
How does it feel to place your feet on the floor beside your beside?
Where are you living?
Who are you living with?
What kind of home are you in?
What does your furniture look like?
What is your bed like?
What are your sheets like?
What kind of clothes do you wear?
What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Children? Friends? Family?
What do you want?
What are you reading?
What are you making?
What excites you?
What adventures are you going on?
What is your health like?
What is your wealth like?
What is your education like?
What skills are you working on?
Who are you sharing life with?
What are your relationships like?
What is your career like?
What is your day filled with?
What fills you with energy?
Where do you give your energy?
How does it feel to put your head on the pillow at the end of it all?
The more care and detail, the better
Write this one day
This one beautiful day
Ten years from now
Dream big
Dream without fear
Put your whole heart into it
Write like your life depends on it
Because it does
You don’t have to share this with anyone, its’s just for you
Then we can use this to make a plan
But thats for next week
Some notes…
They are called hidden gems for a reason
They are hidden
Your job is let it all out
Let your subconscious take you where ever it goes
No editing or judging
Let rip
Permission to dream on steroids
Find writing specific things too overwhelming?
Just stick to principles and values
You get to create anything you want - It’s just a piece of paper
And remember, at any point, if you don’t like it
Start again
Hope this helps
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