If you’re going to improve anything in your life, first you must have the idea it should change. 

Any time you’ve successfully improved yourself, it’s because you’ve conceived of something better—something more ideal, something closer to your version of perfection. Only then could see what needed to change. Once you can see what to change you can work on how to change it.

What are the steps to take?

There is a cycle when improving anything: 

1. Understanding the existing situation.
2. Conceiving of a more ideal situation. 
3. Observing the gap between the existing and ideal situations. 
4. Come up with a plan on how to improve it.
5. Work out what action you will DO to execute the plan. Best as a series of action items.

In this way you can break down even large challenges into comfortable tasks. 

For this article I’m going to assume you have a good grasp on your existing situation. Let’s skip to step #2.

Defining your Ideal Life

This article will require you to do some work. You’ll have to write some things down or at least get creative in your mind. 

Just because you want a more ideal life doesn’t mean your current life is bad. 

For some of you, it might be pretty bad. For others, things might be going well, but you still feel like there’s more to be had. Wherever you are at, it can be better. It can be more ideal.

I remember when I first started my business. I got to a point where I was making $500 a week, every week, and I thought I was rich. A few years later, I had a few kids, and suddenly I needed to make a lot more just to live. So the target keeps shifting. Your ideal evolves.

The first step is to define it. Create it in your mind. Think it up. Conceive of it.

Start with your Personal Goals and Purposes

Approaching your ideal life means having dreams—lots of them. These include personal goals: things you want to have or do or be.

You might want a specific watch. A surf shack. A getaway in the forest. To be fit. To be healthier. To work with the community. Write a book. These are personal ambitions, even when they connect with others. They come from you. If you don’t create them, someone else will give you theirs! 

If you don’t have any goals, you need to create some. Start small. Improvements always happen through wins. Write them down. Don’t overthink it. 

An ideal life would include you having goals in different areas—and you’d be working on them. Even better, you’d be achieving them—either quickly or in a systematic, orderly fashion.

Note down your personal goals and purposes. You will see some actions you can take to move them along.

Relationships

In your ideal life, you’d have an ideal relationship—whether that’s with a life partner, spouse, family, or kids. You would support one another. You’d be doing better in life because of the relationship. You’d go further because of that love, support, and care.

You’d have a satisfying love life. You’d be building the family you both desire. You’d agree on the important things. When you don’t, you’d be able to work through it—arriving at compromises that actually work best for everyone long-term.

Your kids would be well. They wouldn’t be on drugs. They’d be happy, doing what they want to do in life, and succeeding. They’d be lively, full of energy—because kids should be.

Note down your ideal relationship and family.

Career or Business

Whether it’s your job or your business, it should fund other aspects of your life—not consume you. It wouldn’t take so much time that it steals you from your family or personal ambitions. You’d enjoy it. It would have meaning, or at least you’d be good at it, getting results, and not stressed all the time.

Any meaningful career includes stress and challenges, but they wouldn’t burden you. You’d enjoy the challenge, and make progress. The environment at work would be enjoyable or at least pleasant—not full of people bringing you down. And if there were haters, you would be able to control or remove them.

Your ideal work would include opportunities for growth—pay rises, new roles, something to move toward.

Write down what your ideal career would look like.

If you own a business, write down how it should be.

The World

 This varies by person, but an ideal life often includes connection—not only in your neighbourhood, but across your country and even the world. Life feels more complete when you’re engaged with humankind at large. The more you understand people—across cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs—the more complete your life becomes. 

Write down what this looks like for you.

Health

Your ideal body would have energy. You’d sleep well. Your body would be a fit for your goals—strong, flexible, capable. It wouldn’t slow you down or stop you. You’d be free from disease, free from inflammation. You’d feel good. It would just work.

My view is that your body is a tool to live an ideal life. It should be in good enough shape for what you want to do with it. 

Note down your ideal body and its health.

Environment

Start with your house. It would be clean, in order, and organized. Everything is easy to find. A stable base to build the rest of your life from.

You’d have the facilities you need. For some, that’s a mansion by the beach with a huge garage. For others, it’s a three-bedroom apartment. Maybe you want multiple places around the world so you can travel. It depends on your life. Even if you don’t own much you can at least live in a clean, organised place. So, no excuses. 

Write down your ideal house and environment.

Creativity and Aesthetics

What do you like to create?

It could be anything: art, music, fashion, writing, business ideas, gardening. Maybe you want to write books. Or just decorate your home how you want it. Expressing yourself is an essential part of an Ideal Life. 

Get excited about this. Think about what your ideal creative life looks like—and write it down.

One Final Tip

If your current life feels very far from ideal, don’t try to leap to perfection. Look 6 to 12 months ahead. What could you achieve based on where you are now?

If you’re making $500 a week now, perhaps don’t start with “become a millionaire.” Start with getting to $2,000 per week. Then $4,000, then $10,000, then $20,000.

Build your ideal life through wins.

I would love to hear how you went.

If you’d like help making your business ideal, contact us.