Journal Writing Prompt 4

Today let's explore the future. Many of us either live in the past, thinking of what we were, what we had or we live in the future, hoping to be something more, hoping for different things. What we can do instead is make peace with our past and have a goal for the future - it doesn't have to be set in stone - so we can work toward it while living in the present.

Do a timed writing exercise

For 10 to 15 minutes do a free writing about your hopes for the future. Don't think about it. Write as fast as you can. It's okay if you repeat the ideas. It's okay if you write silly things. There are no rules. Just get it out of your mind. 

After the free writing exercise, read through it and mark what resonates with you. If you wish, expand on those points. 

To delve deeper, write where you hope to be in five years time. What do you want your life to be like? Take some time. Think about it. Then think about how you can get there. Don't worry about practicalities at this stage. 

For example, you might have written - I want a master's degree in 5 years time - but the logical part of your brain might tell you that with a full time job, 2 kids, you have no time or money to do it. For now, don't worry. Just write down the steps you would need to do to achieve that.

For example: you might say

Decide what programme I want to join

Decide what university to go to

Would I do it part-time or full-time?

Would I do it in class or distance learning?

Do I meet the admission requirements?

If no, what do I have to do?

If I do, what is the application process?

When you have done all these steps, leave that entry somewhere handy, and look at regular intervals. Each time to look at it, write an entry about it - of do I still want to do this? why do I want to do this? how it might benefit? what temporary troubles it might cause (less time for kids, less money)

The reason for doing this over a period of time is so you know that you truly want something, and also you want it for the right reasons. If you take time to consider it, you will know how important it is to you, and then you can decide if your dream is too important to ignore or if it is a passing fancy.

Understanding our hopes and dreams enables us to achieve them, and creates paths for a more fulfilling life.