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Why You Must Embody Your Goals Long Before Achieving Them (or How I Picked My Winter Hat)

In this video, I discuss the idea of embodying your goals now, as opposed to waiting for them to be reflected in "reality."By Emilie Wapnick

Photo courtesy of Sodexo USA.

Hey Puttypeep,

Today’s blog post comes to you in the form of a video.

In this video, I discuss the idea of embodying your goals now, as opposed to waiting for them to be reflected in “reality.”

This technique allows you to bridge the gap between your present state and your future ideal self much faster because you’re training your mind to believe that you’re already there.

Your Turn

Do you embody your goals long before actually achieving them?

creativity dreams goals lifestyle design


Emilie Wapnick (they/them) is the CEO and Founder of Puttylike, The Puttyverse and Wingtip Astrology, where they help multipotentialites build lives and careers around ALL their interests. Unable to settle on one path themself, Emilie studied music, art, film production and law, graduating from the Law Faculty at McGill University. They are the author of the award-winning book, How to Be Everything (HarperCollins), and their TED talk has been viewed 8 million times. You can learn more about Emilie here.

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  1. Margaret says

    Great example! And it shows that you’re able to connect the daily thought process with the overall-life-process which is really a valuable and rare skill these days! I’ve just recently glommed onto Puttylike and your empire, and this message really gels for me. Rock on!

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Thanks so much, Margaret. And welcome!

      I always encourage my students to include both a personal element and a “lesson” or bigger point in their blog posts. That way you get to express some of your personality and share something about your life, but at the same time, you’re (hopefully) making the wisdom you learned applicable for others.

      I also just like to be thinking about what I’m learning in my everyday interactions. I’m a classic over-thinker. 😉

      Reply
  2. Rosa says

    Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! I loved the example of the pink hat : )

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Eee! Thanks Rosa!

      Reply
  3. Pamela says

    Love this video/post, Emilie (almost as much as I love your hat).

    Remaining open to receiving is so important and the emotions, the feelings are what pull it in. Embodying the goals – perfect advice for the new year.

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Right on, thanks Pamela! And you’re right, and we so often take care of the rational/planning side of goals without appealing to emotion. It’s vital.

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Blanchard says

    Great post! I used to use a daily creative meditation to imagine my dreams as being here now. It always helped me, but I stopped doing it due to lack of time. I need to start again!

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Ah.. that’s like my gratitude jog. I used to do it every morning and it put me in such a positive, productive state. I’d always spend the last 5 minutes getting in touch with my goals and visions. But I’ve gotten busy/lazy (and now it’s frigidly cold in Montreal). Once I get back to Portland next week, I’m totally starting it up again!

      Reply
  5. Lesley says

    Yes you are so dead on! My brain has been swimming with thoughts just like these lately! 😀

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      You’re awesome, Lesley! I can’t wait till I can read more of your thoughts on a weekly (or bi-weekly) basis. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Stephenie Zamora says

    Ooooh, I love this! What a fun story to illustrate the point! Such a great point. Yes, making choices and actions to embody your dreams now invites what’s to come to show up sooner. 🙂 xo

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Thanks Stephenie!! xo.

      Reply
  7. Cherilyn says

    Great analogy with the hat! Not silly at all, so own it, sistah!

    While watching this, I realized how much I attach meaning to my present reality and own it, even if things aren’t congruent with my ideals. My family’s financial and personal lives were majorly disrupted this year via a move, and I had a lot of stories about what that meant and who we were. We went from being home owners to renters, our budget was really tight, and things were uncertain for most of the year. I started owning that picture rather than the one where things are generally abundant all around.

    Thanks for the reminder to identify with the good stuff now and to come rather than the gap between present and future.

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Hi Cherilyn,

      Yeah, this exercise is certainly much harder to do when you’re going through rough times. But that’s also when it’s the most useful.

      The other aspect of seeing abundance that I only mentioned in passing is gratitude. No matter how crappy your situation, there’s always something to be grateful for. Always. It’s good to get into the habit of identifying what that is. I try to do it every time something goes wrong or I want a little positivity boost during the day.

      By the way, I love your overarching theme at Bike Bliss! Such a wonderful philosophy. And smooshing together biking and happiness is genius. I love it. Let me know if you’d ever like to take it to full on WordPress/Renaissance Biz status. I always like working with people who have good ideas. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Harrison says

    Great analysis of “seeing the future, now”. I’ve been doing that a lot more, and has helped me push out of doubting myself … when I go through those cyclic ups and downs of how to get to my ideal situation.

    And loved your enthusiasm comparing the story to a winter hat … who knew hats could be so inspiring 🙂

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Heh thanks. The metaphorical side of my brain is a little overactive at times. 🙂

      I know what you mean about using visualization techniques to overcome self-doubt. Especially if you’re doing something you’ve never done before and have no past results to use as a reference that you can succeed. In those situations, your pursuit feels a bit like a leap of faith, so you really need to create and feel those results.

      Reply
  9. Chris says

    Wow Emilie, where were you five years ago when I was struggling to connect the idea of being grateful with “manifesting” what you want in life. Wherever you fall metaphysically in that topic, I think embody is a great word because it denotes the use of your body in moving towards what you want in life.

    So often I try to plan out how to get the things I want in my head without involving my body at all, except in total consternation. This would be like you trying to analyze the different possible emotional effects of wearing each hat instead of you know, trying them on and going with what you feel.

    This has been so great lately, since I’ve asked myself these questions. I’m quitting my job in three months and I have no solid job that I’m going to, but acting as though I have a source of income that allows me to also connect with others and be creative is causing opportunities to ” pop out of nowhere.” The key is I’m not acting confident as a response to fear, while actually pulling in. Instead, I’m acting confident while also being aware of the fear, but not letting it define the parameters of my decision making.

    Seems goals actually are good after all…

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      That’s wonderful, Chris! Congratulations on the big change. It’s amazing how resourceful you become when you set your intentions. And you’re right, it’s not about denying the fear, but trusting that you will find a way. And I know you will.

      As for the mind, body shift, this is something I’ve worked on a lot. I’m still working on it, actually. I think that’s why I like combining gratitude with a jog.

      But for me, the easiest transition point is emotion. Sometimes I’ve got so many thoughts in my head and I’m so stressed out, that I need to allow myself to almost break down and sob. Heheh. Really though, turning those bad thoughts from ideas in my mind to a physical reaction makes a big difference.

      Reply
  10. Holli says

    Fun example:) And, at one point in my life I have experienced the gap bridging, almost like an unwavering faith that things would work. But, after so many years in “real life” working, that confidence has been stifled. I am slowly reviving it!

    Reply
    • Emilie says

      Ah yes, “real life” can suck that away. It’s also important to surround yourself with those who also believe in positivity and have big dreams. But I bet your kids help with that. 🙂

      btw, I feel like I’m dropping his name constantly, but if I had kids, I would get them Dallas Clayton’s Awesome World book. I ordered it for myself a while ago, and when I was reading it, I just kept thinking that I wish I knew a kid to give it to.

      Happy new year Holli!

      Reply
  11. Valerie says

    This reminds me of how I buy sunscreen and beach towels, even though I don’t have the money to take a beach vacation…

    But I will…and maybe eventually live near the beach!

    Thank you for the video…

    Reply
  12. Jason Fonceca says

    Brilliant, Em.

    What you’ve touched on here is part of the tried-and-true method that every great success-legend uses.

    Using it on a clothing-change or using it on empire-creation is the exact same process.

    This post can empower anyone who pays attention and takes the value from it.

    Rock on, Happy New Year.

    Reply
  13. Debi says

    Really appreciated the reminder in this post to stop owning today’s circumstances when they don’t match the life we want. Very much want to work for myself and get out of the 9-5 rut and yet am on my own and need to rely on my steady paycheck. At 50+ years old with kids at home, throwing caution to the wind and winging it just doesn’t work right now and would be totally irresponsible … yet finding time to take the steps to become independently employed is elusive as well. Focusing on the future “day” when I do work for myself will keep me from seeing myself perpetually stuck in the 9-5 rut and help give me insight to make whatever changes I can to move out and forward.

    Reply
  14. T. Jay Johnson says

    Of my many potentials, fashion is not one of them! 🙂 But I get what you’re saying and can totally relate. Thanks.

    Reply
  15. Carmen says

    Epipha-wow! For me, this vlog was literally a miracle (or two)! The first miracle was finding this post in the first place, which was *exactly* what I was needing without knowing it, and finding it while looking for something else! I have since begun absorbing myself into the site and have downloaded the free Manifesto. 😀

    The second miracle is the total epiphany of “dressing for [your] dream reality” instead of accepting life as it is. I literally had an out-loud “OMG” moment ad I realized how I have been giving in way to much to what *is* in my life versus what could be. This is especially inspirational to me because of some personal challenges I am going through. But I recognize that this vlog is also great for anyone who is threatening to become a bit too complacent in their lives without perhaps even knowing it. The hat story–so concrete–was a perfect analogy. Bravo! 😀

    Reply
  16. Joyi says

    Dear Emilie,You have indeed touched upon the fundamental cord of achieving any dream. We define our destiny through 3 ways- thoughts, words and actions. What we want to become or how we want our life to be, the seeds are sown through our thoughts and that’s where the process begins. Even if its our figment of imagination right now, but we have the potential to turn it into reality if we really believe in it.
    Thanks for reiterating such a beautiful awareness !

    Reply
  17. Marine says

    Thank you Emilie for this very positive video !
    I’ve not been very happy with my professionnal life for years, and I suppose I needed encouraging words like yours to start a different life (other people – even friends or family – don’t speak the way you do) and that’s what I love with you American people : you’re positive ! that’s great. 😀

    Reply

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