Liberty means freedom. Freedom to do what you want with your time and your life. Freedom to spend it on things that give you inner satisfaction and joy. In other words, we are talking about finding what pushes your buttons. When you know what you want without a doubt, you will be wiling to sacrifice and work hard for it – but because you feel so strongely and intensely about it, you don’t mind.

1.  What are a few of the activities where you feel focused or at peace?  (Where it feels more like play than work.) Where you get absorbed and don’t want to stop. What do you do that makes time fly? What are you doing when you get so excited you can physically feel it? What do you daydream about often?
2. What is something you would do for a living even if you weren’t paid?

ACTION TIME

Make a list of your dreams, missions, and must haves, and then next to each one try to mind-map possible ways to make money at each.

The Pursuit

You have to make money to survive. It’s best when you make money doing what you love and would do anyway. You are trading your (valuable) time for this money, so of course it is best when you are doing something enjoyable, something you are passionate about and do well (and are paid well for, too). Even if you aren’t paid well, if you are happy with how you earn your living, then you are a success.

1.  What do you not like about how you make money now?
2.  In your ideal job what would you be doing? Do you want to work for yourself or for someone else? What skills and talents would you use? What would you wear? Where would you work? (indoors or outdoors?) When would you work? (What would your schedule be like?) What would you be paid? How ould you be treated? What type of people do you like to work with? Write or draw what your ideal job/career would be like.

ACTION TIME

Name five things that would make you feel you ‘have it all’.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is what you really want. You may think it is more money, but I’ll bet it is peace, joy, contentment, respect, satisfaction, pride, and so on. These are things that will make you happy. A lack of money is no reason to be unhappy. It is your inner thoughts that prevent the feelings you are after and not a lack of money. Finish the following sentences. I am happiest when I am ….  * If I didn’t have to work I would ….. *  I am motivated by …. * My mission in life is to …..  * My passion is ……  * All I want is …… * I wish I could …. *  If I were lucky I would ….   *  I would be willing to risk it all for ….. * I am great at ….. * The perfect job for me would be …..  * My top priorities are …….

ACTION TIME

1.  Begin with the question  “What do I want/need more of in my life?  Then bounce a ball off the wall, and every time you catch it write down the first thing that pops into your mind.
2. Look at what your subconscious is telling you, and discover your deepest desires. What your heart and your head say. Grab some magazines and catalogs and rip out any picture that triggers something in you. Look for connections, patterns, ideas. Then make a collage.
3. Look around your home for clues about what you want, value, cherish, treasure. How do you decorate? What do you read? What hobbies do you enjoy? What photos do you have up and who is in them?
4. Make an inventory of talents, skills, and abilities that people would pay for. Include experiences you have had (travels, languages, classes). How can you capitalize on them? What do you know? What kind of gear or tools do you have? What are your strengths? What do you have to offer the world? All these things may give you a clue as to ways to make money or point to a path to follow.
5. How would it feel to have the kind of freedom you have always wanted? What would it be like to have all of your bills paid? To  have money in the bank? Now let’s get in touch with why you want the money. Next to each item on your wish list, write how much you need and why you want it.

ACTION TIME

Step one is to write down what you make in a year.  Go ahead, do it. Then multiply that number by two. Ask yourself, how would it feel to have that much money flowing into your life? What would it mean to you? How much would your life change? You repeat this step over and over until you feel you’ve gone too far.  When you reach that magical number that you feel comfortable with, write it down in bold letters. Then try to imagine where that money might come from and, using arrows from each source, draw it flowing into your magic money number. Then draw a picture of you, and use arrows to show that magic money flowing directly into you. Last draw arrows showing where that money would flow to. What would that money buy? Get creative. Use words and phrases that explain how you would use this oney. What would it mean to your lifestyle. What things could you do that you always felt  you couldn’t do before because you didn’t have enough money? How and where would you live? Basically, what would your life be like if this was your annual salary? Spend some time on this.