We all sit back in class, when we’re driving, sitting at home watching TV, and wherever…we daydream. Dream about and relish over what it will be like when we get that awesome job, a new car, money, a great husband or wife, children, maybe even winning the lottery! Yes, day-dreaming is fun. There is so much that we pine for in life, many times merely because we don’t have it. But your dreams that you carry are dreams that can come true.

Here’s how you do it

GET ONE PIECE OF PAPER….

I’d like you to get a piece of 8 1/2 X 11 regular sheet of paper. Split the paper in half down the middle by drawing a line.

LEFT COLUMN: hopes, dreams, desires

RIGHT COLUMN: will or can it happen?

On the left hand side of the paper write down at the top of the left column: “Hopes, dreams: what would make you happy?”  Then on the right hand side at the top, write “* or maybe.”  The * (asterisk) means that YES THIS CAN HAPPEN AND I AM 100% SURE I WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.  The “maybe” means I AM NOT SURE IF THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT I CAN TRY.

Now, on the left hand column write everything and anything that makes you happy. From love to physical to personal and professional and spiritual. Think of it all! What makes you happy? What kind of jobs and careers would make you happy? Does college play a part in this?

DON’T FORGET ANYTHING…

List anything and everything. Its important. It helps you to pave your journey and gives you specific road map of where you can go in life, and the various opportunities you now have, now that you know more about you.

Now, on the right hand column, mark an “*” if you are sure this can be accomplished, and you have a plan to do it. Mark a “maybe” if you are not sure if it is possible, or if it is just too out of reach for you to carry out.

Take this exercise and focus on your plans with regard to mapping out the steps you should take to carry out those dreams on your left column.

YOUR HOPE FILE…

Now take this piece of paper and add it to your Hope File. Go back to it continually.

Its a work in process and you should check back every once in a while to evaluate how your hope list is going. 🙂

Keith Lipke

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Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college.