If I tell you to ask for anything and everything you want in your life, what would you do?
It sounds quite easy, doesn’t it? It seems like the ultimate fantasy.
I have often fantasized about freeing a genie and getting three wishes. But I thought I’d use one wish to wish for infinite wishes so I can ask for everything that I want.
What if a genie actually appeared and told me, “You now have infinite wishes, ask me everything you want!”
What will I ask for?
When I sat down to list everything I want in my life, it took me quite a long time to get through it.
Surprisingly, it was harder than I thought.
Some of us have vague ideas of what we want because we were unconsciously conditioned to forget them or give them up.
When we were kids, our parents often passed down their preferences to us. Of course, it’s always because they want what’s best for us.
But sometimes, the side effect is we tend to set aside what we want and think our preferences are not as good or important.
The pink watch and the black watch
When my parents took me to the store to buy my first wristwatch, Mama chose a watch with a black leather strap for me. Since she has been choosing my stuff for me since I was born, I’m sure she did it out of habit.
But I was already forming my own tastes then and I wanted a watch with a pink rubber strap.
Mama insisted on the black watch since it looked classic, it won’t easily get soiled and it would go with most of my clothes. She said the pink watch looked nice but it would probably get dirty easily and it won’t match most of my clothes.
At this point, Papa intervened and asked me if I really wanted the pink watch. I said yes and he said I could have it because I was the one who was going to wear it anyway.
Of course, Mama was right. After a few weeks, my pink watch got dirty and I couldn’t wear it with some of my clothes. But it still didn’t beat the happiness I felt from getting what I really wanted.
Eventually, when the time came to get a new watch, I opted for a classic black one. This time, it was my choice.
The lesson: I should choose what I really want because my preferences matter. But in the end, if what I wanted didn’t work out for me, I am free to change my mind.
The Jeer Leaders versus the Cheer Leaders
Other times, we know what we want but we are too scared to ask for it.
Why?
We tend to listen to jeer leaders jumping around in our heads.
When I began making my “I want…” list, the jeer leaders furiously attacked me with their negative ammo:
Who do you think you are to ask for that?
You don’t deserve to get what you want!
Your dreams won’t come true!
You’re setting yourself up for disappointment!
You’re a loser!
Sound familiar?
Isn’t it ironic how we shoot down our own dreams and visions?
We don’t ask for what we want because we feel we don’t deserve to have them.
So how do you fight the jeer leaders?
Bring out your inner cheer leaders!
You are somebody!
You deserve to get what you want in your life!
Your dreams will come true!
You are setting yourself up for success!
You’re a winner!
I’m sure the jeer leaders will fight for their space in your head but you can always choose to throw them out and let the cheer leaders boost your confidence.
I emphasize the word choose because I believe everyone has the power of choice.
Okay, perhaps we won’t get everything we want but, when that happens, we have two choices on how to react:
- To see it as proof that we don’t deserve to have the best things in life
- To see it as a sign that there is something better in store for us
We are free to choose what we want to believe, because whatever we believe becomes our truth.
Now which would you rather be true for you?
Go ahead and try it
Take out your journal or a piece of paper and write everything you want to have in your life.
Write everything and anything that comes to mind.
Write continuously. Write freely.
Keep the list and read it often to remind you of the wonderful things and amazing life in store for you.
When you doubt if what you want is even possible to achieve, remember that famous Adidas tagline:
Impossible is nothing.
Let me add my own tagline extension:
Possible is everything!
