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Life lists became increasingly popular due to the film titled The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman whose characters were diagnosed with terminal cancer. The plot centred on a list of things they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket.

Fortunately we don't need to be diagnosed with a terminal illness before making our bucket lists. We can set our life goals at any given time; however, it is important to write them down. We may think we know what we want without having to take pen to paper, but we will see how keeping a list is not only paramount to staying motivated but also in ensuring that we achieve our goals.

It helps to keep a journal specifically for working on our life goals, we can add and subtract as necessary and mark off accomplishments. So let's take a look at how to get started on the bucket list.

The journal can be divided into sections, for example, a section for places to visit, another for things to learn or own and so forth. It can be listed as the materialistic and the spiritual. In each section write down the long and short term goals involved. Don't be afraid to think big. Many of us downsize our dreams because we don't believe them to be possible. If we want a mansion then that's what we must write, as opposed to "I'd like an extra bedroom." The trick is to visualise, so we need to include the details; where the mansion is located, how many bedrooms it will have, the style of furniture, the colour of the walls and carpets etc. Write down when this will happen, it could be anything from next week to thirty years from now and it's necessary to assess the short term goals to be able to come up with a realistic answer.

When the goals are written down, we need to plan how we are going to make them happen and although it's an old cliche, it really is all in the preparation. Remember the old saying "Fail to prepare then prepare to fail." Self belief and positive thinking are paramount to achieving our goals and so is practical action, but this is where we may become stuck. We need to look at what changes we will make. It might mean a different career and/or going back to college. It could include making new relationships and breaking old habits.

Read the bucket list regularly, every day if possible and pretend that the goals have been achieved and feel the emotions involved. This keeps us motivated and it becomes imprinted within the mind. The subconscious mind can not differentiate between reality and fantasy, so therefore by continuously thinking about our goals and feeling the results, the brain will eventually believe, and this sets us up for success.

There will be occasions when setbacks occur, and this can be off putting. It is during these times that the list is likely to become neglected. When this happens there is nothing to stop us from picking up our journals at a later date and starting again. If we all stick with our bucket lists then success will surely come forth. .

Learn more about this author, Caroline Fynn.
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