First post in what might end up being a short series …
But first I need to be all disclaimer-ey …
- So I find most non-Jennifer-Louden-written self-help-ey books to be pretty insipid — but I adore Wishcraft by Barbara Sher.
- You can download the ebook version at no cost on her website — If you do, you’ll probably want to print it out so you can scribble all over it.
- Personally, I’d say: buy the book. Totally worth it.
- My duck and I are going through Barbara’s wacky exercises and sharing that process with you. That makes this is a pretty atypical blog post, but what the hell.
- We’re in Taos this week guest-teaching at Jen Louden’s fabulous Writer’s Retreat but I’m trying to check in here when I can.
Barbara Sher’s smart question:
Oh, how I love her. She says things like “Goals exist only to serve you and make you happy. You don’t exist to serve them.” She reminds us that goals can change. Even a lot.
Or that we’re allowed to yearn for many different, even conflicting things at the same time. And to bring in at least some aspects of these parts-of-who-we-might-be into daily life.
Anyway, in Chapter 4* she gives this terrific exercise called Five Lives And How To Live Them All:
“Think about it: if you had five lives, what would you do with each one?
I don’t mean if you were five different people. I mean if you could be you five times over and explore a different talent, interest or lifestyle to the fullest each time …
… If you could manage nicely with three lives, take three. If you need ten, help yourself. I just picked five because it’s a nice round number.”
*And no, I’m not the world’s biggest plagiarizing asshat for giving away her content. She lets you download the entire book for free.
So that’s the exercise.
You’re allowed contradictions. You’re allowed to put down whatever comes up. You don’t have to figure out how you’d be able to support yourself with it. These are just your ideal lives.
My five lives. (Okay, six.)
- Exactly what I’m doing right now.
- Full-time writer. Like, I get up and write for an hour the way I do now. But then the rest of the day is about writing too.
- Full-time yoga educator / yoga professional. I’d be teaching pretty much exactly the same stuff I do now, but in the yoga world instead of … right here.
- Dancer. Not the kind that performs. Not interested in that. But I would spend my days stretching and moving and creating choreographies and being with my body. Taking movement classes. Teaching movement classes. Turning on the radio and going crazy.
- A monk? I don’t really know what to call this, but a life of seclusion and retreat.
- World traveler.
What I’m learning/noticing from doing this ….
I actually do manage to incorporate more elements from my “ideal life” (whatever that means) into the one I’m actually living right now than I ever would have guessed.
That surprised the hell out of me, and it’s really, really reassuring somehow.
I know what’s important to me: writing, movement, working-on-my stuff, being quiet. But I don’t really give these things a lot of thought.
So … are there ways I can have more of this? Ways that I can make more time for it? Give it more conscious attention?
And I also have the strong sense that the more I bring in aspects from these different lives, the more whole I will feel right now.
So even though I’m noticing that there is a part of me who doesn’t believe that Writer Me and Dancer Me and Angel Refueling Station Me can co-exist … there is also another part of me who is really excited to see what happens if and when they choose to spend some time together.
Or to spend some time with me.
Do you want to play with me? Yay.
I would love it if you gave this exercise a shot. Not sure how useful it is without the context of Barbara’s amazing book, but you can definitely get cool stuff from it anyway.
And then if you want to share some (or all) of your results here, that would be really interesting — and fun!
And then I won’t be being all self-help-ey all by myself.
In terms of “comment zen” for these posts? I’m thinking, let’s try for less of the “this is stupid” and more of the “this is what I’m noticing”.
Because it’s really easy for me to start hating an exercise before I’ve really tried it. And I’m trying to just kind of throw myself into these and see what happens.
Wheee! Play with me!
Follow
Havi, I love Barbara’s books–all of them–and recently re-read Wishcraft, nearly thirty years after I first read it. It’s still brilliant.
Lovely that you’re working your way through the book and writing about it.
Thanks so much for inviting us to play with you!
Here are my five Wish-lives:
1. Doing what I do now–healing, transformational energy work, teaching.
2. Writing full-time.
3. Being a student–learning all the things I want to learn.
4. Singing.
5. Traveling and writing about it.
I’ve done all of these at one time or another, and other than traveling, which I’m doing very little of right now, each of these is woven into my present life in some way.
Love and hugs,
Hiro
.-= Hiro Boga´s last post … Good Morning: Surfing the Heat Wave! =-.
Havi, thanks for pointing me in Barbara’s direction. Read the intro and first chapter and can tell it’s going to be great.
My four wish lives:
1. exactly what I am doing – making computers do great things.
2. Travel the world, living each place for a year or so.
3. Be a film maker.
4. Study whatever catches my attention.
As I spend more time I’ll probably come up with more.
Do you really get “this is stupid” trolls around here? Really!?!THPPTPHTPHPHHPH. I stick my tongue out at you trolls.
Thanks for bringing the ebook to my attention. I hadn’t heard of it.
I am:
a learner
a listener
a mirror
a wordsmith
an ice cream truck driver
Have a great day!
.-= Joel Corriveau´s last post … Love is a Mirror of Your Needs =-.
Thank you again Havi. I’m currently trying to be self-help-ey (GREAT WORD) but the student part of me is in overdrive sucking time away from the “actually doing something” part of me. You encourage, nurture and enlighten all of my lives. Just wanted to express my gratitude before student me gets sucked back in link-world. THANKS!
.-= steve weaver´s last post … Choking on RSS Feeds =-.
Great point that goals (and dreams) can change!
My five?
Writer
World-traveler
Journalist
Photographer
Singer
And yes. There are aspects of all five of those things in my life. (YAY)
All the best!
deb
.-= Deb Owen´s last post … common blocks to creativity (and life) =-.
This project is personally relevant to me right now because I’m going through acceptance and commitment therapy, and one of the things is to find your values. I have no idea what my values are. it’s scary. but I’ll just write some stuff:
1. Not what I’m doing right now. Anything else
2. An interviewer. Like Studs Terkle. Finding out what everyone has to say.
3. A cult leader
4. A philosopher, if I were born in a different time period maybe
5. Living ultra thrifty… kind of like your monk thing?
A teacher of underprivileged kids, teaching them the wonders of maths and science
A university lecturer/researcher
A writer
A journalist, bringing down corrupt idiots one at a time
A diplomat
Jean-Luc Picard (or “a naval officer”)
A wildlife conservation centre person
A kick-ass coder
etc…
Isn’t that funny, I recently stumbled onto Barbara Sher’s Wishcraft too, and I’ve been likewise working my way through the exercises. One thing I’ve noticed: I’m pretty much doing what I want to be doing, and I’m well on my way toward living my dream. Whee!
What my 5 lives would be:
1. Artist
2. Astrophysicist
3. Dog trainer
4. Farmer
5. Equestrienne
I’ve done #2 and am currently doing #1. Just owning dogs satisfies #3. #4 is a shared dream with my gentleman friend and we’re working together toward it.
Alas, #5 is highly unlikely. I have no money for horses, and learned years ago that my poor balance and fear render me extremely unsafe on a horse’s back. This one’s on hold for now. And that’s OK, my plate is pretty full as it is.
.-= Barbara J Carter´s last post … Some Good Press =-.
I read Wishcraft many years ago, when I was getting ready to change careers. Great book.
Here are my six alternative lives:
1. Anthrozoology researcher (antrozoology studies the interaction between humans and animals)
2. Actor
3. World traveller: I would document my travels by writing, taking photos and drawing
4. Jewellery artist
5. Therapist employing both conventional psychology and alternative approaches
6. Founder and head of a non governmental organisation that truly makes a difference
I’m happy to report that my chosen path as designer includes elements of the first five: As a designer, I can design homes where people and their pets can live in harmony; design for the stage; design spaces that are inspired by other cultures; design jewellery and accessories; design interiors which help people feel good. Not bad for this life…
(I have yet to find a way to satify #6, aside from supporting several NGO’s.)
Sounds like a good read. I’ll have to take a look.
Ok, for me it would be
1. Successful fiber artist, i.e., one who doesn’t have to have a day job
2. Successful jewelry artist, ditto
3. Person who never has migraines
I’ve been working on the first one for a few years, and this year I’m actually making a profit, so that’s a step in the right direction. I’m just getting into the second one and have lots of ideas. I keep trying on the third one, but…my head hurts. I’d settle for just 1-2 migraines/month.
.-= Riin´s last post … Fairy Yarnmother is ready! =-.
Whee! I love Barbara Sher 🙂
I did this exercise a few months ago, but I’ll do it again. This one’s fun.
Ok. My 5 Lives:
1) World Traveler
2) Kick-ass Martial Arts Master
3) Writer
4) Artist
5) Coach (creativity/life)
So – sort of doing a few of these now. 3, 4 & kinda 5 – something I definitely want to work on more. I’m currently the WPChick – who coaches folks through their most terrifying WordPress questions, but I want to transition to more life/creativity coaching.
I traveled a bit when I was younger (Greece every other summer) and I want to do that more. And I was way into martial arts in high school – got my black belt & stuff. I never felt more healthy & in tune w/ myself then. Gotta get that back.
.-= Alexia´s last post … Webcast This Thursday =-.
Nice find Havi. It’s also interesting to see how some lives like travelling are coming up more often than others.
My list would be:
– Traveller-Adventurer
– Radio station big cheese
– Interviewer-Journalist
– Musician
I have done the last two to some extent, and plan on maybe trying to do the first to at some point.
.-= Paul´s last post … Creativity and Happiness =-.
Oh, yay! Thanks so much for sharing this find. I think I’m really going to enjoy it.
This exercise is so perfect!
1. World traveler (taking time to stay and live in certain places, really getting to know the culture)
2. Actor (stage)
3. Writer (young adult fiction)
4. Dancer/dance instructor (ballroom and latin, although I would looooove to learn Contemporary)
5. Yoga instructor (or least someone completely immersed in the world of yoga)
6. Something to do with neurotherapy or sound therapy
Wow. Each one sounds so wonderful. How I would love to have a life that incorporates all six in some magically flawless way!
Hmmm, I feel like I’m living 4 lives in one right now. So splitting those apart so that I could explore each more fully instead of scrambling from one to the next would be awesome:
1) Professor/Program Administrator
2) Doctoral Student
3) Wellness Coach
4) Mentor to students
You know what’s stupid? Still being jetlagged about a WEEK after you’ve come home. And having one proper night of sleep. >_<
My five lives!
1. Full-time performer from childhood onwards – instead of computer classes I would have had the music/acting/whatevs classes I wanted. Or at least being all artsy in my younger years and then moving on to actual performance experience once I got old enough to do it without doing my head in.
2. More skilled web developer. This was mainly because I’ve been using computers since I was 2, been online since I was 9, and everyone nearly expected me to be some sort of computing genius. I did do a bit of it (aside from personal sites which I do still) around 03/04, but coding bores me. zzz.
3. Writer/journalist. This was actually going to be my current life – almost all my life I was passionate about writing. Then I went to uni to do creative writing and I had that passion sucked out of me. I instead rekindled a hidden desire to perform, so I’m starting to do that a bit now.
4. Social entrepreneur/businesswoman. I did try to charge for club newsletters as a kid! I got really involved with this the past couple of years but moved on after some incidences.
5. Teacher. I was surprised to see my past school records and notice that my one constant answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up” was “teach”, because I had a horrible time at school. I did become very involved in alternative education for many years mostly BECAUSE I had such a crap experience!
6. Some sort of NGO save-the-world type person. Like Hugh Evans (he won Young Australian of the Year for his constant work in international development).
7. A gymnast – it was my secret childhood dream (along with performing but that wasn’t *so* secret) but I never got the chance; I’m unsporty and got scared! I got to make up for it by doing circus lessons last year and now I’m a circus trainee! Yay!
8. World traveller. Well I am now to a great extent, but this would have been more full-time. Instead of government Malaysian school and 1.5 years in a crappy Malaysian uni (before moving to Australia) I would have been in international school, did tons of student exchanges, studied at United World College, and actually get that most-coveted UN passport.
I think though that no matter what life I chose I’d still be something of a multi-disciplinary Barbara Sher-type scanner. I run in cycles of 3-4 years and even within that I get involved in multiple things. It’s what keeps me going!
.-= Tiara´s last post … The Class/Privilege Checklist [2] =-.
I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before, but my responses were really interesting (at least, started internally interesting thought processes)
*I would keep the life I have now.
*One life would be as an entrepreneur. To move to the west coast, and ride my skills and ambition as hard as I could, either with a startup, or just in a more challenging and prestigious regular job.
*The other I suppose I could describe as a ‘trophy wife’ life. I have some fairly well-off family, and in this life, I would be a social butterfly, learn how to use makeup and hairspray, and buy into that lifestyle as much as I could.
I think those are weird reactions, because I don’t think either one of them would make me happy at all. Also, I find it strange that they’re much more material than the life I did pick. And really?, my alter-life is a trophy wife? wtheck? What sort of airbrain aspires to that?
I think other people’s choices are a lot more admirable, and part of me kicks myself for apparently valuing ‘trophy wife’ over world traveler. The only explanation I can come up with is I think I get enough of those things (travel, learning) in the life I did pick – I don’t think overindulging in them would make them better. The lives I did list really were an either-or choice that I decided against. You can’t really be an entrepreneur every so often. They are doors that are closed to me now, and I guess I regret not knowing more about the other side of them.
I do love Barbara Sher… and her Wishcraft book is one of my favorites! I’m so happy to hear that you found her!!!
My 5 lives:
1.) Doing exactly what I am doing now- Teaching expressive arts and intuitive painting, running groups and classes and workshops, traveling and teaching in beautiful natural places, collaborating with cool people, writing and getting the word out.
2.) Writing more- actually getting PAID for my writing.
3.) Being a shaman/nature mystic. Spending more time in connection with spirit, my muse, the other side, through prayer, ceremony, music, painting, vision questing, being outdoors in the high places.
4.) Cowgirl: living on the land , spending most of my time outside, riding horses, getting my hands dirty, growing my own food. Being part of a community that shares this way of life.
5.) Traveling to what I consider to be holy lands.
.-= chris zydel´s last post … INTUITIVE PAINTING AS A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN =-.
Ohhhkay, let’s see. I love what I am right now, but in other lives…
1. Fiction Writer (Non-fiction, I can do now. Fiction? I don’t know. My fiction sucks. I want it to not suck in this particular life.)
2. Broadway Performer (Giddiness!)
3. Painter (As in art, not as in painting houses)
4. Completely Indulgent Girl (Just to be greedy and selfish…maybe not for an entire life. But for a while, just so I know what it’s like.)
5. Globe-Trotter (I have been NOWHERE.)
Excited to join with you on this…this is the first time I’ve heard of WishCraft. Officially on board with this train! (Wow, that was cheesy!) 🙂
.-= Sarah Bray´s last post … Living in the echo-chamber =-.
hee! I just noticed that my last comment was posted at 11:11am! *makes wishes for awesomeness*
Can I add magical faery witchling as life #9? 😀
.-= Tiara´s last post … 5 Lives! or eight? =-.
I’m planning to re-read Wishcraft soon myself – I just dug out my copy Tuesday. (Thanks for the link to the PDFs – having an electronic and a paper version makes my reading easier for some reason.)
At first thought:
1. A dancer. Kinda like you – I don’t know if I’d be a performer or not, but I’d want to move to music as my job. Teaching, choreography, something.
2. A writer.
3. A costumer. (This is the one I’m actively pursuing now) I’d love to be the person with a bright, sunny space with fabric and dye and feathers and a massive, heavy industrial iron and an industrial sewing machine that will stitch right through your finger and make fabulous characters every single day. Oh that dream makes me so happy to think about it.
4. A…well, I dunno, I think of it as being a hippie. I’d love to have a place out away from the big city, where I grow my own food and have a solar collector and a wind generator and I’m completely off the grid and run around barefoot wearing crazy clothes that are completely unfashionable and suit the real me.
I started to say that for #1 I wanted to be a person “who dances every day,” and I realized that wow, there’s nothing stopping me from being that person. I could dance every day even if it is only for a few minutes…but I don’t. I should definitely investigate that. Also I notice that all but #4 are massively creative, and #4 is creative in a problem-solving way even if it isn’t in the fine arts. I also notice that the first three aren’t exactly mutually exclusive, are they?
Hm.
Also, and I hope this isn’t too negative for this space, but I think I’ll find this exercise extremely useful if I do it in more depth, because I’m struggling at the moment with jealousy over the life-path of an acquaintance. She’s moved into something exotic that I’d never have considered, and I’m feeling sad about my own rather staid existence. I think this will help a lot.
To reiterate what Steve said before, you inform and inspire all of our lives, alternate or otherwise. Thanks for that!
Here’s my list:
Musician/Composer/Performer/Rock Star
Passionate doer of Yoga (guess that’s called a yogi)
Poet/Writer
Web Designer/Programmer
Astrologer
Entrepreneur
Teacher (of yoga, art, mysticism & magic, and/or poetry)
Visual Artist/Photographer
Mage/Mystic/Qabbalist
World Traveler
Eternal Student
It turns out that my five lives turned into eleven. And since some of them are compound it’s really more!
I think this points to one of my main issues which is focus. I want to do so many things (and I am doing lots of them) that I never really focus enough to completely expand any one of them to their full potential.
One thing I do know, I love to learn, so Eternal Student is one of my favorite Hats.
PS
I need to add Shivanut to the list. The DVD hasn’t come yet, but I’m playing with the hand positions already.
I need six lives . . .
1. novelist
2. textiles conservator and scholar at the V&A
3. stay at home mom
4. pastry chef at a little patisserie called Marquise de Cupcake (baby blue and chocolate brown color scheme, macarons in every flavor, the best cupcakes ever, and every kind of delicious little morsels, wrapped in beautiful boxes with ribbons)
5. mediator/conflict resolution consultant
6. archivist at a big university library
.-= Melynda´s last post … Orderly Transition of Power Salad–with homemade chutney! =-.
I did a wee bit of Shiva Nata and took a shower, and this is what dribbled out of my brain…
1. Bestselling Author
2. Gallery-showing Artist – especially Sculptor
3. Jetsetting Theatre & Arts Enthusiast (lots of trips to NYC, Paris, etc)
4. Mac Genius
5. Skinny, Mysteriously Smiling RomantiGoth (o hai inner 22yo)
6. Dancer of some sort (this is my inner 5yo)
7. Rockin’ Web Developer
I have some aspects of most of these in my life, but I am amused that I don’t really fully support any of them. Still, I think that since moving back to SF 2+ years ago I’ve made efforts in almost all of those arenas (except perhaps #6). I went to Broadway for the first time, finished a novel and started two others, began to paint more and bought some sculpture materials. I do tech support for my clients, and am learning more web development stuff than I really want to — I want to already know it, not have to slog through the pain of learning it, haha. Now I just need to go out and find some really hot boots and skinny up enough to fit back into my corset… *g*
Thanks for sharing this, Havi!
.-= Amy Crook´s last post … Work Like a Gift =-.
I did this exercise a long time ago and now I’m curious about what I wrote then!
Hmm, in this moment, I’d say:
-the life i’m living right now!
-mother
-children’s book author & illustrator
-expressive arts therapist
-writer
-teacher/leader at creativity retreats
what I noticed is that all these things are fully within my grasp and I may be able to live all of them or at least incorporate part of all of them into my life. Most I already do!
.-= leah´s last post … CED August Theme: Move =-.
What my alternate lives be?
1. Homeification Consultant – I hope this will be my life THIS time around before long…using interior design to make homes out of houses.
2. Sociologist – focusing on family units around the world
3. Full time foster parent – I would have to be really brave in that alternate universe
4. Librarian – I would have to learn some patience but OH! The Reading *bliss*
5. Incandescently spectacular broadway performer – mostly musicals
6. High flying and brilliant Advertising Executive
Thanks for introducing me and all of us to Wishcraft!
.-= Lauren´s last post … The Plan – Day Fortyseven? =-.
I tend to daydream of possible lives if I had the chance to :
1) Artist
2) Gypsy
3) World Traveler
4) Mummy to puppies
5) Chef
I’m noticing they all have an element of free-flowingness required, and I try to have a balance of all these interests in my one life now. Thanks for letting us play with you Havi & Selma!
Not sure I can do this properly but reading this made me realize that I am trying to live at least 3 lives simultaneously. And that working out how they fit together is one of my biggest issues/frustrations.
1. my biz: helping academics with research, grants, etc.
2. homeschooling mom: complicated by my daughter’s desire not to have too much schedule but really secretly needing routine to feel comfortable
3. new farmer type person (pigs, chickens, vegetables, etc.)
These seems like pretty fully lives in and of themselves. No wonder I don’t know what the heck I should be doing from one minute to the next.
.-= JoVE´s last post … If you had one more week… =-.
@Tiara – ohmygod, can I just say that I will love you forever for giving me the phrase “magical faery witchling”?! Because that is AWESOME.
I’m adding that to my list! Also, nice job going all out with the fabulous “I can have as many lives as I want” thing.
@JoVE – yes, it really is confusing/frustrating/challenging trying to figure out how to work all these different *elements* into one thing, when each one feels like a full and complete life.
I’m still trying to figure this out too. 🙂
@Amy Crook – I LOVE that you gave this exercise to Shiva Nata to see what would come up. And I also adore your inner Skinny, Mysteriously Smiling RomantiGoth (I want that too!)
@Sarah Bray – I will be Completely Indulgent Girl with you! That sounds neat. And one of these days I will have to drag you on a trip somewhere too …
@Joel – an ice cream truck driver! That is the sweetest thing ever. I hope you have a good tune in mind …
@everyone – mwah! *blows kiss*
This is so much fun. It’s so great that you’re playing with me. Yay.
Potter
Minister – Writer/theologian/ritualist/servant leader/counselor
Mother/wife
Therapist
Gardener
Ocean dedicant
Mover – modern dance, authentic movement, contra dance, ritual dance
Heir of Diana’s Grove (www.dianasgrove.com) // Retreat center founder & facilitator
Activist
Athlete – hang glider, rock climber, runner, biker, skate boarder, skier, volleyball, tennis, hiker, swimmer, surfer, roller skater
Race car driver
Artist
Executive Director of non-profit to prevent child sexual abuse
Volunteer extraordinaire
Havi,
So love it that you’re doing Wishcraft exercises. Sher is one of my heroines. And this 5 lives exercise is one of my favorites.
I do this exercise all the time (like at the start of every year) and my 5 lives change from time to time, but the core ones are
1) herbalist living in a cottage in England
2) wizard/alchemist/hermit living in a stone tower in Wales
3) mother of 7 kids, all by different fathers (yes, I know! Angelina Jolie is living this dream for me)
4) temple dancer
5) famous novelist who writes a novel a year (this was the one I thought I would have figured out by now)
Right now I’d probably add
6) perfumer
Last year I realized I might not be able to live all my lives but I could write novels based on all of them and live out my dreams that way.
.-= Waverly´s last post … Summer Slowly =-.
Ha, I’m going through Wishcraft right now too. I found it a couple of weeks ago during a linky dink day when I followed a link of a link of a link. I’m enjoying working through the book.
Anyway, I’m kind of a renaissance woman, I couldn’t stop at just 5.
1. Scientist in biological/biochemical sciences
2. Mathematician
3. Artist
4. Veterinarian
5. Dancer (on stage)
6. Olympic athlete
7. Explorer
8. Astronaut (actually I guess this could be an explorer too.
9. Translator
Actually I’ve incorporated a lot of them into my life, except maybe astronaut and veterinarian. Although I do read a lot of animal health articles and space science articles.
.-= Sydney´s last post … Three Mockingbirds =-.
oh brilliant ! thanks for reminding me of the book. I’m going to find my copy and take it on a very long train journey tomorrow.
1. filmmaker
2. photographer
3. mother
4. traveller/adventurer
5. creation of a salon
1. not in a long time
2. yes but in fits and starts
3. one small cat
4. not enough
5. in a sort of a way
This article, its comments, and the exercise are answering the question of how to reconcile seemingly conflicting life aspirations which I’ve been carrying around for quite some time. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone with this. And just the thought of throwing myself into the exercise you’re suggesting already tells me it’s going to be fun.
So here are my lives:
1. A monk in some Asian-type monastery. I would meditate and practice energy-conscious moving arts such as Qi-Gong, Tai Chi, Kung Fu (and how about some ShivaNata?). And I would enjoy the silence.
2. A nun or a monk in a medieval European monastery. I would pray and meditate and take care of the garden. I would know all the plants and and their healing powers. The plants would grow beautifully.
3. A caring, loving big-hearted mama, either a mother of many children or a woman tending to children in an orphanage or a children’s home. My body would be huge, strong, and soft with a large bosom and everyone who was feeling feeling sad and cold and alone could come and I would hug them and talk to them and smile at them and they would find warmth and consolation.
4. A traveller. I would work for projects and ecological farms to earn my living. I would remember all the knowledge and information I’d have encountered on my way and pass it on to anyone I meet who could use it.
5. A futuristic cutting-edge scientist, researcher and inventor.
6. A person who moves in three dimensions. I would dive and snorkel and swim in clear waters, I would fly on balloons, helicopters, airplanes and hang-gliders, and I might even be an astronaut.
7. A person who lives in a library and is never ever required to leave or stop reading. But I would probably also take care of wounded books and would help those books that are lost find their way home.
8. An archaeologist.
There will be cats living with me in some of these lives. And there will be music.
Wow, what an amazing trip this has been! Havi and all the commentators, thank you so much for this inspiration!
This is so much fun! I’ll have a go.
– Artist/designer/creator of *things*
– Writer (of course) (fiction)
– Interior designer/architect/creator of spaces (huh?)
– Grow-my-own-food hippy/gardener/mystic/yogi etc. People would come to see me and I would fix them with magic.
– Stage actress. Not sure musical is really my genre, because although I love it I’m a bit tonedeaf. There had better be dancing though.
– Academic/scientist (Biology or one of its friends would do nicely)
– Code monkey/software engineer
– Dragon tamer (that one’s for my 10 year old self)
Wow, interesting stuff. Some surprises actually. Creator of spaces? And where do I find a dragon, exactly?
Only time for two today other than what I’m actually doing:
1. Puppeteer a la Jim Henson
2. Voice over artist
Creative and fascinating!
re: ice cream truck driver
Ironically enough, I’m lactose intolerant.
And then after I wrote this, I SAW an ice cream truck drive by; dude looked sweaty and miserable.
I want to deliver joy and delight.
.-= Joel Corriveau´s last post … Love is a Mirror of Your Needs =-.
I had put Wishcraft down for about a week and got to this exercise last night as I’m working my way through this fabulous book. I have done all of these things, though not enough of the world traveling, and they keep rotating through my life–interesting.
1. Photographer of all things beautiful and mystical–mostly nature
2. Installation artist–Olafer Elliason has my life in this case
3. High powered aide/campaign worker/insider in DC
4. A mystical, shamanic healer
5. Professional iceskater (this is a hold-over from when I was little that I can satisfy by buying some skates and taking some lessons)
6. Saavy, brilliant, conceptual, creative facilitator helping people do good in the world
7. So cliche, but world traveler
8. Sustainable architect and designer
Heh, already live two lives… That’s what Second Life is for!
Actually I think I’d want 3 lives:
– Hermit: Being alone by myself in an island, having time just for me. Perhaps writing, but don’t want to commit to anything
– Mom: My current life, working and caring for my 3 kids
– Younger me: Being single and having fun going to rock shows, flirting, being free to visit any place I want.
Havi,
this is so much fun. I love how she takes you through a process that is guaranteed to bring out the best in you. She truly makes you connect to that inner place where you know. Thanks for bringing Barbara’s work to my attention.
The ‘lives thing’ I had actually done some time ago as part of a seminar (not knowing that the process goes back to Barbara’s work). I soooo much enjoyed it. It re-connected me to a deep excitement for life. The 5 lives approach actually helped me to come up with a couple of common themes that are vital expressions of who I am. Here they are:
dancer
novelist
fashion designer
researcher
nun
However, I was so inspired reading through the first chapters this morning that I could not help but extend my magical journey a little further. I did the exercise where you are asked to be a color (a ‘watercoloury’ turquoise) and made 5 inspiring people say something nice about me. Great experience. Next time I have to write something meaningful about myself I will just ask Frida Kahlo or Margot Fonteyn. They said marvelous things!
Cannot wait to keep on playing.
Guru Deva
.-= Guru Deva Kaur´s last post … Shift =-.
Looks like I’m a bit late to the party, but it’s been great reading everybody’s ideas. Other folks had mentioned Barbara Sher to me before, but I never got around to actually reading any of her work before today. Definitely some great stuff there.
When I got to 5, I realized there was one more to add. Also I noticed that nothing on my list specifically aligned to what I do today, which is probably why I feel bored and burned out at work more often than not 🙁
1) An ex-fighter pilot, retired after 20 years in, now flying for a major airline.
2) A mechanical engineer with several patents, and a great design portfolio.
3) A founder or key principal exec in a startup company that makes huge $ in IPO and brings a new and unexpected technology to the world.
4) A CPA who offers innovative financial solutions and planning to his clients.
5) A real estate investor who takes advantage of market situations to help distressed homeowners while turning a nice profit
6) A world traveler business advisor who helps would-be location independent professionals learn how to build and structure their dream
Whee, this is fun! Thanks Havi!
.-= Mike Stankavich´s last post … How Copylicious inspired massive improvement to my About page =-.
I think I might need to get this book. Thing is, I think the part I’d stumble the most on is identifying what I truly want. I’ve never been very good at that.
.-= Catherine Cantieri, Sorted´s last post … Last day to register for the Paper Ninja Workshop! =-.
I love this exercise and these lists in the comments are so beautiful. I must play too!
1)an artist, a successful one in life not after i am dead
2)a book binder because books are love and the beauty of crafting them, choosing their skins and the front pages, the glue and threads
3)landscaper focusing on the whimsical and integration of food stuff into the landscape…all organic of coarse
4)quantum physicist because wow um proving intuition, intention and the law of attraction in scientific terms=cool
5)a writer, again with the success in life and not after i am dead cause paying the bills is a good thing
maybe i could bind the books i write and combine several lives
hmm maybe i can combine them all into my current life…what a concept 😀
thanks for helping me re-discover Wish Crafting!
cheers,
amy
.-= amy goetz´s last post … 20 minutes to your life purpose =-.
I love this one too! So here are mine:
1. Big time Mom coach- leading a worldwide movement of moms making life better for themselves, their families and their communities (local and global). Includes writing articles and books, leading classes and workshops and coaching. This is the one that I’m working on right now.
2. Rock and roll diva.
3. Philosophy professor/writer of academic papers, books etc. Thinker of big ideas.
4. Perpetual student.
5. Freelance writer.
.-= Liz´s last post … $20 and a Webkin =-.
@ Catherine (and anyone else interested) – Barbara Sher wrote a whole other book about that! “I could do anything if only I knew what it was“. Which is one of my fave books of all time, actually more so than Wishcraft.
Ok, sorry, these became rather detailed. It’s interesting to see I want a building or space. And almost everything includes a need to facilitate (intercultural?) communication. And I want to combine something commercial/practical/real-world with idealism/arts/creativity.
In addition to being an amazing, inspiring, fearless Mum, I’d be:
1. A cafe owner (or maybe budget accomodation?). But the point is I have a big space & commission new experiemental dance and music performances each week & have a gallery. Artists & philosophers & creative people can come & talk & drink coffee. I have a rooftop organic garden, too.
2. A humanitarian worker, when there’s a refugee crisis. I work on the logistics of getting the tents, food, clothes, medical supplies & doctors across difficult terrain to where the refugees are. I can blend pragmatism & realism (about truck breakdowns, climate, politics, war etc)with idealism. I pay a lot of attention to the refugees’ psychological needs & dignity, as well as the physical …
3. An artist, or composer, or filmmaker or fashion designer. Working internationally & developing a confident expression of what it means to live here in a (multicultural) Australia (not forgetting the traditional owners of the land).
4. Someone who just studies foreign languages all the time (but isn’t a linguist). I work on explaining what different people mean, and why they view the world the way they do, but I don’t translate directly.
.-= ginevra´s last post … Knitwear at the shops for a Sydney Autumn =-.
Haven’t done the exercise (or read the book) yet, but because your post is uncannily timed, I’m here to publicly acknowledge how much my Poet Self is dying to be fully birthed. I’ve kept poetry at a great distance from me for a while now, because it’s dangerous (powerful!), and it’s so connected to a period of my life that I’ve segregated from “the real me.” I think that healing my relationship with poetry will help me pave the way toward integrating many aspects of my artistic self and bringing the artist in me fully forward in the rest of my life.
.-= Tracy´s last post … verdissage: Also, keep getting from various sources that I should be carrying index cards everywhere to capture thoughts/ideas/moments. New paradigm… =-.
What a fantastic exercise. I had to write down what popped into my head as I read it just to make sure I captured the organic thoughts (instead of overthinking it later).
I immediately need three lives:
1. Camping (whoa… where’d that come from?)
2. Writing (makes sense, my happiest jobs have always been writing/editing/document design, etc.)
3. Backstage theater (um… blast from the past here)
What I noticed about each of these (separately, as I’ve never written and produced a play while camping) is that those are the times when I feel most whole, most secure, most myself.
1. My dearest friends and I (~30 of us) go camping twice a year. I would quit my job before missing one of these trips. They are my refueling station.
2. I could write all day (if someone gave me something to write about ). See, that’s the thing… I’m not a creative writer, I’m a technical writer–I write about other people’s stuff. And love doing it. I love helping people be more clear about their stuff using the written language.
3. I was a stage manager in high school. It was the second time an adult trusted me based on my capabilities (regardless of my age, size, shape, or anything else) and I felt empowered to take on the whole world. And now I have a good friend in professional theatre. Visiting with him and his crew when they come through town takes me back to the close-knit community that theatre once provided me.
I can’t wait to massage these thoughts some more, and inquire about there being any other lives inside which need to make themselves known.
Ah, giving oneself permission is such a pretty thing.
Here are my other lives:
1. a fairie queen with awesome magickal powers
2. a novelist in the fantasy genre for young adult/int. readers
3. a singer/songwriter/guitarist in a genre-defying band that mixes blues, funk, soul, and punk music
4. an alien sociologist from another planet studying Planet Earth
5. a world -renowned public speaker
6. an enlightening entrepreneur/multi-billionaire
7. an indie filmmaker
8. a world famous spiritual/intuitive guide
9. life coach
10. haute couture fashion designer
11. an artist living in New Zealand or somewhere like that
12. a healer in various healing modalities (like I am now)
I could probably think of more but that is it for now…
Oops! Thought of another few.
13. world traveller and adventurer!
14. yoga therapist with my own studio
One more!
15. quantum physicist
Ta da!