(***Note: This is a new series of entries that I'll add to when I travel***)
To give you a sense of place: Right now, I'm at Captain's Creek, my home-away-from-home in Kansas. It's approaching midnight, and I'm sitting in front of the wood stove whose flames burn purposefully: the cold outside cannot stand against it. My dear friend (+ co-author & research buddy) Barbara sits to my right. Joey, my young Labrador retriever, snores quietly as he sprawls on the floor to my left, next to the piano.
The reason that I'm telling you all of this is because for the last few days, I've been living my dream - and in dreams, details can be very important.
For the last few days, I've been working with some of the best and brightest minds in Kansas: creative young people + graduate students with their eyes on the future.
One of the exercises I do with my creative clients is called the Future Perfect Day fantasy. It's a guided imagery experience that lets you imagine your own perfect work day, 10 years in your own future. I guide you through your day, from waking up in your bed in the morning, to performing the work that you have most been hoping to do. Most people have vivid, detailed experiences, and I think that my client D said it best: "That was awesome!"
And the crazy thing is, this guided imagery actually works! There are always surprises, but the themes and images often manifest into reality.
Early today, as I was driving from KU to Barbara's farm, my reality hit: I am living the physical manifestation of my dreams. The last few days have been the fulfillment of many of the images that I saw in my visions. And the *feelings* that I'm having - happy, productive, satisfied, anticipatory - are identical to the feelings that I felt during my own visualizations of the future. (Isn't that cool?)
I'm learning that we need to pay close attention to our feelings. A feeling of satisfaction deep in your bones provides physical confirmation that you are doing exactly what you ought to be. That's what I've experienced here in Kansas this week. I've also been in a state of flow almost constantly - another clue that I'm doing what I need to be doing.
Reality. It's easy to complain that your reality is not *exactly* what you would like it to be. Most of us are in the habit of dissatisfaction and discomfort with our realities, so much so that when something is RIGHT, we miss it.
Soon, I'll post an .mp3 version of the future perfect day fantasy. Until then, begin by imagining yourself feeling really good and doing those activities that bring you joy and happiness and well being. Imagine yourself - but perhaps more important, *feel* yourself living your dreams.
happy thoughts (and much more to come),
Robyn
