What you think you want is usually not really what you want. Most of the time, what you think you want is merely a clue, a hint, a pointer to what you truly desire. When you feel that you want something, challenge yourself to find the deeper desire that's responsible. Ask yourself why, and be completely honest with your answer.

If you pursue life's fleeting, superficial wants, you're setting yourself up for disappointment, even when you get what you want. Instead, take the time to understand your deeper desires, and you'll find countless ways to bring real, meaningful and lasting value to life.

When there's something you want, ask why, again and again until you uncover a purpose so authentic that it cannot be denied. And when you do, you'll also see that your desire has already begun to be fulfilled.
-- Ralph Marston

It can take years to discover that what we think we want isn't it. But once we know to look deeper - because we have so often gotten what we wanted and it didn't bring the joy and value to our lives we thought it would - we don't have to waste time on the wishes for a new car, new clothes, and more money. We can zero in on who we really are and what our purposes on earth really are. From purpose flows true desire and the capability to capture the life of our dreams.

Yes I can

Don't panic.
Breath.
Stop saying, I can't.
Part of the language of letting go is learning to say, I can.
Give the gift of confidence to yourself. ~Melody Beattie

What a gift it is to stop saying, "I can't." I had no idea it would have so much magic. The truth is, "I can!" Because I have help whenever I am willing to receive it. Because I am so much more capable than I ever imagined. Because I know my life could be over in the next second and I don't want to waste my life saying, "I can't."

It is wise to plan for the future and to prepare for the future. Yet there is no need to worry about the future.
Because whatever the future may bring, you will find an answer for it. Whatever events may transpire, you can craft a powerful and successful response that will move your life forward. It may indeed be very difficult. And in transcending that difficulty, you have the opportunity to find great fulfillment. Ralph Marston

For many of us the concept of simply planning and preparing instead of worrying is revolutionary. We seem to be taught that worrying is the thing good people do and that it will somehow help. But it definitely does not. We are far more capable than we believe - we are capable of creatively responding to difficult events in a way that benefits us and the world. In so doing, we learn and grow in ways we never could have imagined.

Thoughts

It's not too late! The best is yet to come. Invest in thought, follow your hunches, and live the life of your dreams. Public disclosure: This offer is irrevocable. You're now an investor whether you know it or not. All of your thoughts will become things. No lawyers can help you. Save yourself; choose the good ones." "Notes from the Universe," by Mike Dooley

If you believe in the power of thought to create the life of your dreams, it doesn't matter what's going on in the economy. So, we should all choose the good thoughts. Maybe the economy would change. Even if it doesn't, our own economy will change!

Put Energy in to Imagining the Best

Go beyond your dissatisfaction with what is, and put your energy into imagining the best of what can be. Clearly know where you wish to go, and you'll naturally make the effort that gets you there. - Ralph Marston

For many, this is not as easy or as simple as it sounds. We may have a lifetime of imagining the worst as a way of protecting ourselves from disappointment. Of course, imagining the worst never works to make our lives better. But it is definitely worth the effort to change our thinking so that we can imagine the best.

More on building strength

If I've changed my schedule so I'm getting enough sleep, I'm ready to look at what else I need to build strength for change. Often, many of us, in this day of over scheduling and over busyness, are undernourished because we don't take the time to provide ourselves with good food. Finding ways to get the nutrition we need is vital to building the life of our dreams. So, the first step must be to go back to the list of things to stop doing, and find something that will free up the time and money for nourishing ourselves. Then, we may need to learn learn what good nutrition is. For good food to happen, we will need to make a plan to provide it for ourselves. The life of our dreams must include lovely food that gives us the energy and joy we deserve.

Deep Inside Us All is Who We Really Are

Maybe we have been taught by the people around us and then by ourselves that we are something other than a beautiful, loveable child of God/Higher Power. But even so, deep inside us is the person we really are, and by taking a little quiet time to search inside for that child of God, we can more easily imagine the life of our dreams. Then we can think lovely thoughts from which will flow loving feelings from which will flow actions that build the life of our dreams.