How do you get what you want in life?

Why can’t you get what you want? Ever wonder why some of your hopes become reality while others stay just dreams? This article takes a close look at the amazing way your thoughts and what you truly want can shape the world around you. We’ll talk in simple terms about how understanding your deepest wishes and putting your energy in the right place can help you make those dreams come true. Get ready to learn how to take charge of your desires and turn them into real things in your life.

Why Our Wishes Sometimes Stay Just Wishes

Just think about it, many of us go through life feeling like we’re just passengers, and things happen to us without us having much say. We have big hopes and try our best, but often, what we really want seems to stay out of reach. This can be upsetting and make us feel like we don’t have any power over our own lives. We might ask ourselves, “Why doesn’t this work for me?” even when we’re trying hard.

Often, the problem isn’t just that we want something. It’s more about what’s going on inside our heads without us even realizing it. Our secret thoughts and feelings can actually work against what we consciously want. For example, you might really want to do well at work, but deep down, you might have a little voice telling you that you’re not good enough. Or you might wish for close friendships, but bad experiences in the past could make you scared to trust new people.

It’s this kind of inner confusion – wanting one thing but secretly believing another – that creates a block. It stops our clear wishes from turning into real things we can see and touch. We might be aiming for one thing, but our hidden beliefs are pulling us in another direction. This makes it hard to use our energy effectively and can leave us feeling stuck and wondering why our dreams don’t come true. It’s like trying to drive a car with the brakes on – you can push the gas, but you won’t go very far. Understanding this inner conflict is the first step to getting what you truly want.

Simple Ways to Make Your Wishes Happen

To stop feeling like life is just happening to you and to start making your dreams a reality, try these straightforward steps:

1. Get Super Clear on What You Want: The first thing is to really know what you’re aiming for. Saying “I want to be happy” is too general. What does happiness actually look like for you? What are the specific things you want to do each day? What kind of things do you want to own? How do you want to feel?
   
   Start a notebook just for ideas. Don’t worry about making sense at first. Just write down everything you wish for, big or small. Let your thoughts flow onto the page without judging them. Then, go back and read what you’ve written. Pick out the ideas that are really important to you and try to describe them in detail. Instead of just “I want to travel,” write, “I want to spend a month exploring the beautiful beaches and ancient ruins of Greece with someone I love.” The more details you have, the clearer your target becomes for your mind and for the actions you need to take. Think about using the SMART method to make your goals: Specific (clear), Measurable (how will you know when you’ve reached it?), Achievable (can you actually do it?), Relevant (does it matter to you?), and Time-bound (when do you want to achieve it?).
   
2. Really, Really Want It: Just wishing for something isn’t enough. You need to have a strong feeling inside that you will get it. This strong feeling, or intention, is like the fuel that drives you forward. It’s about believing in yourself and being ready to work for what you want, even when things get a little tough.
   
   Start a daily thoughts notebook. At the beginning of each day, write down your main goals for that day and how they connect to your bigger dreams. This helps you keep your focus. At the end of the day, take a few minutes to think about how well you stayed focused on what you wanted. Did anything distract you? What can you do tomorrow to stay on track? Also, try to picture yourself already having what you want. Imagine how it feels, what it looks like, and who you might be with. Really feel the joy of achieving your goal. This makes your desire stronger.
   
3. Look at Your Hidden Thoughts: Sometimes, without knowing it, we have thoughts that go against what we want. These are like hidden roadblocks. You might want to be successful, but deep down, you might think you don’t deserve it.
   
   Keep a notebook for your beliefs. In this notebook, write down what you believe about different things in your life, like money, relationships, your own abilities, and the world around you. Ask yourself: Where did I learn these things? Are they actually true? Are they helping me get what I want? If you find beliefs that are holding you back, try to change them. For every negative belief, write down a positive one that’s the opposite. For example, if you believe “I always fail,” write “I am capable of learning and growing, and I will succeed.” Read these positive thoughts to yourself often. This helps your mind start to believe them.
   
4. Focus Your Energy Like a Laser: Think of your energy and attention like sunlight. If it’s spread out, it doesn’t have much power. But if you focus it through a magnifying glass, it can even start a fire. It’s the same with your mind. Where you put your attention most of the time is where your energy goes, and that’s what you’ll likely see more of in your life.
   
   Start a mindfulness notebook. Each day, take a few moments to just sit quietly and notice your thoughts and feelings without judging them. Write down where your mind tends to wander. Are you always thinking about worries? Or are you focusing on the good things and the possibilities? Make a conscious effort to direct your attention towards what you want. Visualize your goals, talk about them in a positive way, and spend your time doing things that help you get closer to them. Try to avoid distractions like too much social media or negative news that can pull your focus away. If you don’t know where to start you can find the very powerful prompts from Dee here. She writes a great content about journaling.
   
5. Take Small Steps Every Single Day: Just wanting something and thinking about it isn’t enough. You have to actually do things. Think of your big goals as a long staircase. You can’t jump to the top, but you can take one step at a time.
   
   Use a to-do list or a bullet journal to break down your big goals into small, manageable tasks. Write down what you need to do each day or each week. When you finish a task, cross it off. This gives you a feeling of accomplishment and keeps you motivated to take the next step. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. Often, just taking a small, imperfect step is better than waiting for everything to be just right. Also, keep your eyes open for opportunities that might come your way. Sometimes, the universe helps us in unexpected ways. Be ready to say yes to new possibilities.
   
6. Learn from Bumps in the Road: You won’t always get things right the first time. There will be challenges and setbacks. This is a normal part of life. The important thing is to learn from these experiences and keep going.
   
   Keep a lessons learned notebook. After something doesn’t go as planned, take some time to think about what happened. What can you learn from it? What could you do differently next time? Think of these moments not as failures, but as chances to learn and grow. Being able to bounce back after a setback – what we call resilience – is really important. Be willing to change your approach if something isn’t working, but don’t give up on your overall dream.
   
7. Be Grateful for What You Already Have: When you appreciate the good things in your life right now, it creates a positive feeling that can attract even more good things. It’s like telling the universe, “Thank you, I like this!”
   
   Start a thank you notebook or a gratitude journal. Every day, write down at least three to five things you are thankful for. They can be small things, like a sunny day, or big things, like a supportive family. Really feel the feeling of thankfulness as you write. This shifts your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have, and this positive feeling can help bring more of what you want into your life.
   

How to Really Make These Steps Work for You:

To make these simple steps even more powerful:

• Give It Time and Don’t Quit: Big changes don’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and keep practicing these steps. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Keep your focus and keep moving forward.
• Make Your Imagining Real: When you picture what you want, try to use all your senses. What would it look like? What would it sound like? How would it feel? The more real you can make it in your mind, the more it can help you believe it’s possible.
• Surround Yourself with Cheerleaders: The people you spend time with can have a big impact on your thoughts and feelings. Try to be around people who are positive and who believe in your dreams.
• Check in with Yourself Regularly: Take some time every now and then to think about your goals and how you’re doing. Are you still excited about what you want? Are your actions helping you get there? Be willing to make changes if you need to.
• Believe That It Can Happen: While you need to do your part, also try to trust that things will work out. Don’t try to control every little detail. Sometimes, the best things happen in unexpected ways.

What Else You Can Do to Help Your Dreams Come True:

Here are a few more simple things you can try:

• Talk Kindly to Yourself: Create positive sentences about your goals and say them to yourself often. For example, if you want to be more confident, say, “I am becoming more confident every day.”
• Get Creative: Do things that let your imagination flow, like drawing, writing stories, or playing music. This can help you see things in new ways.
• Learn More About How Thoughts Work: Read simple books or watch videos about how your thoughts can affect your life.
• Let Go of Hurt Feelings: Holding onto anger or sadness can block good things from coming to you. Try to forgive yourself and others.
• Trust Your Gut Feelings: Pay attention to your inner voice or intuition. It can often guide you in the right direction.

You Have the Power to Make Your Wishes Real

Getting what you want is all about understanding yourself, knowing your true desires, and taking simple, consistent steps towards them. It involves having clear goals, believing in yourself, focusing your energy, and learning as you go. Using simple notebooks to jot down your ideas, beliefs, daily thoughts, to-do lists, lessons learned, and things you’re grateful for can be really helpful tools on this journey. Remember, you’re not just waiting for life to happen; you can actively shape your life by being clear about what you want and working towards it with belief and effort. You have more power than you think to make your dreams a reality.