All About You — Day 14: What Do You Wish You Could Do?

Friday, August 22nd 2008 by Shanel Yang         Email this article to a friend

[For “Day 13: What Do You Love?,” click here.]

ALL ABOUT YOU — DAY 14:

WHAT DO WISH YOU COULD DO?

What you wish you could do is all about your perception of future possibilities, or lost opportunities, and includes stuff you don’t think, believe, or trust you could ever do. It tends to be a self-limiting set of beliefs.

It’s different from what you want, which is about your present desires and usually includes people, things, experiences, ideas, etc., that you generally believe you could get if you worked hard enough for them. It’s also different from what you are good at (present skills you already possess) and what you love (present people, things, experiences, idea, etc., you already possess).

Most of us stopped thinking about what we wish we could do a long time ago. Which is really too bad because it’s the wishing that makes us eager to get off our butts and take the action steps need to do and get whatever we truly desire. But, somewhere between the unfettered daydreaming of childhood and the cold, hard reality of the adult world, we stopped believing we could do and get whatever we wished for. But, what if we could? What if we could actually do and get most of what we wished for by just wishing for it hard enough? Would you wish for anything then? Of course, you would! Well, guess what? That’s exactly how to do it—that’s the all-important first step, anyway. So, let’s find out what you wish you could do without any limitations. Don’t deny yourself anything in this exercise. At least to yourself, admit all your desired skills, experiences, and accomplishments and get them out of you onto the screen or paper so you know what to do with them.

You might decide you don’t really wish for this one or that one based on the effort required, the laws of physics, or other real world limitations later. For now, totally break free from the world as you know it and reenter the magical world of infinite possibilities. You’ll find that you are more creative and playful than you think. The child inside of you is alive and well and would love to come out and run free again!

BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE

1. Preparation

Clear your mind of all other thoughts. If stray thoughts not related to this exercise wander into your mind, let them drift right back out of your mind without paying any special attention to it. (If you think it’s something important that you’re afraid to forget later, just jot it down quickly and let it out of your thoughts again.)

2. Let it All Flow Freely

Use paper or the computer. Whatever is more comfortable for you. Jot down or type everything. Don’t cross out or delete anything (even if you suspect you might have already recorded it). Don’t reread your answers either (or check if you already recorded it) because doing so will break the flow. Just keep going. Ask yourself the question repeatedly and write down every answer that pops into your mind.

Complete this sentence: “I wish I could …”

a. Stay in the Present

There are probably hundreds of possible answers to this question. I list below the ones that immediately came to my mind as the answers that different people might come up with. Don’t judge yourself based on your own answers. That’s not the point of this exercise. The words you choose are merely clues to help you see and start to understand the bigger picture of who you are right now, right here—as well as who you no longer are or who you would like to be but have not become yet.

b. Possible Answers

fly like Superman
swim like a fish
run like the wind
be invisible
read minds
be immortal
time travel
travel anywhere in an instant
make time stand still at will
breathe under water
breathe anything w/o any ill effects
eat/drink anything w/o any ill effects
stay thin and healthy
never get sick
never get old
never get tired
never need to eat
never need to go to the toilet
never lose my mental faculties
touch people, animals, and plants and heal them
make some people walk a mile in others’ shoes
abolish racism, sexism, and all forms of bigotry
be a millionaire
be a billionaire
be the richest person in the world
be stunningly beautiful
be profound
be loved
be admired
be respected
be a legend
be a hero
be famous
be a superstar
be eloquent
be graceful
be funny
be charming
be fascinating
be entertaining
be a genius
be super fast
be super strong
see through things
communicate with animals
be great at kung fu
be great at survival skills
be great with firearms
be great with blades
be great with all weapons
be great at operating all machines
be great at operating all vehicles
be great at ballet
be great at jazz dance
be great at gymnastics
be great at acrobatics
be double jointed and very flexible
be great at singing (with perfect pitch)
be great at playing the piano (and by ear)
be great at illustrating, especially cartoons
be great at acting
be great at magic or illusions
be great at surfing
be great at riding horses
be great at figure skating
be great at downhill skiing
be great at mountain climbing
be great at calculating numbers in my head
have a green thumb
give great massages
create and cook gourmet meals
be a great make up artist
design and make clothing
design and make furniture
repair homes
remodel homes
design and build houses
design and build themed healthy food restaurants
design, build, and run summer camps for disadvantaged kids
design, build, and run “elite” boarding schools for disadvantaged kids
design and build an amusement park
design and build an entire community
speak all languages
know all things
teach all things
know the future
change the past
morph into anything
be invincible
be indestructible
be impervious to heat or cold
still feel emotional pain
still feel disappointment
still feel empathy
still feel sympathy
still feel joy
still feel excitement
still feel all the human emotions
know how the world began
move objects with my mind
save people from self destruction
save people from poverty
give everyone a second chance
educate everyone who wants to learn
give decent jobs to all who want them
eliminate wars, violent crimes, and disease
make healthy food plentiful and free for everyone
give abused/neglected children safe, nurturing homes

be able to pass on all my abilities to someone I trust who will take these responsibilities as seriously as I did when I finally want to stop being immortal! : )

TO BE CONTINUED …

This is going to be an adventurous journey into our past, present, and future lives. None of us can be prepared for what we might find along the way. So, just sit back and enjoy the ride! Also, I hope at least some of you brave souls will share your answers, insights, and revelations in the comments below for everyone’s benefit!

When you’re done, collect your answers and keep them in a safe place. I recommend a diary. It makes a precious gift to someone you love, especially you!

[For “Day 15: The Big ‘Do Over,’” click here.]

[For entire “All About You!” series, click here.]

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