Discover a More Empowered Version of You: 5. Life plans

Write down a summary of your life plans

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Walt Disney had a brainstorming method for creative strategy, which he would use to generate and refine his ideas. You can use his method to dream and strategize your life plan. The fundamental premise is that everyone can be their own dreamer, realist, and critic —

in that order.

1. Dreamer

Make a list of all that you will like to have for your ideal life. Think “WHAT IF?” to ignite your creativity towards the achievements you want to accomplish, your route to happiness, your relationships, your career, etc. Think “AS IF” you can get anything and everything you want. Don’t filter yourself. Use this stage to fantasize pure, raw ideas that fill you with joy and happiness.

Visualize your wish list. Find images or draw out the images that speak to you and create your own vision board. Remind yourself as often as you like about who you want to be and what you want.

2. Realist

Now it’s time to examine your fantasies and make them more practical and achievable. Decide on steps the steps that will help you materialize your goal. Take stock of your resources (both external and internal), your time frame, and create a workable action plan. Look at where you’re falling short now in achieving your dreams, and plan ways to plug those gaps.

3. The Critic

Now that you have refined your fantasies using a well-thought-out plan, it’s time to pick holes in your strategy and find all its flaws and faults. Assess how achievable your goal truly is in the time frame you have. Decide if it is really what you want, and if you are willing to take the opportunity cost to make it happen. Try to tear down your plans and see how well they stand up to your own critical scrutiny.

The Disney brainstorming method above compartmentalizes different aspects of creative planning. You are free to dream big without filters or considering limiting factors. You can plan around something you know you really want, without being distracted by worrying about too many hurdles. And by the time you assess it all, your critical voice is examining what is already a more thoughtful plan based on something you want.

Any dreams that can make it through all three stages are worthy of consideration. Make them happen. Any dreams that don’t make it through are less likely to succeed.

Goals are meant to change and evolve as we grow into the different phases of our lives. So, two rules of thumb in goal setting is:

a) Decide on actions achievable within 1-2 years

b) Decide on items that you won’t regret looking back 5 years from now

Then — commit, focus, action.

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