by Jason Westley

Created on: March 02, 2011

By blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, we become the creators of a new reality. By tossing a coin into the fountain, the universe is bent to our will. As we watch a shooting star fade to black, anything and everything becomes possible. Don’t even get me started on rubbing lamps.

By performing any of these little rituals, and many more besides, we are granted a wish - a chance to shape the future that should not be wasted. If you should be presented with such an opportunity (and it’s not as uncommon as you might think) it pays to think wisely about how best to use your wish. For the unprepared, unimaginative or unstable wisher, there are numerous pitfalls which can ruin the wishing experience.

1. Take your time

Too many people are granted their wish, and immediately use it up without considering all of their alternatives, or what the ramifications of their wish might be. Experts are of the opinion that wishes do not have a shelf-life, so why hurry? Spend at least a few minutes thinking about what your wish could achieve. Some people find it helpful to write out a table of all the pros and cons of their potential wishes, so they can decide which is best.

This said, do not procrastinate for too long. Despite the power of wishes, studies suggest that most people forget they’ve got a wish if they wait longer than 24 hours to use it. The number of wishes lost in this way is believed to exceed the number of grains of sand on all the beaches in the world.

2. Think big...

Don’t get caught out by transient desires. Many people are granted wishes whilst hungry. They wish for a chocolate bar, and then regret it when the snack is finished a minute later. Wishes can fulfill dreams, so don’t waste them on trivialities. This is particular important when you have company. If your friends see you wishing, but not sharing, then they might not stay your friends for much longer.

3. … but not too big

It is entirely understandable that some people get excited when granted a wish - but don’t get overexcited. The imagination runs wild and before you know it you’ve wished for ‘world peace’ (more on that later), 50 million dollars, or an elephant. Always remember that you have to manage whatever it is you wish for after it’s been delivered. This could cost you money in the long run... although probably not if you’ve wished for unimaginable wealth. But in that case, you’re likely to attract the attention of

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