Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Diggy of Upgrade Reality. Thanks Diggy!
“You are the architect of your own future.”
I read that this weekend and it got me thinking.
Right now, this very second that you are reading this post, you literally have hundreds of choices to do anything you want right now.
You have the choice to choose your career, the country you live in, the friends you hang out with, how you go through life (half empty or half full), even the food you eat tonight and the music you listen to.
I know that is not entirely true because there are people who do not have these choices, but in my opinion as long as you have your health and your freedom, then you have all these choices available to you, even if it requires some time and work to get the means to be able to make the choice (saving money).
Every choice you make right now has an impact on your future and the future of many others. Whether you want to accept this or not, it is true.
An example of how this works is back in 2006 when I was on holiday in Europe, I bought a book to read while traveling. This book opened my eyes to possibilities I never knew existed. After my holiday, I started searching online for more content related to the book, and joined forums and started talking to like minded people.
Through my research, I met a guy called Alex. In turn, through Alex I met Glen (PluginID.com).
Through Glen, I started with affiliate marketing and my own blog on personal development.
Because of Glen, he and I decided to go to Amsterdam together for 3 months in December of this year, and have adventures,meet people,make videos and really live the way we want to.
How different would my life and the lives of so many people be right now if I hadn’t bought that book?
I would not have met the same people,have the same friends, maybe even live in the same country.
The thing with choices is that you will never know if a choice leads to success or failure until after the time. Even if the choice has the best chance of future success (like going to college to get a degree), success is not guaranteed. There is no sense in worrying about the outcome of a choice.
Once you are able to accept this, then you are more free to make a choice and have the attitude of
“I made this choice, and I am going to do everything as best as I can, and things will turn out the way they do”
But…if you don’t know what you want, where your passions lie, then how can you make the right choices for yourself?
So… let’s start designing your future right now:
How to find your passions and true desires:
There are hundreds of posts on the internet about finding your passion, but for me, the easiest way to find out what I really want from life right now is to ask myself the following question.
“When I die, what do I want to have done with my life?”
We all only have a certain amount of time in our lives, and while we all like to reach an age of 80 years or older in good health, we may not be so lucky.
This is a bit of self-discovery that not many of us do. If you already know what you want in your life then there is no need to do this exercise.For the rest of us, the next time you have some time to yourself, take an hour away from Facebook,Email,cell phones and Tv and just sit somewhere quiet with a pen and piece of paper.
Write down what you really want from life.
Don’t just write generic things like “a car, house, wife,money”.
Put some effort into it!
Me…
* I want adventures. I want to see the world. Travel from country to country. I want to experience different cultures and meet people from all walks to life.
* I want to laugh and have fun with my friends and family.
* I want to help others reach their dreams.
* I want to find the girl of my dreams, marry her and never let her go,and have a family.
* I want to build my own house and have a holiday house on the coast somewhere.
* I want enough money to live comfortably and not have to worry about how to pay the monthly bills.
* I want to be fit and healthy for as long as possible.
*pause*
The intention of this post is not about me telling you about myself and my goals, but showing to you how you can make a list of what you are passionate about and what you want out of your life, so that you can make choices that build towards the future you want.
You have the choice to be your own architect and shape your own future to a large degree.
This way, when you are old, or most of your life is spent, you can look back on it and say:
“Wow,that was awesome”
instead of:
“Man, I wish I had done …(insert unfulfilled desire or passion)”
Make that list, get in touch with your passion and desires, and start living your life the way that you want to live it, with little or no regrets. Stop letting other people design your future for you.
Make your own choices…YOU are the Architect!
UPGRADE REALITY is about creating the best world for you. About becoming who you truly wish to be!
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38 Comments
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I think more about who I want to be. That way, I never fail.
Hey Albert!
Glad I could write this post for you and thanks a million for putting it up!
You’re awesome!
Have a rockin’ day!
Diggy
Hey, great post! It would be nice to know the name of the book you read, although I know it was only a trigger
Excellent post. One of the best I’ve read on UrbanMonk actually.
What book was that again Diggy (hehe)?
Definitely agree. If I hadn’t of met R then Alex, I wouldn’t be going to Amsterdam with you either. Quite interesting how life always seems to ‘work itself out’
Well done again
- Glen
Is this true do we really have a choice, who’s making the choice ??
Liked the article, enjoyed the requirement to formally ask yourself questions, but…
For some reason I felt that being an ‘architect’ was too constraining. It suggests that there is some final finished ‘me’ which is going to be damn well built no matter what the difficulties. I guess some people will feel this way about attaining their goals. Fair enough.
I turned this over in my mind and believe a word that works better for me is ‘navigator’. Yes there is a definite destination in mind, but you are more interested in the next leg of your course. For me the enjoyment is in each day of the journey, not the arrival.
Of course I am ‘middle aged’ and have already passed some significant life milestones – this may give me a different perspective on this ‘life’ business.
Fare well on life’s journey.
Couple of thoughts:
First, great post. Definitely got me thinking (even to the point of leaving a comment!)
Second, implementing some of the wants and desires is tough. One of mine is also to laugh. But how to make sure it happens. A little less concrete than I wasn a clean house (actually that is not on my list.)
Third, not sure I agree with DiscoveredJoys. But then again, I may be getting hung up on words. I think I am middle aged. I think I want to create a life (like living simply and laughing, which will always be a work in progress) in order to navigate the journeys that remain for me. I know more than anything what I don’t want in my life right now and am working at changing that. And actually in middle age, have a few more tools to make it happen.
Thanks for the post.
Hi Diggy,
This was a meaningful post and I enjoyed it, thank you for sharing!
And even though we are the ‘architects’ of our house, a growing/expanding/maturing/evolving ‘house’ continues to ‘become’, and add to the existing structure.
At 62, I see ways I could have planned better, narrow-focused on fewer goals to have achieved more at this end.
But with eyes, heart, soul and mind wide open as you travel this journey – regardless of the map you follow, you WILL take in the life you encounter – actually LIVE it.
I’ve always asked myself…”What stories will you want to share with your grandchildren as you rock in your rocking chair?” And will you be smiling…or crying.
Pick some flowers as you walk the trails of your life; put your hand out for a weary butterfly; notice how many clouds are in the sky today.
Nature prevails.
Danielle
http://languageandlove.blogspot.com/
http://trailsofnature.blogspot.com/
This reminds me of George Costanza’s line on Seinfeld: “I always wanted to pretend to be an architect.”
I think it’s great to have ideas of how you’d like your life to turn out, as long as you’re OK with the reality that it probably won’t. I guess I’m somewhere between and architect (when I was younger) and a navigator (now).
Great, thought-provoking post!
It never ceases to amaze me how often the tiniest things end up leading to huge life changes.
My life would be so different right now if I didn’t add that person to MSN or if I didn’t wonder more about that paragraph on lucid dreaming in my high school psychology textbook.
Yes, we are certainly the ones who are in charge of our own destiny. Oh yes, I am a reader to Glen’s site too. Going to Amsterdam with him for a few months sure sounds exciting! Have fun!!
Diggy, great post! I really do believe we have the power to control our futures (for the most part). It’s up to us to make our lives what we want them to be!
Great points, Diggy.
I know a lot of people get stuck (comfortably, i add) deciding what they should do in their life.
they use their not knowing as an excuse to hold them back and not get started
but as a book flap said to a book i couldn’t afford “Action breeds clarity.”
Hiya Diggy
Great stuff, your list is very inspiring and clear. I realised the other day I need to update my own list of all my goals so will do that.
Really enjoyed this post and then nice surprise to realise you wrote it too!
This is a wonderful post.
Back in the early sixties when I was in high school, I met the photographer and explorer John Godard. He told us in a high school assembly hall to make a list of our dreams. As we accomplish them, cross them off the list.
At 61, that list is still a work in progress. I am so amazed something so simple as a list could be the compass of my life.
Diggy, what was the name of the book your read. I am curious.
The problem is knowing which choice will have which consequences.
For me I just go along trying stuff, seeing what happens and trying to learn
Great post. I think it’s important for everyone to realize that they create their own lives. Too many people want to blame the things they feel are wrong with their lives on someone or something else. Anyway, great post. Thanks.
Diggy,
I saw one other person mention it in the comments, but…what is the name of the book you read? It was 2006, so it couldn’t have been Ferriss or Pausch. Did you leave it out on purpose to torture us, or maybe if enough of us ask, you’ll let us know. Please do tell.
Ahaha! Now the tension is killing me too. What is this damn book!?
Hey Everyone!
Thank you for the wonderful comments and kind words.
The reason why I didn’t include the name of the book was because it’s content was not relevant to the story, but since all of you are so curious I’ll share with you.
The book was The Game by Neil Strauss. A book about Pickup Artists in Hollywood, and the story of Style (Neil Strauss), how he went from a shy writer to master pickup artist.
This was something that really interested me because I didn’t use to be good with girls, I was always pretty shy and no dates, so I wanted to change that.
Thanks again for the kind comments! Glad you enjoyed the article!
Diggy
I believe that the biggest hurdle when it comes to holding us back, is not money, not geography, it is learning that we do not have to go through life pleasing others, that we are own entity. That even though we want those that we love to be happy and content WE NEED to be content as well. If we are not content then those that we love will not be. It is a circle really. I live my life the way that I want. It is afterall MY LIFE. I cannot change 10 minutes ago and I will not be able to relive tomorrow over. So I need to live it for me and live it in the best way that I know how with what I have. You have a great blog that is all reader worthy.
We do have the ability to control of future. How? Though out thoughts. We become what we think about and what ever we think about expand in our reality.
We are deliberate creators of the world we live in.
Sooner or latter, we all come to the realization that our future has been a variation of the past. With this realization, we can become architects of our own future in the present.
Thanks for the insight.
The message here is an uplifting and empowering one. You remind people that they are indeed the master of their own ship. Thanks for continuing to encourage individuals to take charge of their lives.
Thank you for your comments everybody
This is like the bucket list only make it while you’re young!
My daughter works for Southwest airlines and we’ve been traveling like crazy because for us it’s free. An unexpected gift of abundance when she quit teaching. I’m creating my life GRAND!
thank you for this. i think we have to be careful when we say that “everyone has a choice,” because really there are people who can barely pay the rent (much less save money), even working 12 hours, raising kids as a single parent, etc. (but this is a common problem with self-help texts, not just your post.) i like that you’re encouraging people to take control of what they can, anyway. it is a bit inspiring, yes? and i like your list of goals
Good work! Where we are today and where we’ll be tomorrow are determined by the choices we make. I very much believe that we all need to be concerned about the consequences our choices could bring then make sure we take the right ones and not rather end up jeopardizing our future.
thanks for sharing! it is fascinating to watch individuals claim their life and choices. very empowering.
it is also interesting to notice where we don’t really have choice/control…and can surrender to what is.
such a balance between directing and flowing. lovely dance.
thanks for sharing your insights.
Been thinking of starting up my own business and getting something called “Site Build It” for a while…
Now that I saw the words “Wow that was awesome” and “Met the same people” I might just go ahead with the whole thing.
It’s only €200…
Jesus, that sounds like spam!:P
No really, the post helped, thank you!
I loved your post, gained much inspiration from reading it, and really enjoyed the comments. If and when I’m 80 years old sitting in my rocking chair looking back at my life, I do hope to look back on it with happiness and yet the fact remains that in that moment the only thing that will really matter is that moment itself and nothing else.
Thank you for this inspirational article! Your list is wonderful.
For me, the meaning of life is to discover your own potential in all areas of your life (friends, family, relationships, career, hobbies and interests).
Sometimes we might fall short of our lofty goals, but when all is said and done – at least we tried and we will have no regrets.
Thanks for confirming something i think about on a daily basis.
Peace and enjoy the journey!
Thanks again for all the kind and wonderful comments everyone
Glad you enjoyed the post!
Cheers!
Diggy
Very inspiring post! I learned to have a list of my wants in life so that I have goals to achieve. Indeed, I am the architect of my own future.
Hello Diggy. I must say that this is one of the most insightful posts I have read for a long time. You lay bare a simple fact of life about “choice”. Namely, “ain’t no point choosing if you don’t really know what you want”. People everywhere say “choice is everything” and so on. But as your post profoundly points out, “choice is not enough”. As a matter of fact, you’ve pointed directly at the reason the so-called “Law of Attraction” mostly doesn’t work. Here’s that reason. If you learn how to be yourself, your head will be filled with your heart’s true desires. You will go after those true passions like a moon rocket too. Bystanders will see you working towards your real goals in life and achieving them. It will look like your “wants” attracted what you wanted into your life like magic. Like you were some kind of magnet for success. And, truth be told, there is real magic associated with making our very own authentic dreams real. But here’s the rub. To really know the Magic, you must release your passion first. You must know what your heart truly desires. If you fill your head with arbitrary “wants”, chances are you won’t attract much of anything, because your heart just won’t be in it. You won’t be driven by passion to achieve anything….and will probably soon give up. I’ve seen it happen many times. Even if you do go get stuff your heart isn’t in, it’ll leave you have empty at the end of it all…because your soul didn’t really want it in the first place. Bottom line? There’s only one thing keeping your heart’s desires from you as we speak. It’s called fear of being yourself….fear of judgment. Teach yourself to push that scary stuff into the dumpster and your very own “dreams, wants, wishes and heartfelt desires” will pull authentic success to you like the biggest, most powerful magnetic force in the Universe. Absolutely guaranteed. Every authentically successful person knows this to be true in their heart or hearts. I can attest to it personally as well, because it happened to me. Please continue adding value to our lives with your blogs Diggy…and thankyou Albert for inviting his post. John Duffield
I am absolutely in agreement with you. From my high schools days of the school motto ‘each man is the maker of his own fortune,’ I have been a strong believer in choice. I am following my dreams and love to hear of others doing the same
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