I went back to a journal from a year ago. I have a giant box full of journals that I have written in since I moved here. I thought it would be interesting to check out a notebook from last year when I did The Artist’s Way.
I regularly update my seven lists. I first did this because it was an activity in The Artist’s Way but found it to be a really neat tool. The challenge is to write 10 things you desire in seven categories: Health, Possessions, Leisure, Relationships, Creativity, Career, and Spirituality.
I remember the first time I did these lists. They were HARD. I was not used to thinking in these terms. It’s scary to want things that you might not get.
But if you don’t know what you want, it makes it really tough to go out and get it!
And it is very fun to go back and write giant checks by something you achieve in one of those categories.
When I did this last year, under possessions, I had written “new sheets.” And this year, around my birthday, I was updating my lists, and I noticed that I had written “new sheets” under possessions once again.
I don’t know exactly what I was waiting for to get these sheets. (An extra $50 lying around perhaps.) But they were obviously important to me, since they were 1 of 10 thing I desired to possess.
Sheets aren’t just going to fly out of the air into my lap.
All I have to do is walk to the store and purchase them.
I mean, some of the items on these lists aren’t so easily in my reach. “Manhattan Loft” is a little more far-fetched. “European Vacation” is a tad more expensive. But damn—I can do sheets.
It’s just a matter of DOING IT.
But the universe will certainly lend you a hand nonetheless. My parents offered to treat me to a new outfit for my birthday. (They really are the best.) And I decided, I’m going to get these damn sheets!
So, you have all the power within you. 
But, aside from sheets, there are plenty of goals or dreams on those lists that have been hanging around for some time.
I think those are GIANT CLUES as to what kind of actions need to be taken.
It’s exciting to see “rock climbing” in there and say, OOH! I did that!
Or “Trapezing.” YEAH!
No one was going to trapeze for me though!
I had to find it online, research it, pay for it, and set that up! And then the whole going there and walking up the scary shaky ladder and taking a big old JUMP.
It’s another reminder that “it’s all within yourself.” All the secrets to your own happiness are right there within you.
