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The instructions for
thinking outside the box
are printed on the outside.
Want to get out of your box?
work with FutureVisions

Imagine yourself ten years from now. How will you look? What type of clothes will you be wearing? What type of work/non-work activities will you be involved in?

Think carefully about your answers to the following questions:

1.       Where will you be living? Imagine where it is and what it looks like; how is it furnished, equipped, decorated? Is there a garden?

2.       Where will you be working? Imagine where it is. What does the place look like?

3.       How will you be spending you non-work time? How much non-work time will there be?

4.       How much money do you earn, and how do you spend your income?

5.       How much time will you have left to do the things you really want to? What are they?

Having completed the exercise, jot down anything of significance, and then refer back to your lifeline. How does the ‘ideal future’ exercise match up with the lifeline? Are there any changes you need to make to the lifeline in the light of more recent thoughts and dreams? If this is what you want, you need to think about how you are going to achieve it. What actions are you going to take in order to make the present move towards the future? Again, does it entail being clearer and more assertive in your relationships with others at home and at work? Do you need to change jobs, or ask for a pay rise? Do you need to put your house on the market, or buy your first home. Do you need to review your responsibilities, and think about letting some of them go?

Remember, you have a right to decline responsibility for other people’s problems. If a relationship is dead, isn’t it kinder to all concerned to admit to this and let it go, rather than hanging on in the hope it will eventually get better? Face up to it, deal with the ending, and let go. Do you need to think about managing your time better in the present and short term to start the process of achieving your ideal? As always it is up to you, but life will be less stressful if you are honest to yourself and others about who you are and what you want.

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 5	Year 1O
Home Life
Work Life
Relations
Finance
Leisure

 Another way of ordering the same material is to think in terms of what you would ideally like to be doing in one, two, five and ten years time. Think about each year in terms of what you would want from your home life, work life, your significant relationships, financial matters and leisure activities. How you keep yourself fit, healthy and happy.

Before moving on to look at specific actions you need to take in the very short term to achieve your life goals, how about reflect­ing on the multitude of skills and talents you have now. Our lack of assertion can mean that we undervalue ourselves, so try a little boasting; it will help compensate for all the times you have denied yourself the pleasure of celebrating your successes. Take a large sheet of paper and jot down everything that you know you can do, from communicating and listening to driving, cooking, managing your time, and asserting yourself.

Having completed the list, what is missing? What do you need to focus on in order to achieve your desired lifestyle?

1.       What additional skills do you need?

2.       What additional training do you need?

3.       What work/life experiences do you need?

4.       What do others need to do on your behalf?

5.       What could your workplace help with?

6.       What could your friends and family help you with?

Finally, think about creating a visualization notebook. Much of what we have covered so far involves words rather than pictures, images and symbols. Allow you ‘right brain’, the more creative side of your brain, to give energy to your future!

Start by collecting symbols of what you want to create in your life. These can be photos, picures, sayings, statements, and so on, all of which have a meaning for you.

Use at least one page for each of your key life areas.

Paste a picture of yourself in the middle of the page, and surround it with appropriate symbols and colours.

Label each page with a goal for the future.

Then try visualizing your goals. Find a time when you are feeling calm and positive, and a place where you won’t be disturbed.

*         Relax your body by going through some breathing and relaxation stretches, and clear your mind of any worries.

*         Take some deep breaths, feeling more and more relaxed.

*         Glance at the pages in your notebook; put them to one side and focus on your breathing.

*         Then recall your chosen goal for the day.

*         Allow images of achieving your given goal to form in your mind. Visualize each detail in a dreamlike state. Breathe deeply and ask yourself how it would feel if you already achieved your goal.

*         Stay in this picture until you see yourself acting successfully.

*         Visualize an entire day being your ideal self.

*         Complete the exercise by focusing back on your breathing, and allowing yourself to come around slowly.