There are many exercises that invite people to focus on their priorities and life goals. The following section describes one approach.
Some people amass lots of things in their lives. These can take energy away from focusing on some of the important things in life.
Imagine that you want to spring clean your life. This exercise invites you to look ahead and focus on the following things.
Three People
Let’s assume that you have already included your loved ones. Who are the other people you would like to put into your into your white room? If appropriate, you may want to explore the following themes.
Who are the people that give me positive energy? Who are those with whom I can be myself? Who are those who encourage me? Who are those with whom I feel alive?
If you wish try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentence.
Three Strengths
What are your strengths? Which of these would you like to build on? Which would you like to put into your white room? If appropriate, you may what to explore some of the following questions.
What are my strengths? What are the deeply satisfying activities in which I deliver As rather than Bs or Cs? When am I in my element – at ease and yet able to excel?
What are the things that give me positive energy? When do I flow, focus and finish? What are the things I feel passionately about where I may have the ability to deliver peak performances?
What are the situations where I see the destination quickly? When do I go ‘A, B … and then leap to …Z’? Where do I quickly see patterns? Where do I have good personal radar and seem to know what will happen before it happens?
Where do I make complicated things simple? Where do I have the equivalent of a photographic memory? Where do I score highly on drive, detail and delivery? What do I have a have a track record of finishing?
Looking at your talents, what are the three strengths you would like to put into the white room? Try completing the following exercise.
Three Goals
What are the goals you want to put into your white room? Some people focus on personal goals, some on professional goals, some combine elements of both.
One approach is to clarify your lifetime picture of success. Imagine that you are looking back in future years. What are the things you want to have done by then that for you will mean you have had a successful life?
People often mention three themes when tackling this exercise. They want to have built positive relationships, to have made a positive contribution and to have had positive experiences.
Returning to The White Room exercise, describe the three goals you want to put into the room. You can then focus on how to achieve these aims.
Three Possessions
Time to treat yourself. List the three possessions you want to put into the room. What are the thing you treasure, give you pleasure or help you to do your work.
It’s okay to be creative when doing this part of the exercise. One person chose to expand the rules by saying:
“Assuming I am allowed to put in my home, bank balance and pets, I would put in the electrical equipment in need – such as my laptop, phone and TV. Plus I would also put in my car.
“At the same time, I would have a good clear out. We have so much stuff in the house and garage that we never use. Just looking at it takes energy.”
So what possessions would you put in your room? Try completing the following exercise.
Three Other Things
Imagine that you have worked through the previous sections. It is then time for one final step. What may be the three other things you want to put in your white room?
Some choose to put in personal characteristics – such as having a positive attitude, being grateful or other qualities. Some choose to put in music, their garden or other items.
As mentioned earlier, there are many ways for people to focus on what is important in life. One approach is to do the spring cleaning exercise. They can then focus on their priorities in life.
If you wish, try tackling the final exercise on this theme. This invites you to describe the other things you would like to put in your white room. Here is the exercise.
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