Many people feel stuck because they haven’t given themselves space to think freely about the future. We’re often too busy reacting to life to pause and ask: “Who do I really want to become?”
Start by imagining your life ten years from now. This exercise isn’t just about dreaming—it’s a way to explore your inner desires and personal values.
Here are some prompts to guide your vision:
- What is your annual income?
- How much have you saved or invested?
- What hobbies or passions do you consistently pursue?
- What healthy habits have you built into your life?
- What does your ideal daily routine look like?
- Where do you live? In which city or country?
- How often do you travel—and where do you go?
- What job or profession do you have?
- Are you part of a specific organization or industry?
- Do you have a family of your own?
- How is your relationship with your partner and relatives?
- What kind of friends do you surround yourself with?
- What skills have you mastered?
- What personal milestones or achievements have you reached?
- What role do you play in society?
- How do you want others to describe or remember you?
You don’t need to complete all 100 items in one sitting, but even writing 20 or 30 will help reveal what truly matters to you.
If you’re unsure where to start, try writing down what you don’t want in life. This negative space often clarifies your true aspirations.
2. Create Your Ideal “Character”: Treat Yourself as the Hero of the Story
Life is like a script—and you are the lead character. To move beyond confusion or passivity, you need to consciously shape your character.
Every compelling character consists of four core elements:
- Desire: What is the protagonist trying to achieve?
- Action: What steps do they take to pursue their goal?
- Obstacles: What challenges or setbacks do they encounter?
- Choices: How do they respond when things get tough?
For example, let’s say your goal is to get fit—that’s your desire. You begin exercising and eating well—that’s action. Then, you face temptations, laziness, or a busy schedule—those are obstacles. Your decision to push through or give up—that’s your choice.
You can also shape your character by learning from others. Think of a few people you admire—real or fictional—and analyze their personality traits, habits, and decision-making. What do they do that you could model in your own life?
3. Get Into Action: Design Your Behavior Based on the Character You Want to Be
Ideas are important, but action is where transformation begins.
Start small: how does your “ideal self” speak? How do they communicate in meetings, respond to criticism, or express their thoughts? Begin mimicking that style in real life.
Then, mentally rehearse scenarios where you’d like to show up differently:
- How would your ideal self react when being challenged in a meeting?
- What would they do when tempted to procrastinate?
- Would they give up or stay consistent when facing adversity?
This is about training yourself to think: “What would the best version of me do in this moment?”
The more you practice, the more natural these new behaviors will become—and over time, they’ll reshape your personality from the inside out.
4. Design an Environment That Supports the Role You Want to Play
The environment you live in profoundly shapes your behavior. In fact, changing your surroundings is often more effective than forcing a change in your personality.
Want to be more disciplined? Avoid people or places that distract you.
Want to be a creator? Surround yourself with people who make things.
Want to be more calm and kind? Seek out peaceful, emotionally safe environments.
Find people and communities who embody the values you’re trying to cultivate. Spend time with them. If that’s hard in real life, try online forums, book clubs, workshops, or volunteer groups.
Build genuine connections by offering value—recommend resources, contribute meaningfully, or simply show appreciation for their work.
5. Push the Story Forward: Create “Highlight Moments” in Your Life
Great stories are full of pivotal moments that define the character and move the plot forward. Your life can have those too—if you design them intentionally.
These “highlight moments” typically have three features:
- A clear, memorable goal;
- A vivid context that’s worth retelling;
- Emotional impact—on yourself and possibly others.
For example:
- “I traveled to 50 countries before I turned 35.”
- “I woke up at 4 a.m. every day to write for 1,000 days.”
- “I earned my first $100,000 from scratch.”
These moments become part of your life story—not just for yourself, but also for the people who come to know you.
Once you’ve identified the “plot points” you want to create, break them down into plans, paths, and risk assessments. Even if you fail, treat it as a scene in your story—not the end.
Conclusion: Use Story Thinking to Write Your Own Script
Your life is not a prewritten screenplay handed down by fate. It’s a living story that you’re writing every day—with every thought, action, and decision.
Story Thinking offers a powerful lens through which to:
- See yourself as the main character,
- Set bold and meaningful goals,
- Design environments that support your growth,
- Take actions aligned with your values, and
- Shape your future through memorable, deliberate moments.
Remember:
You are the protagonist.
You are the storyteller.
The pen is in your hands.
And the next scene is waiting for you to write it.