We are creatures of routine and habit, but we also creatures of adaptation and change. Our actions are purposeful because they are always aimed to achieve some goal. Even something as simple as getting up to get a glass of water can be described in terms of our intentions to quench our thirst.

Often the most successful people in our society are the ones who are the best planners. They are visionaries. They have the ability to direct their intentions in ways that others are unfamiliar with. They can see a path from point A to point B and, although it may not be correct from step-to-step, they have the incentive to start walking it.

But the future is filled with uncertainty. Therefore, as these individuals step forward, they must adjust their game plan in the face of new experiences and new information.

Despite these uncertainties, it is always useful to write down our plans for the future. In a way, this is our first step towards turning our dreams into reality. By thinking and writing about these things we are building these goals into our neurology through brainstorming, building associations, identifying problems, and generating solutions.

To give you an example I will create a timeline of my own. I call these timelines “progressive” because they begin by focusing in on a single day and then they zoom out to a scope of ten years or more. This is a really interesting way to expand your awareness from a single moment to a greater and longer course of action.

I recommend a minimum of five items for each point on your timeline. This should give you enough flexibility to touch on various aspects of your life. Later in this post I will expand on what you can do to improve these timelines for greater efficacy.

Within A Day

• Finish this blog post.
• Call Mom and Dad to check up on how they are doing.
• Finish reading my textbook for History & Systems of Psychology.
• Start studying for my Psychophysiological Awareness Class.
• Go out tonight so I can enjoy my last party weekend in Binghamton, NY

Within A Week

• Study and complete two of my Final exams.
• Return my books to the Science Library.
• Write another blog post or two.
• Begin wrapping up work in other classes.
• Start packing up my stuff for home.

Within A Month

• Graduate from college.
• Find a decent-paying job back at home.
• Reach under 100,000 traffic rank in the U.S. on Alexa.com
• Start volunteering at a church back home.
• Start dating again.

Within A Year

• Start writing a book.
• Layout the major framework for starting my own business.
• Get certified in hypnosis by the National Guild of Hypnotists.
• Find a girlfriend.
• Expand my network and social circle.
• Join a gym and work on building muscle strength and endurance.

Within Five Years

• Become self-employed.
• Move to a place I have always wanted to live.
• Get my book edited and published.
• Record a music album for the sole intention of artistic expression.
• Pursue a graduate degree in a field of Psychology (Clinical, Industrial, Transpersonal or Positive Psychology)

Within Ten Years

• Travel Europe.
• Get married and start a family.
• Invest some time, energy, and capital to help other small businesses succeed.
• Become more involved in political activism and campaigning.
• Dedicate time to an activist group who supports a cause I strongly believe in.

Improving Your Timeline

Once you create your timeline you can always go back and update it. As I said in the introduction, true visionaries rarely see the whole path in its entirety; rather, they need to constantly draw up their mental map and upgrade it.

Later in the day you may find that you have forgotten a goal of yours. In a month from now you may change your mind about pursuing a past goal. Nothing is set in stone.

Being dedicated is one thing, but being too stubborn to change your ways in the face of new knowledge is a different story. Use your best judgment when making these decisions. Always remember to weigh out the costs and benefits before pursuing any course of action.

As I also said earlier, this kind of exercise is great for re-wiring your brain in preparation of these goals. I already notice more clarity in my thinking after only spending 15-20 minutes writing up this list. You can improve upon this notion by revisiting your list and using your imagination to see, feel and experience what it would be like to do these goals. What type of actions are entailed? How would it feel once you have achieved what you set out to do? Ask yourself these types of questions in order to get the mind more productive and creative in fulfilling these aspirations. It would be even more effective if you wrote down these imaginations.

I will be updating in the near future with another post to expand more on these types of exercises.

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