How to Discover What You Really Want

Conventional advice sucks.

It doesn’t tell you how to uncover what you really want, how you can begin working to get it, and what are the underlying things that stop you from accomplishing your goals.

It seems easy to discover what you really want but I understand that it’s not.

Many times we focus on what we think we can get.

If the world changes then we change with it. I never thought maybe I can get what I want even if the world falls apart.

Even then, I didn’t know how to uncover what I really wanted in life not just what I thought I could achieve.

So, I’m going to share how I found what I really wanted to accomplish in life. The next post will discuss how to get there..

1.Start writing

Take a moment and write out all the things have in your mind right now. Write how you feel about it. There is no wrong way to do this.

Allowing yourself to write about what you’re feeling in the moment clears your mind to do the next tasks.

2. Write what’s important to you and why

Again, there is no wrong way to do this. Consider all areas of your life such as your career, interpersonal life, and spiritual life.

Here are a few examples:

Enjoying life by being happy and having a peaceful life – I don’t want to be constantly stressed out. I want to look forward to the future.

Having good friends, family, and solid relationship – I want to enjoy my life. I want to have someone to call when I’m in need, someone to hangout with, cook for, and people to talk to.

Having a farm with a garden – I love to garden. I also like the feeling of freedom and independence it brings. I want to eat non toxic food. I also want to be able to support my family in times of need.

3. Step back and read it.

Do you see a few consistent themes?

For me, getting to enjoy my life in a peaceful way with a community around me is important.

What is important to you?

4. Write out your current needs and put money next to it

This is what is on your mind now. What do you need to spend your money on within the next year?

Here is an example.

• $300 on Christmas
• $1400 on Car Repairs

5. Write out your initial desires and put money next to it

I decided I want to focus on traveling and saving money this year. I calculated that the trip I want to take is $3,000 and I want to save at least $2,000 this year. I decided based on my current budget, I’m okay not taking the trip this year but I need to be intentional about putting money and a plan towards it.

It’s okay to not have everything figured out! Stick with me in this process.

• $3,000 Travel
• $2,000 Savings

6. Write your current salary and begin to break down how you can meet each goal

Stick with me here. The purpose is NOT to uncover how you can make these goals happen. It is to discover what you really want.

Trust the process and spend the time doing this step.

Example:

I discover I cannot spend $1,400 on my car but I really just need the tires by the end of next year. I anticipate tires to be $800.

By saving $80 per month, I can get new tires by October.

• $300 on Christmas – Start November 15^th, Finish by November 30^th
• $800 Tires- $80/month – Start January 1^st, Finish by by October 1^st
• $3,000 total Travel goal- $60/month- Start January 1^st, Revisit in 2024
• $2,000 Savings – $100/ Pay Period- Start in November, Finish by September 30^th

Do this with each item on your list. Again, this is based of your current salary.

The point is not to discover how you can do it, it’s to understand how many of the things you want are tied to money. We limit our dreams based on what we think we have in the moment.

7. Now, double your salary.

Write your new salary beside the old one. On each line, write the new date in which this goal will be accomplished.

Example

60k  / 80k

$300 on Christmas – Start November 15^th, Finish by November 30^th -Done by December 15^th

$800 Tires- $80/month – Start January 1^st, Finish by October 1^st –  I decide this deadline is okay

$3,000 total Travel goal- $60/month- Start January 1^st, Revisit in 2024- –  I decide this deadline is okay

$2,000 Savings – $100/ Pay Period- Start in November, Finish by September 30^th – Done by December 1^st

8. Come up with new things that this new salary will allow you to focus on and add that to your new budget

For example:

• I actually want to bump up my savings to $6,000.
• I want to redecorate my home, buy new clothes and shoes, and save for a house.

Place that into your new salary the exact same way!

9. Now double your salary AGAIN.

• Write your new salary beside the old one. On each line, write the new date in which this goal will be accomplished.
• Then come up with new things that this new salary will allow you to focus on and add that to your new budget.

10. Double your salary a THIRD TIME.

• Write your new salary beside the old one. On each line, write the new date in which this goal will be accomplished.
• Then come up with new things that this new salary will allow you to focus on as well as the things you would be worried about making this much money.

This is what you really want to accomplish.

I was amazed at the things I wrote down!

I noticed that these were a larger version of my initial desires.

When I tripled my salary, my goals went from defensive saving and paying for current issues (which are important) to proactively living.

That is what I’m working towards. So every decision I make from here forward is to getting here even if it is a small step.

We will talk more about how to craft better goals next!

If you would like a step by step guide, I have a FREE comprehensive guide that walks you through this process.

Click here to get it for a limited time. Our inventory changes monthly. Plus, you will be the first to know about our monthly products.