What Do You Want?
What do you want?
This must be one of the most powerful questions we can ask. This is a question we often ask ourselves, we ask our friends when they are torn making a decision, and we ask this question often when we are working with a coaching client.
What do you want?
It seems we don’t get asked this question very often as adults. When we are kids, we are asked, “what do you want to be?” And later “what will be your major?” Or “where do you want to work?” But it is not everyday we are asked, “What do you want?”
In 2020, when we were questioning everything about our lives, we would go back to this question time and time again. We felt like we could easily answer what we didn’t want, but it took us time to figure out exactly what we did want.
When we got down to it and asked ourselves, what do you want, these were some of our actual answers:
Brandon: I want enough acreage and woods for the kids to play
Opal: I want a beautiful front yard
Brandon: I want enough space that we aren’t disturbing neighbors
Opal: I want neighbors that we can visit and be a part of a neighborhood
Brandon: I want a creek
Opal: I want to live close to town
Brandon: I want mountain views
Opal: No way I am living on top of a mountain, especially with teen drivers
Brandon: I want to live somewhere with four seasons
Opal: I want mild winters
These conversations would go back and forth. And while it may seem these differences would create discord, it actually helped us make our vision more clear and concrete.
Knowing exactly what we wanted led us straight to the place we now call home: a historic home on 2.5 acres that is wooded in the back with a circle drive out front, wonderful neighbors on either side but not so close, a creek through the back of our property and we’re only a mile outside of town, mountain views without actually living on a mountain, and a climate with four seasons and a winter with some snow.
We know saying what you want out loud can feel intimidating. It can feel like what you are asking for is impossible. It can feel like it is too far out of reach.
But we also know that knowing what you want is what will lead you right to it. It will open your heart and your mind to new possibilities. It will help you sift through what fits the list and what does not. Knowing what you want is how you will know when you get there!
So don’t be afraid. Ask yourself, “what do you want?” We can’t wait to see where it will lead you!
