My Favorite Shortcut: Be - Do - Have

Have you ever caught yourself thinking you need to have a certain thing to feel a certain way? 

• Once I have the dream job, I’ll be able to do the work I really care about, and I’ll be more satisfied with my life.

• Once I find the right partner, I’ll be able to share the joys the responsibilities of life with someone, and I’ll be more fulfilled. 

• Once I have a better car, I’ll be able to take road trips and vacations, and I’ll be more adventurous.

• Once I move to the west coast, it’ll be easy to spend more time in nature, and I’ll be more outdoorsy. 

We've been sold this way of thinking -- the Have → Do → Be model -- because it keeps the answers outside of ourselves, often with things we should buy or acquire in order to have the life we want. 

I want to share the shortcut, available to you right now, no purchase necessary. Flip the model on its head.

Try Be → Do → Have instead. 

Imagine you’re already satisfied, fulfilled, adventurous, outdoorsy – whatever it is that’s calling to you. In your mind, go ahead and be that. Right now. 

Then make choices from that point of view. 

• What would you do if, right now, in your today life, you were satisfied? How would you show up differently in a meeting? For your kids? For a date with yourself? 

• If you were already fulfilled, who would you celebrate your wins with and how? 

• If you were already adventurous, how would you approach your weekend?

• If you were already outdoorsy, how would you sneak more nature into your day? 

Then do that thing.

This isn't "fake it 'til you make it." This is a shortcut to action that will bring you closer to your essential self. 

P.s. A big shoutout to Catherine Andrews for introducing me to the concept of Be → Do → Have!