Jan 62 min read

Craft Your Life List

I create a new Life List everyone couple of years to help me envision and reconnect with my goals and dreams; I also use this exercise with my clients in one of our initial sessions.

I find it an energizing and rewarding process that has helped me and my clients get in touch with what is really important and to bring focus to ideas and goals.

The following is a basic guide that can help you brainstorm 25 items for your personal life list. I've provided a few additional links below to Life List articles if you'd like even more information on how to craft your own life list.

What is a Life List?

A life list is more than just a bucket list. It's a curated collection of experiences, goals, and dreams you want to pursue in your lifetime.

It's a roadmap to a life filled with purpose and hope. Read through the following set of guidelines and then start to generate your list of 25 items.

Instructions

Let Your Mind Wander with Possibility: This first step is to help you just get started with brainstorming. It would be great to block off half an hour or hour to away from distraction and follow these steps.
- No Limits or Filters for Now: Forget practicality for now. What sparks your curiosity? What adventures call to you? What skills do you yearn to master?
- Jot it Down: Grab a pen and paper (or use a digital document). Write down EVERY idea that comes to mind.
- Categories: Consider these categories to spark inspiration:
  - Travel: Explore new cultures, learn a new language, visit iconic landmarks.
  - Personal Growth: Master a new skill, read a specific number of books, improve your health and fitness.
  - Adventure: Go skydiving, hike a challenging trail, learn to surf.
  - Creativity: Write a novel, learn to play an instrument, start a blog.
  - Giving Back: Volunteer for a cause you care about, mentor someone, make a positive impact on your community.
  - Relationships: Strengthen existing relationships, build new friendships, spend quality time with loved ones.
  - Experiences: Attend a live concert, witness a natural wonder, learn a new language.
  - Legacy: Write your memoirs, leave a positive impact on the world, inspire others.
Review Your Initial List: When you have a list of at least 25 items, you can refine them a bit or add more detail by doing the following.
- Transform Dreams into Goals: Instead of "travel the world," write "visit the Northern Lights in Iceland."
- Find Recurring Themes: Look for recurring themes or patterns in your brainstormed ideas.
- Identify Your Core Values: What truly matters to you? Adventure? Connection? Growth?
- Highlight Key Areas: Use a highlighter to emphasize the areas that excite you most.

Remember: Your life list is a personal and evolving document. Embrace the journey of discovery and enjoy the process of bringing your dreams to life.

Now, let the brainstorming begin! If you haven't already started generating ideas, begin to write down your 25 items and enjoy the process of just letting your mind wander a bit.