I’ve been having some great conversations lately exploring this question with people.  

What do you want?

When was the last time someone asked you this?  More  importantly, when was the last time you answered with what you DO want and not what you DON’T want.  For example a typical conversation might go this way:

So, what do you want?

Well, I really want my boss to stop piling on the work.  I can’t get everything done in a day and still stay on top of my other projects.  Doesn’t she get it .  The plate is already full.

Why is it that we have been conditioned to respond to a question of abundance with answers of fear?

We have been programmed to be great problem solvers, that’s why.  Think about it. You want to figure things out.  Except the flaw about problem solving usually leads us to believe something might have to go away. And we slip into answering the questions based in fear.  When the brain is asked a question, it has to generate a response.  (Try not to answer the  next question.)  What would make you smile today?

Now whether you said anything out loud or not isn’t the issue.  Your brain started to connect pathways to answer the question.  And your mouth may have started to turn upward into…a smile. Or, you started to think of the things that get you down or get in your way of making you grin from ear to ear.

Can you train your brain to start making connections that make you smile?  Or lean into what you really do want?  Yes. And it’s going to take practice just like any new habit would.  Here are three simple steps on getting what you want and focusing your energy towards that:

1. Set your Intention. What do you want today?  Simply state what you want to occur today.
2. Seek to Notice. Your quest for today is to notice how this might be showing up for you.  It might be thoughts, it might be images it might be people, and it might be something completely unique to you.  You job is to notice on how this IS showing up for you.
3. Secure your Habits. This is where it starts to get really juicy.  As you continue to notice you are starting to create habits around your thoughts. These habits aren’t just going to stay with the one intention you have set.  They have this crazy multiplier effect.  When you start creating your habits around noticing what you want, you can’t help but get more of what you want in life.

Use the following What Do You Want Worksheet and start developing your habits to get what you really want today.

Another great way to get what you want is to work with a coach, check out our Coaching page for more information.