The One-Page Miracle

Tell your brain what you want and match your behavior to get it.  If your mind takes what it sees and makes it happen, it is critical to visualize what you want and then match your behavior over time to get it.  Too many people are thrown around by the whims of the day, rather than using their prefrontal cortex to plan their lives and follow through on their goals.

The most powerful yet simple exercise I have designed is called the ONE-PAGE MIRACLE. It will help guide nearly all of your thoughts, words, and actions. It is called the ONE-PAGE MIRACLE because I’ve seen this exercise quickly focus and change many people’s lives.

Directions: take one sheet of paper and clearly write out your major goals.  Use the following main headings: Relationships, Work/Finances, and Self.  Under “Relationships” write the subheadings of Spouse/Lover, Children, Family, and Friends. Under “Work/Finances” write current and future work and financial goals. Under “Self” write out physical health, emotional health, spirituality, and interests. Self is that part of you outside of relationships or work.  Often it is the part of you that no one sees but you.

Next to each subheading succinctly write out what’s important to you in that area; write what you want, not what you don’t want.  Be positive and use the first person.  Write what you want with confidence and the expectation that you will make it happen and include what you are currently doing to make it happen.  Keep the paper with you so that you can work on it over several days.  After you finish with the initial draft (you’ll frequently want to update it), place this piece of paper where you can see it everyday, such as on your refrigerator, by your bedside or on the bathroom mirror. In that way, everyday you focus your eyes on what’s important to you. This makes it easier to match your behavior to what you want. Your life becomes more conscious and you spend your energy on goals that are important to you.

I separate the areas of relationships, work and self in order to encourage a more balanced approach to life. Burnout occurs when our lives become unbalanced and we overextend ourselves in one area while ignoring another. For example, in my practice I see that a common cause of divorce is a person working so much that little energy is left over for his or her spouse.

EXAMPLE
John is a 62-year-old married college professor, who has three adult children and two grandchildren.

 

 

JOHN’S ONE-PAGE MIRACLE
What Do I Want? What Am I Doing To Make It Happen?

RELATIONSHIPS
Wife/Sandy                 Enjoy time together, spend special time each week
I treat her as special as she really is to me     
I’m improving our communication
I support her in whatever she chooses to do for herself

Children:                     I am involved in their lives, show love and support
I encourage them and remember what it was like to be their ages                            
Grandchildren:            A special relationship of unconditional love and support.
Spend time with them each month doing some special activity

Friends:                       I continue time with special friends
I nurture new friendships as I meet special people

Family:                        I am involved with members of my family in a positive way
I stay out of the politics of the moment and am less reactive to the
buttons my younger sister pushes in me

WORK                       I do my best work for my students
I engage in activities that further help the university grow
I continue professional education/develop professional interests
I do charity work to give back to my profession

FINANCES               I will make a net income of approximately $200,000
I save 15-20% of net income to invest
I am accumulating enough money to live where I want                                                                     I am investing in a retirement fund monthly  

SELF
Emotional:                   I am more even tempered, I am not upset by little things
I am more positive and optimistic

Physical:                      I eat a diet that helps me feel better and live longer           
I walk 30 minutes a day and maintain my weight between 160  
and 165

Interests:                     I enjoy keeping up on current events
I continue to enjoy working on restoring old radios

Spirituality:                 I continue to search for meaning everyday
I go to church to have a group of people with whom to worship
and pray
MY ONE-PAGE MIRACLE
What Do I Want? What Am I Doing To Make It Happen?

RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse/Love: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Children:         ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Friends:           ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Family:            ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

WORK           ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

FINANCES   ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

 

SELF

Brain:              ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Physical:          ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Interests:         ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Spirituality:     ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Let your brain help you design and implement your life.  Work toward goals that are important to you.  Many other people or corporations are happy to decide what you should do with your life. Use the ONE PAGE MIRACLE to help you be the one who has the say.

Your brain receives and creates reality.  Give it some direction to help make your life what you want it to be.