Create a dream book instead of New Year's resolutions
Dreams are goals with wings... follow your dreams in 2008!
Creating a dream book will help you supercharge your goals and give them wings to carry forward as you create the life you want. Your dream book will guide you and help you stay focused on your goals and dreams through the year.
In order to get a well-rounded plan for your year, it is important to include the major life areas: work, school, family, friends, leisure, hobbies, spiritual, health, etc. Take time to think about what you would like to create in each of these areas of your life over the next year. Think big… let your imagination run wild!
To get started, ask yourself - How would my life change if I banished all doubt? What would I do differently if I completely trusted myself? What actions am I willing to take to live my life on purpose? If I had no limits, fears, or doubts, what would I do differently? Write down your answers to these questions in your journal.
Use imagery to create your ideal scene for 2008. Close your eyes and create a vivid picture in your mind’s eye of how you want this year to look. Be sure to include every area of your life in this image. Don’t limit yourself with doubt and fear… allow yourself to dream big and experience the excitement. Make this image come alive by using all of your senses. Make sure that you are a part of this vision of your future and not an observer. Experience this vision of your future as if it was happening right now.
Next, focus on one life area at a time and use your images to guide you as you create goals and affirmations for each major life area. For example, if your goal is to get a new job, your affirmation might be I am happy and grateful for my new and exciting job that I love. You might also use this affirmation - I am richly rewarded for doing the work that I love. Create 1-3 goals for each life area and 1-3 affirmations for each goal.
You are now ready to create your dream book. Get a 3-ring notebook, a scrapbook, or journal. Gather magazines, photos, scissors, glue (or tape), and a couple of colored pens or markers. Create a page for each life category. Cut out pictures from magazines and use photos that represent your dreams and goals. Make a collage on each page with your pictures and photos. Be sure to include your affirmations on the page somewhere. Be creative and have fun with it! Create a page like this for each of your major life areas.
The next step is to create your action plan. Go back and review each page of your dream book and write down at least 2 action steps that you are willing to take to reach each goal. Remember all journeys begin with the first step. Be reasonable in your action plan by creating small steps that are achievable. It is best to design action steps that you can accomplish in the next few weeks.
As you accomplish your action steps, you then create new action steps so that you are continuing to move forward. It is important to acknowledge your accomplishments and successes as you go. Focusing on your success helps to create a positive attitude and mindset. You may also want to include a few pages to express gratitude for what you have and what you have accomplished. An attitude of gratitude can help you attract more good things into your life.
Once your dream book is finished, it will guide you through the year and keep you focused on accomplishing your goals and living your dreams. Use your dream book to motivate and inspire you as you take each action step that is necessary to reach your goals. You will be harnessing the power of your inner resources to bring your dreams into reality.
The key is to look through your dream book each day and imagine yourself living your dream life. You might want to spend a few minutes in the morning, midday, and before you go to sleep reviewing your dream book and experiencing your imagery. Remember, it is important to make this image as vivid as possible in your mind’s eye.
Each time you do this imagery exercise make the images brighter, bigger, and more exciting. The more often you experience this vision of your future and use your affirmations, the more powerful they become. This frequent repetition of positive thoughts and images will create and strengthen neural pathways in your brain, making it easier for you to believe in your success and take the necessary actions to create it.
