What do you want in life? Do you know yet? Does the thought of answering this question make your head spin? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can even come down to just three simple words. Keep reading to see what I mean…
I love More magazine. I’m still a ways from being their target age bracket (40 and over) but I love reading about strong, smart, sexy and vibrant women who are living life to the fullest without accepting age as a limitation. I want to be one of these women as I get older. I want an exciting, full life right up until I kick the bucket. And this magazine is fantastic at profiling women of all ages doing extremely cool things.
The most recent issue features a candid interview with Robin Wright Penn. In it, she talks about her life, her joys and regrets, and her hopes for the future. For most of the past 18 years, she spent her time at home in California raising two kids who are now preparing to leave for college. She’s battled with indecisiveness, shyness, and a tumultuous marriage in which she finally split with her husband of 16 years. When asked what she now wants in life, she responded:
‘Joy. Decisiveness. Travel.’
That simple. Her answer caught my breath.. three little words. Life and personal growth doesn’t have to be that complicated does it? Just ask yourself: What do I want? Do you want to travel? Start your own business? Become Location Independent? Or perhaps you’d like to learn how to cook, have more peace and quiet, volunteer, or take more risks. Answer yourself in just three words. And remember in times of distress or confusion to ask yourself: What do I really want? Is this experience helping me get there?
This may sound a little selfish but it’s not. As we all know, the happier we are, the more we can give to others. So don’t be afraid to go after what you really want. Your answer can change as your life changes but the simple act of defining what you want in three words is an easy, doable exercise. Keep your three words safe in the back of your head and use them to steer your course. Just the act of identifying the words and putting them into your brain, will cause your subconscious to take action in those directions.
At this point in my life, my answer would be similar to Robin’s except it would read: ‘Joy. Connection. Travel.’ Everyone’s words will be different and you define what each words means to you. My definition of joy may be something completely different than yours. Remember, we all want the same things in life, just in different ways.
What three words describe what you want in your life right now? I’d love to hear them.
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What a powerful message Leigh, thank you! Let’s see, my three words…
Laughter
Creativity
Vibrancy
Grace, Peace & Confidence
Leigh – A great post! I guess my three words would be –
Adventure
Creativity
Joy
It seems that the older I get (I am not yet 40)the more I want to see and experience, to make up for my 20’s where I did not take advantage of opportunities to explore and experience this huge world we live in.
Steve, that’s fantastic and opposite of what people usually do as they get older and more settled in their ways. Do it now! Seize the day. :)
I’ve been planning to respond to this for days! And, for days I’ve shifted my three words. I finally started tallying them with hash-marks to come up with the three that appear the most. They are (at least somewhat to my surprise):
Simplicity
Opportunity
Focus
Wow Sarah, you really worked on this, I’m impressed! I like the words you chose.