Have you ever really thought about what you want? I mean really think about it. Most of us have general, vague ideas. We would like more money, a different job or a good relationship. We spend most of our time thinking about what we do not like, what we do not want. We view a better life in the realm of fantasy. Lack of clarity in designing the directions of our lives is...

Have you ever really thought about what you want? I mean really think about it. Most of us have general, vague ideas. We would like more money, a different job or a good relationship. We spend most of our time thinking about what we do not like, what we do not want. We view a better life in the realm of fantasy.

Lack of clarity in designing the directions of our lives is probably the biggest reason why more of us are not happier in our lives. We really never take the time to actually think about what we really want in life. This idea of clarity seems very simple but it is something many of us lack.

What do you want? What type of life do you want to live? What would make you happy? Really think about these things. Flesh them out in specific detail. Do not worry about how you will get it. Do not use your current life as a framework for what is possible for the future.

One important ingredient in the process of gaining clarity is figuring out WHY you want the things that you want. Without figuring out the ‘’why’’, you will never get where you want to go. The ‘’why’’ provides motivation. It makes it easier for you to make decisions because you have a better idea of what actions will move you closer to your goals and which ones will move you farther away. Figuring out ‘’why’’ helps you uncover the true you, your values and what is important to you in life. Once these things come into focus, settling for anything less than what you truly want in life is no longer an option. It will help you get through the rough patches of doubt, the times when things may not work out exactly as planned.

Gaining clarity about what you want in life sets in force these wonderful, inexplicable forces that help bring these things to you. You will notice a lot more ‘’coincidences.’’ You will be inspired to do things and doing these things will help you reach your goals in some way – it might be something as simple as getting an urge to visit a particular website or walk down a certain aisle in the library. It is pretty magical actually.

And the best part is, you can start benefitting from this magic the moment you choose to get crystal clear about what direction you want your life to go in, what things you want to show up in it. Start right now!

Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who runs the personal development blog Life Made to Order. She is also the author of Passing on Parenthood: A Childfree Woman Speaks Out. She has a passion for personal development and sharing what she has learned in her own journey to help others improve their lives as well.