If you weren’t so distracted by the busyness of your life, what is it you would want to accomplish? Sometimes distractions overwhelm us because we haven’t visualized our highest priority. So, in this exercise, you will imagine what, in a perfect world, you’d like to achieve and become. However, don’t be “realistic.” Imagine what you’d do if you had all the resources you needed — no constraints of money, resources, respect, or time. What if there were no excuses? Then what? What do you want to accomplish?

Sit down, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Relax your body; put your attention on your breath. Breathe all the way in, and all the way out.

See the calendar in front of you with today’s date. Now, see the days unfolding forward day by day, week by week. Watch the days move forward until it is today’s date three years from today. See the day and the year.

Picture where you are and what you are doing, three years from now. Again, don’t worry about constraints of resources — let yourself imagine freely. See the place, the details of your surroundings. See yourself engaged in work you love. See the people you are working with. These are the kind of people you really enjoy working with and who help you realize your most productive and creative endeavors. Imagine that your muscles and bones and brain feel relaxed.

Now visualize a magazine or journal that you hold in high regard. Imagine that there is an article in this magazine about you and the work you have been doing recently. See the headline of the article and imagine the contents. What does it say that you are doing? What is the innovation or breakthrough you developed that is the focus of the article?

Now see yourself on the cover of the magazine. How do you look? Are you smiling with sincerity or perhaps looking serious and confident? What is the headline describing you and your accomplishment? What emotions arise in you as you observe yourself?

As you complete the reading of this imaginary article, begin to bring your attention back to your breathing and body. Slowly and gently return to this day and this place and open your eyes.
Write down what you envisioned:

What activities did you see yourself engaged in?
What colleagues or loved ones were with you?
What was the major creative breakthrough or innovation you had?
What was your mood?
What did you learn from this exercise and how will it impact your life?

Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less