Now is the time to do what you want
There’s never been a better time to manifest your own reality.
by: E.B. Johnson
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably realize that we’re living in a world that is spinning chaotically toward the brink of major transformation. From the political and social brawls, to the increasing climate threats, we’re in an unprecedented moment. While scary, though, it has offered us an incredible change. Despite all the fear and all the turmoil, now is actually the perfect moment to stand up and do what you want. There’s never been a better moment to step out and create the life that you want.
Why now is the best time to do what you want.
While the chaos of the current world is scary, it’s also opened the door on the perfect moment to manifest the life we want. Wherever there is uncertainty, there is possibility. No one really cares anymore, not in the ways that they once did. Between the yelling online and the social divides, things aren’t really getting “better” they’re just changing. You can capitalize on that change and use it to get the future that you want.
Uncertainty breeds possibility
Although we don’t like to admit it (for whatever absurd reason) uncertainty breed possibility. Uncertain times leave open holes in which we can insert ourselves and manifest our little hearts out. While everyone is running around confused, you can slow down, clarify, and capitalize on the door that shakes loose and open in front of you. Keep your eyes open. Social and business opportunities are everywhere amid these major shifts.
No one really cares anymore
We rarely like to confront the idea that no one really cares, but it’s true. Sure, the crowd likes to rabble-rabble when we do things that go “outside of the norm” but few of them have the ability or desire to actively impede on our lives. People are a lot of bark and not a lot of bite. When push comes to shove, they’d rather turn their backs and go back to their comfortable lives — rather than going out of their way to actively help or change you. (Just ask the kids in cages at the US / Mexican border.)
Things aren’t getting “better”
There’s no denying that we’re living through a time of major change. And while many promise us that things are getting “better” they really aren’t. They are just changing shape. Life is still going to be hard 20–30 years from now. And it won’t get any easier for those who decide to put their heads down and “go with the flow”. That business you want to start? Now is the time to start it. That big idea you want to flesh out? You better get to it now, because time is running out to make a space for yourself in that world.
You don’t owe them anything
So many people do nothing they want because they feel stifled by everyone around them. Believing they owe these people their respect or allegiance, they stifle themselves and water down their lives until they are miserable or numb. Unless you want to get stuck in the rut of someone else’s misery, then you need to step out of their shadow and understand that you don’t owe anyone anything…not even your parents.
We’re going through a major shift
The world is in a state of shift. We’re in the middle of major social shifts, and we’re also in the mist of major (and dangerous) climate shifts. All of this change adds up, and it creates the perfect environment in which to branch off on your own. (Some) People are waking up. They’re changing the way they live and relate to each other. The way we work, and earn, and value is changing too. When you embrace the shift, it can lead to major payoffs for you in so many ways.
How to actively create the life that you desire.
Knowing that the time is right simply isn’t enough. If you’re ready to create a life you genuinely desire, then you have to figure out who you want to be and visualize your ideal life. Then you can make plans and take focused, mindful action that leads you closer to where you need to be. Don’t expect it to be an easy ride, though. Getting the life we want requires embracing some suffering and uncertainty.
1. Figure out who you want to be
Who do you want to be? So many people think they’re so ready to launch into their dreams lives (and they can rattle off the list of material goods to accompany that life) but they can’t tell you who they are in that life. This is an essential starting place. What to manifest a life in which you can do what you want to do when you want to do it? None of that can happen until you figure out who you are and then focus on that person’s strengths and abilities.
Figure out who you want to be and invest in that person. To figure out our ultimate life, we first have to tap into our ultimate (and ideal) self. What kind of human being do you want to be 5 or 10 years from now? In your final moments — how do you want to remember yourself?
Do you want to be confident? Self-possessed? Independent and free of the expectations of others? All of that is possible. All of that can be yours, but the only way to do is by consciously becoming that person. Heal yourself. Seek the answers to the problems and the questions you’re experiencing. Take classes. Build new social networks and friend groups. Get that job you’ve been dreaming about; surround yourself with relationships that matter. Become the person you want to be so that you can visualize their ideal life.
2. Visualize your ideal life
While you may know what your ideal self looks like? What does their ideal life look like? We think a lot about what an ideal life might look like in our present moment, but is that the life that would really work for us in the long-term? Be honest. By first focusing on that person you’re trying to become, look to their life. This is the future that we need to visualize. What is it they want to do? How do they go about doing what they want?
Visualize the ideal life for this ideal version of you. What is around you? What kind of house do you live in? What kind of work do you do? What are your relationships like? How do they make you feel? Visualize it in terms of the big picture and then get specific about little details and emotions.
The more real you can make this vision in your mind’s eye, the more achievable it becomes. All of us feel drawn to a certain life, and this longing happens for a reason. Allow yourself to embrace that longing and transform it into the vision that can carry you forward. With this picture at hand, we are equipped to identify the steps and directions that need to be taken. Doing what we want is possible, but we have to know what we’re pursuing first in order to achieve.
3. Make a realistic plan
Sure, some people have savings that allow them to throw it all to the wind and jump in. That’s not the case for everyone, though. The rest of us have to take our time and make (relatively) careful plans. Before you launch into action, take a step back to think through what’s happening. You need to break things down and cut your dream life into actionable chunks. Be practical and forward thinking. You build up to your dreams; you don’t get them overnight.
With your clear vision in mind (and your new sense of self-confidence) start planning your way into the life of your dreams. Start small. What is the smallest and easiest first step you can take to ease into the waters? Focus on your long-term goals and how that success will feel. Don’t try to overhaul or take major first steps.
Realistic plans are SMART plans. Which means that they set small, specific goals that they can concretely measure. These goals are achievable and they are relevant to whatever primary task you’re focused on. For instance, if you have decided that the first step to getting a better life is a better job — then you need to research that job fully, and what it actually takes to land it. Don’t rush in, quit your current job and go all in on something you fail with. Set time limits and build up to the life you want by creating a smart and actionable plan.
4. Take steps to make it happen
Plans are great, and so is self-realization. But all of that is nothing if we don’t also act on it. Take steps to make your dreams happen. If you want to do what you want to do, then you actually have to do what you want to do at some point. This requires breaking away from the pack and embracing your dreams actively and consciously every single day…even when it’s hard.
Take steps to make your ideal life happen. Planning and self-healing only goes so far. Eventually, bring action into the mix. What is the smallest first piece of action you can take to get closer to what you want? Maybe it’s as simple as building a friend group. Maybe it’s as energetic as running for local office.
We all have varying degrees of small first actions. They can be centered on our self-building. They can be built around improving your relationships or building your first business. It’s all about prioritizing what’s important to you, and that comes back to visualizing and planning. See your future as a series of building blocks. What is the first building block that must be melded into the foundation? Set your tasks according to importance and define that important based on your specific physical and emotional needs.
5. Be prepared to suffer (a little)
There are a lot of people out there — especially in the world of “mentors” and “influencers” that promise us the world when it comes to changing our lives. They promise everything will go seamlessly. They promise magic unicorns and rainbows if we just quit it all and move to the mountains. Every single one of these people is a liar. Even if you’ve got it all thought out, there is no getting what you want without a little suffering and discomfort. Because uncertainty is the backbone of possibility, we have to embrace it.
Embrace being uncomfortable for a little while in order to be comfortable for the rest of your time on this planet. It’s a tradeoff. You have to endure some uncertainty in order to take charge of your own life. That’s the way things work. Becoming your own independent person means losing that safety net that comes with someone else holding the power and deciding.
Once you get over the idea that no transformation is entirely comfortable, you can be more proactive in defining your life on your own terms. To some extent, we all have to go through a degree of suffering and uncertainty in order to get what we want from life. Are you willing to suffer in order to cut yourself loose of other people’s strings? Are you willing to trust yourself? Invest in yourself? Putting faith in yourself is the best place to put your faith, because you are the only person out there who will never abandon you. Now is the moment to decide. Is this life going to belong to you or someone else?
Putting it all together…
Although we’re living through scary times, now is actually the best moment to do what you want with your life and your future. Despite the looming catastrophes and divides, you still have a right to be happy and comfortable in your life. And you can. You just have to get clear on who you want to be and the life you want to lead. Then you can make space for yourself and manifest a future that brings you fulfillment.
Before you can get the life that you want and do what you want, figure out who you want to be. Look at that person, then figure out what life they live. Visualize your ideal future and really feel yourself within it. This is a key step in making an actionable plan that is both realistic and honestly aligned to our needs and desires. You can’t afford to draw a line at plans, however. If you really want to get the life you want, then you have to take action every day to get it. Start small. Look at the smallest and easiest steps you can take first (and know that first step looks different for everyone). Don’t expect an easy ride. Doing what we want brings challenges of its own. Be prepared to be uncomfortable in exchange for the happiness you’ve always dreamed of.