Think about it...

You may already be able to picture the life you really want for yourself.
But are you really serious about turning any ideas you have into reality?

The trouble is whenever we come up with any vision or dream for ourselves, we instantly make one of three choices:

  1. Forget it
  2. Put it off
    3. or
  3. Make it happen

The first two indicate a negative attitude and usually lead to failure.
The third calls for some very special qualities.
To decide you're going to make it happen – and really mean it – calls for self-confidence, commitment and real determination.
You also need to be able to spot – and break down – all the barriers that can stop you.
This section will help you actually achieve your vision, rather than filling your life with excuses and dreams of what might have been.

Try it
Dealing with change

To achieve what you want will involve making real changes in your life.
The following exercise is based on the Windmills Programme, a widely acclaimed process specially developed to help people do this.
It looks at change in terms of windmills and walls.

When faced with the winds of change you can either resist them ( i.e. build walls against them) or you can turn them to your own advantage (i.e. build windmills).
In this exercise you are going to decide:

  • What are the walls stopping me moving towards the life I want
  • What are the windmills – those positive approaches/attitudes I can use to take control and act.

Remember that both walls and windmills may be psychological or real.
They may be your own thoughts and attitudes (positive ones are windmills of course and negative ones walls).
Or they could be more practical considerations such as money, home circumstances, qualifications, age etc.

1. Fill in each box in turn by clicking on the lists to select any ideas that apply to you

  • In Box 1 put the factors and resources already within your control
  • In Box 2 put the personal barriers you will need to overcome
  • In Box 3 put the opportunities, personal contacts and networks you need to maximise
  • In Box 4 put the external forces and risks whose effects you will need to minimise

2. Take a look at the lists you have just created
Which is the largest? Is it a wall or a windmill? Is it in or out of your control? If it's a wall, it may be stopping you committing to turning your plans into actions.

3. Challenge your walls.
Are they simple reasonable excuses? Here are some common phrases.


Rollover the excuse to reveal the phrase
TIME
'I haven't got enough time'
MOTIVATION
'I can't be bothered'
MONEY
'I can't afford to'
AGE
'I'm too old'
CONFIDENCE
'I can't do it'
WORRY
' What will others think?'
BLAMING OTHERS
'My company won't let me'
We all have 24 hours each day – it's about how we prioritise it. If it is so important, why not spend less time watching soaps?

4. Look at each wall and try to think of a windmill that will overcome it

In our experience, change occurs quickest when people recognise that the barriers can often result from their own attitude rather than external factors.
For example there is a difference between, 'There are no jobs in Merseyside' and 'I'm too lazy to do proper research on where growth companies are'.


Get the Message

Reflecting on this exercise, the three most effective actions I can take (windmills) are:

1

2

3


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