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 

x

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