If you had three wishes, what would they be? Would you benefit yourself or help others? Would you advance your career, health, or financial well-being, or would you further your social, emotional, or spiritual needs? Would you blow through your wishes right away, or would you hold a few in reserve?
You may be thinking this is a silly exercise, but your answers can be quite telling. For example, what do your wishes say about your priorities? Do they focus on possessions or enhance your relationships? What do your wishes say about your current situation versus your ultimate goals? Are your wishes far-fetched or clearly within your grasp?
Dreams, unlike eggs, don’t hatch from sitting on them.
Don’t You Wish
If your wishes are things that you long for, what’s holding you back? Here are 10 guidelines to consider. Are you:
Spreading yourself too thin? If everything’s a priority, then nothing’s a priority. You don’t have unlimited resources and can’t be in two places at the same time.
Waiting for things to happen by magic? If your wishes haven’t become a reality to date, what makes you think sitting around waiting is productive?
Afraid of failure? If you stop focusing on all the reasons why you can’t do something, you just may surprise yourself when you see what you can do.
More talk than action? When you do nothing, nothing happens. It’s that simple.
Unwilling to make the commitment? Everything worth striving for requires a certain level of sacrifice to achieve success. If you’re not willing to make the commitment, don’t complain about the outcome.
Trying too hard to please others? Make your priorities a priority. If you’re trying too hard to please others, you may fail to satisfy your own needs.
Intimidated by the work required? You don’t get what you want; you get what you deserve. Very few things come to those who don’t work hard.
Doing things for the wrong reasons? Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. If you’re spending your whole life chasing rainbows, you’ll never catch up with your dreams.
Focusing on the wrong things? Keep things in perspective. Material possessions get old and wear out. Memories last forever.
Waiting for the perfect time to act? There’s never a perfect time. Avoid regrets, and do it now.
Make Your Wishes Come True
You may not have the opportunity to make three wishes, but you can still make your dreams come true. If you want your life story to have a happy ending, don’t pursue your wishes hesitantly; go after your dreams with gusto. As Christopher Reeve, the American actor, said, “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
A wish without action is merely a pipe dream.
Some people have incredible ability but fail to live up to their true potential. They say their dreams are out of reach, as an excuse not to try. Others want the rewards, but are unwilling to make the effort. Although some of your dreams may be tough to attain, most things in life are achievable IF you’re willing to make the sacrifice. That requires hard work, commitment, and unyielding determination — don’t let people convince you otherwise. It’s your life, your journey, and it will ultimately be your prize. The alternative is waiting around till you’re granted three wishes. Dream on!
What Do You Think?
Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.
Additional Reading:
Are You Living a Dream?
Being “All Talk” Speaks Volumes. Need I Say More?
What’s Holding You Back?
Failing Doesn’t Make You a Failure?
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Camilla says
Very thought provoking post Frank! And you are correct, happy memories are priceless.
Enjoy a wonderful day.
Camilla
Frank Sonnenberg says
Thanks Camilla. I’m glad you like it.
Material possessions get old and wear out. Memories last forever 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
Kare Anderson says
One wish would be that more folks adopt a mutuality mindset and thus seek sweet spots of mutual interest when around others so we are more inclined to co-create greater things together. One superpower to help this happen is specificity. The specific detail/example can provide a general conclusion yet not the reverse. Specificity boosts our credibility and memorability
Frank Sonnenberg says
I wholeheartedly agree with you Kare — mutuality matters!
I believe that every relationship, romantic or otherwise, requires a certain level of sacrifice to achieve success. When you care for someone, you’re willing to make these sacrifices because you have their best interest at heart, not because you have a gun to your head. This doesn’t mean you have to forgo all your needs or abandon your principles, but relationships thrive when you forge mutual dependence in which you build something better together than you would have apart.
In reality, think of this as a mindset rather than a transaction. — you put others first rather than making everything about yourself.
So be willing to make the first kind gesture and watch something magical happen. Whether it’s for your neighbor, family, or country, people with strong moral character make sacrifices for the greater good. They give freely of themselves without any expectation of personal gain because they’re as excited about the success of others as they are about their own.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
PS I loved your book on this subject 🙂
Zachary Peng says
My wish is for a notebook that turns all my characters from fiction into reality. I don’t think that’s something achievable even if I put the will toward it.
Frank Sonnenberg says
That’s great Zachary.
As Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, “The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank