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Michelle Phillips: 1 simple question
I believe there is a thing you can ask yourself that can change your life forever, but before I give you the question, I have a request. I want you to take some time to really think about the question without boundaries or limitations, and don’t hold back. Are you ready?
If you could wave a magic wand and your life could be anything you want, what would it look like?
This is a deceptively simple exercise that holds great power. Through it, we realize how similar or different our lives are today compared to what we ultimately want, providing healing either way. First, it can shed light on the areas of your current life that are already a part of your dreams. Second, it can provide a guiding light in the distance that leads your spirit in the direction in which it is intended. As much as I’ve seen this exercise change the lives of my coaching clients, personal experience is always life’s greatest teacher.
Many years ago I was a single mom of three small children living on welfare and scared as to what my future would hold. I had lost my job and gone through a horrific divorce when I was invited to a New Year’s Eve party that my girlfriend was having for our close circle of friends. As each of us arrived, we were given a small piece of paper and instructed to write down our dreams for the New Year. When we finished, she told us to fold the paper several times, and we taped them all to a bottle of wine.
Jackie picked up the bottle and set it outside under the moonlight. At midnight (when most fairy tales start to get interesting!), we stood around our “bottle of dreams” and said a prayer. Then we opened it and toasted each other, intending that all of our wishes would come true.
Here is what I wrote that fateful evening:
Empowered, centered, strong, energetic, loving, compassionate! Full-speed ahead, I’m arriving in my purpose of inspiring people to break free of fear, resentment, and anger so that they can live their dreams. I will do this by being fully present and connected with others. I will be a facilitator to encourage women to tell their stories, and in turn, major shifts will occur in their lives—and my own. Fear is gone. Unconditional love surrounds me, my family, and my friends. I listen to my intuition and my authentic self. I am the healthiest that I have ever been, and I am financially sound. My family is secure, close, and connected. I am at peace and continue to grow every day. I love my life!
When I wrote that entry in my diary, I never thought it would come close to really happening. But from that tiny seed of a dream, a beautiful new life took root and grew. Sometimes, I know now, we are too afraid to dream, even on paper. We are afraid of opening that door. But when we acknowledge our dreams, we can create the blueprint to reach them.
I learned to dream, and I also learned to live that dream with a hand outstretched to the Uni-verse. In other words, I wasn’t clinging with white knuckles to a specific outcome, nor did I let myself get too attached to my description of how things would work. It’s important to realize that when we wave our magic wands, events might not unfold in the exact way we envision them . . . yet they will manifest. If we can find the courage to dream, we can find the courage to trust in the ultimate outcome, too. It has been years since I wrote that journal entry, and my dream is still unfolding.
I’ve discovered that when a dream blooms into fruition, anything is possible.
That prompted me to dream again—a bigger, richer, more beautiful dream. One realized vision leads to another; and this incredible cycle is more intoxicating than any drug, drink, or aphrodisiac.
Love,
Michelle
Michelle Phillips is a celebrity makeup artist and Life Coach, speaker, and author of the bestselling beauty and self-esteem book from Hay House, “The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams”. www.michellephillips.com