Wishing is a powerful and addictive part of life for many people, including entrepreneurs. The key is to wish about things that are actionable and not about those that are not.
You can start by simply drawing a vertical line on a piece of paper, which represents the present moment. We usually wish about things that we should have or could have done better in the past, or we wish about what we want to happen in our future.
The question then becomes:
Which side of the line do you spend most of your time wishing about?
If you’re past-oriented, you spend most of your mental energy on the left of the wish line. I believe that “should have” and “could have” should be stricken from our vocabulary. Constantly looking back can be endlessly demoralizing and an incredible waste of time.
You cannot change the past, but you can learn from it!
If your nature is more future-oriented, you spend most of your time on the right side of the line. Your wishing involves wants, hopes, and dreams. This is where your mindset needs to focus on. Your future is actionable!
Take a moment and think about how much time you spend reflecting on the past and how you wished you had done things differently. If you spend a lot, then acknowledge it. The first step to being more future-focused is to realize you keep thinking about the “would haves” and “should haves”.
The main idea here is to start catching yourself wasting your time trying to change the past. Flip those thoughts into what you have learned from your past and what you now understand. This will help you move ahead with greater focus and direction through the wisdom you have gained from your past.
The EIE Method
Looking to the future is so much more interesting! This is where you can make a difference with your wishing and wants!
· Envision your big dreams and aspirations: look deep into the future 10 -25 years.
· Ideate what you would like to achieve within the next one to three years.
· Execute your immediate goals and plans: your future within the next year.
It always starts with clarity. If you don’t have a clear vision of what you want, you can’t break it down into smaller chunks in order to make it happen. Your past has made you wiser don’t keep wishing to change it, just use it to move to a better future!
About Peter:
Peter Mohr is the owner of several businesses including Simplifying Entrepreneurship where he helps other business owners gain clarity and confidence through coaching programs that advance their personal and professional lives. He can be reached at pete@mohr.coach
When business owners have clarity and confidence they thrive in life and business.
