One of the mechanisms the mind uses to sort through the huge amounts of data that flow daily and keep it manageable is called a “preparatory set.” It helps your brain focus on items that are considered important. You can “program” that mechanism by writing down the things you want to accomplish and making them clear. Once programmed, it directs your attention to certain events and occurrences. To illustrate: when you decide you want a certain one because you see them everywhere, you notice every one on the freeway, you see every ad or commercial. The preparatory set works that way. Once you program it with your goals (visualizing in addition to writing is more effective) you will automatically be more aware of certain events, opportunities and people that can be useful. You’ll also be clearer about what you want, and this will creep into your conversation and general attitude where others can tell. It is not really magic, unless you believe as I do, that the mind is a miracle in itself.

For example, to make it easier to include easy exercise in your life, write down your goal (I will walk half an hour more a day) and imagine yourself walking and enjoying it: maybe you imagine parking a few blocks away (where it is cheaper) and walk the rest of the way, or get off the bus or subway a stop earlier, or walk to that nearby restaurant for lunch, or take the stairs instead of the elevator when you can, or take a snack to a nearby park, or take the dog out to walk a little more than usual before and after work. If you imagine yourself walking and enjoying it, you will soon find that you are noticing new and different ways to walk more without stressing about it.

As soon as you have a goal, you can make a “road map” for yourself.

Creating a visual representation of what you want to achieve can do several things: First, the creation process will force you to be more specific and clear about what you want. Second, taking the time and energy to create it is a powerful signal to you that you’re serious about it. Set an intention. Third, if you keep it where you can see it, it will be a powerful reminder of your intentions for your own life.

Your visual roadmap consists of two parts: 1) an image of your destination and 2) your map of how to get there.

Roadmap Exercise 1: Imagine Your Destination

This is a visual representation of your ideal life, and you will use it for years to come to remind and motivate yourself, so treat it like the important project that it is. When you look at your finished image, you should be able to see each of your goals clearly represented.

preparation

1. Gather the materials needed to make a collage you can write on: a large sheet of paper and colored markers, pens, paints, pastels, or other art supplies; several magazines full of photos and advertisements that you can cut, paste or paste, and several photos of yourself and other people in your life. If you like to draw, you might want to skip the magazine pictures and draw your own. If you’re a computer whiz, computer art might be the way to do this. You can also add solid objects, pieces of cloth or jewelry, tokens, and keepsakes that are meaningful to you. Keep in mind that colorful, graphic images are powerful subconscious stimulants, and the goal of this exercise is to help you focus your subconscious on your goals and dreams.

2. Divide your work into sections that represent your personal life, your business or career, your family life, your friends, and your free time.

3. Title each section and think about what, if you designed your own life, you would like to create in that section.

4. Start with the personal life section and think about what activities represent the private and personal part of your life, including images that symbolize it. Start with a picture of you as you are, or as you would like to be (in a prom dress, wedding dress, slimmer, successful, you can paste a small picture of your head or face onto a magazine photo if you like). Are there hobbies or talents that are important to you? What kind of images make you feel good about yourself? What symbols would you use to represent yourself? What do you want to use to represent your physical health? Your happiness? Your determination? Choose one or two images to represent the various ways you identify: hobbies, spirituality, relaxation, exercise, work, parenting, fun.

5. Now find images of specific items or goals that would complete the personal section of your roadmap, such as: your home, car, clothes, travel, pets, personal growth goals, and any other important factors that represent your personal . life.

6. Arrange these images in the personal section of your collage in any way that works best for you, or draw representations of the items that are important to you. Make sure your chosen image of yourself is front and center in this personal section. Organize, rearrange and adjust your image collection until the end result pleases you.

7. Now complete the other sections of your result image in a similar way. Each section will likely include some repeating elements from the personal section because you will be personally involved in each category. Use an image of your idealized self prominently in each section; Create a different version of your idealized self for each section, or use black and white or color photocopies of your original in each section.

When you’ve fixed your photo, take a step back and take a look to see if it reflects your ideal life. If not, play with it some more. If so, paste things or put them away, and put the collage where you can see it often. This image just needs to represent your future as you think it should be currently; you can modify your image, add to it, or create a new one as your goals grow and change.

Roadmap Exercise 2: Building Your Roadmap

Once you spend the time and energy necessary to imagine your destination, you will find that by concentrating on details and details, you have clarified your image. Most people who have gone through this process in workshops and classes report that they feel very motivated, much clearer and energized by their vision. Take that energy and use it now to create your roadmap; an action plan to reach your destination.

1. Use a separate sheet of paper or artboard and title the left side of the roadmap “Where Am I Now”. Place enough symbols, words, or numbers to indicate where you are now in all the outlined areas on your destination image.

2. Label the right side of the paper or artboard “My Destiny” and arrange similar symbols, words, or numbers to indicate where you will be when you reach your goals.

3. Divide the space in between into columns and, in those columns, develop the steps you will need to take to get from where you are now to your destination. For example: In the workplace, the steps might be 1) graduate from school, 2) look for a job, 3) develop professional skills, experience, and knowledge, and 4) move up in your career. (Each of these steps can be broken down into smaller steps, as you get closer to that segment of the roadmap and need to accomplish specific goals.)

Use your roadmap daily

After completing your destination picture and road map, use them daily to stay focused on your goals and stay motivated. Keep them where you can review them often and change and update them as needed. You will find that having a clear picture of your goals and aspirations in front of you will make achieving them much easier.

All your decisions from now on can be made in relation to your roadmap. If you consider each of your subsequent decisions according to whether or not it will bring you closer to your goal, your choices will become clearer and more direct.

Using your destination picture and road map to set your priorities and keep you focused will help keep all the important areas of your life in balance and help shape your future. Knowing where you want to go and how to get there will minimize your tendencies to worry and reduce your indecision and confusion.

© 2020 Tina B. Tessina – Adapted from: The 10 Smartest Decisions a Woman Can Make Before 40 https://tinyurl.com/jsrsv977