Make a list of 50 things you want within the next decade.
No really, stop reading for a moment. Write down 50 things you want in the next 10 years or so. Use a sheet of paper or type it in a blank doc on your computer.
All done? Good.
How long did that take you? Did you even try? Or did you give up halfway?
If you’re like me, you wrote the first 10-15 things easily. Every list item after that took longer and longer. You probably didn’t even make it to 50. If you did, then I bet you took longer than you expected.
Not As Easy as I Thought
A few months ago, I did that same exercise. It’s part of the process I use to set goals (more on that later).
Want to guess how long it took me? It took me about 1.5 hours. I was close to giving up and changing the minimum from 50 things to 25 things.
“After all, I’ve lived a pretty wholesome life. Maybe I’m just very content with my life. It’s a good thing that I’m a man who is happy with a simple life.”
That’s how I conveniently reasoned with myself. But then my competitive nature kicked in. Was I going to let a list of 50 things dominate me? Absolutely not.
My inner Tommy Shelby asked:
“Are you telling me that out of everything this life has to offer, you can’t think of 50 things you want? Are you saying you’ve experienced everything you’ve ever wanted? No ambition for anything, really?”
Ouch. It dawned on me that maybe I’ve neglected an essential part of myself.
Children Want Everything
As a child, I wanted everything.
One of my favorite memories of my mom was a routine she and I had when I was a boy.
I’d get home from kindergarten and she’d make me a tuna fish sandwich. A sandwich was a treat because Mexican families like mine rarely eat sandwiches — we’re all about them tacos! She’d let me watch an afternoon cartoon show while I ate my sandwich too (also a treat since we always ate at the table).
TV Commercials were a thing back then. Every time I saw one, I’d call for my mom and tell her I wanted whatever the commercial was advertising. She’d just nod and say “Okay mijo, if we have enough money and see it at the store, maybe I’ll get it for you.”
In retrospect, I now realize advertisers were doing an excellent job targeting 4-year old Luis. My mom also never bought anything we saw in the commercials. We simply couldn’t afford it.
The Little Big Parts of Us
When I think about little Luis, I notice that he’s not scared to want things — regardless if he gets them or not.
Another thing I notice about him is that he isn’t worried about wanting the wrong thing. Somehow, he instinctively knows there isn’t a right answer to what he wants. It is what it is. He doesn’t give it that much thought.
Lastly, he dreams as big as he can. How is it that little Luis dreams bigger than big Luis?
I reckon little Luis hasn’t been tainted by societal norms. He’s ignorant of the status quo. He’s unaware of what most people consider possible and reality. Let’s be honest, what’s “possible” and “reality” in most cases are aliases for whatever people have settled for in life — usually in the form of failure.
You know, I bet if you were to think of 4-year-old you, you might notice similarities. As little kids, you and I could probably write down 100 things we wanted in half the time.
Stop Neglecting Parts of You
If you struggled to create a list of 50 things you want in the next decade, you might be neglecting a crucial part of you. It’s the childlike nature we each have but often neglect and even deny as we get older.
Childlike doesn’t mean childish. To be childish means to be immature. To be childlike means you possess the great qualities of children. Things like:
- Innocence
- Curiosity
- Imagination
- Creativity (not the artsy-fartsy kind)
- Simplicity
- Fully Present
- Playful
- Energetic
- Competitiveness
Don’t neglect these parts of you. I’ve been guilty of taking life way too seriously. Let’s face it, most things in life aren’t that serious. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want to win in life. It simply means to enjoy the process.
Dream big and often. Sprint like you’re the fastest person on the planet. Let any ignorance be your bliss, not your demise.
Embrace Yourself,
Luis
PS — I’m creating a Goal Setting Course this month. Over the next few weeks, Coffee Talk emails will touch on key things I’m including in the course. Your feedback is more than welcomed.
PPS — Did you finish your list of 50 things yet? 👀 Share your top 5 things with me.