20 Minute Exercise: 100 ways to change your life

[beren]

Did anyone else try this cool 20 minute exercise?

Just set aside 20 minutes and force yourself to write down 100 ways to change your life:

• Go. Write down 100 things you want to do. Or careers you want to have. Or people you would like to meet. The sky is the limit.

• Don’t be realistic. Dream big. Write down the craziest things you can think of, as well as the things that you don't even think bear mentioning because they are so simple. Write it all down.

• Work quickly. 20 minutes isn't very long, and you have 100 items to get through, if you can. Don't think about whether or not to write down an idea - just write. Write everything that comes to mind, even if it doesn't make sense. Just keep on writing, and don't stop until that timer goes off.

I tried this and discovered some pretty cool desires I didn't know I had:

• I want to meet and date more people from other cultures.
• I want to compete in martial arts.
• I want run a 6 minute mile.
• I want to be an expert at cooking steak.
• I want to go to New Zealand and see where they filmed Lord of the Rings!
• I want to see all of Ebert's top 100 films, and write personal reviews on them.

Those are the highlights from my list. What about you?

[jdp]

I honestly think it'd be impossible for me to concentrate on that for 20 mins for one thing and also impossible for me to come up with 100 worthy things for another. And I'm very picky about what I devote my energy to as my energy is finite lol.

Personally I prefer to use my weird "start to finish" method. As I progress through my day I jot (or record via my minirecorder) things I'd like to change. Later I revisit my notes, see if the idea still seems worthy or even do-able or maybe someday do-able (saved elsewhere) and pick one or two to do. Changing one thing at a time has always been easier for me.

I didn't like my hectic mornings (actually couldn't tolerate them anymore since in the a.m.'s I'm usually sick) so I changed that first - got up earlier, meditate (my version of anyway), decided I'd like a pickmeup which became walking, etc.... Once those changes were accomplished I looked at the next part of my day.

About a year later when I felt more relaxed and productive I started all over again at the beginning of my day.

[amandajane]

I've done that before and it's a pretty cool exercise, you can use it for many things.

I want to go to New Zealand and see where they filmed Lord of the Rings!

So do I and I live here, lol!

[macro01]

How could you focus on a thing that you are doing if your mind is thinking another thing.
Personally speaking it sounds crazy... but it sounds also cool and fun.

[lovely09]

Is it a mind exercise?I used to start with yoga in releasing positive energy from stressful activities.It is a calm and relaxing way to a healthy mind and body.

[bhkyra]

I do better to take things one step at a time.

[trustno1]

I want Oprah to adopt me
I want Oprah to adopt me
I want Oprah to adopt me
I want Bill Gates to adopt me
I want Bill Gates to adopt me
I want Bill Gates to adopt me
I want Warren Buffet to adopt me
I want Warren Buffet to adopt me
I want Warren Buffet to adopt me

So, how am I doing so far? lol

Actually, I have a slight variation that I have done daily for my entire life. I have three file folders in my filing cabinet. One labeled "Ideas", one labeled "To Do", one labeled "Goals".

Idea folder is crammed full of notes on napkins, scraps of paper, cards, etc. with outlines of inventions, business start-up ideas, etc that pop-up in my head.

To Do folder is all of my short term goals

Goals folder is a master, ongoing list of long term goals

In addition to these folders, I take short breaks each day to clear my head and "brainstorm". (mini version of your "list") The part you mentioned about avoiding any analysis during the process is extremely important. The objective is to generate a list of potential, not a list restricted and filtered with logic. The more wild the list appears, the more creative it becomes later.

Ok, back to your experiment...

I want Paul McCartney to adopt me
I want Paul McCartney to adopt me
I want...

Your exercise is a great suggestion that produces surprising results and opportunities later. It also transforms daydreaming into direction.

[Ryan6]

Originally Posted by beren

Did anyone else try this cool 20 minute exercise?

Just set aside 20 minutes and force yourself to write down 100 ways to change your life:
[/list]I tried this and discovered some pretty cool desires I didn't know I had:

• I want to meet and date more people from other cultures.
• I want to compete in martial arts.
• I want run a 6 minute mile.
• I want to be an expert at cooking steak.
• I want to go to New Zealand and see where they filmed Lord of the Rings!
• I want to see all of Ebert's top 100 films, and write personal reviews on them.

Those are the highlights from my list. What about you?

You could work through those quite quickly and soon notch up all of your goals. Just curious, what is your current timing on that 6 mile?