The Wish List Instrument

The Basic Issue

People often lose their sense of direction in life, or have difficulty having a clear grasp of it in the first place. There are a variety of ways of helping people in this situation, and when it is successful, there is often a strong surge of strength in the person, and a good feeling of knowing what they are about and where they are going in life.

This instrument was developed by myself over the past 14 years in working with people primarily in a career or life-direction seeking context. It is based on a very old principle which is stated in various cultures in a variety of ways. In Scripture it is found in a saying of Jesus in Matt.7:12 and in a similar saying of his brother James in James 2:8 . The basic idea is that if we make a list of all the things which we wish somebody had done (or appreciate somebody having done) which would have :

and do those very things for someone else, our lives are going to come together.

Most people have thought of this principle in a general way but this instrument has them reflecting on it in very personal and specific detail.

The reason the principle works is that the way people find out what we are interested in is by watching what we do with most of our time, energy , and resources. As we do what interests us, those who care to assist us will start feeding in to us information, leads, contacts and so forth which enable us to move even farther into that area with greater efficiency and so forth.

As we become involved in what is of most interest to us, our motivation and focus become much clearer and we pursue opportunities which enable us to further our involvement, and develop our level of expertise. This instrument is for me, one of the primary tools for "getting the heart working first" in a person. Help the person to capture a glimpse of what areas of life are of highest interest to them, and give them the option of following that direction.

The instrument has four stages, with the first two being worked through in the first level of activity. Levels three and four may come much later when they are felt to be needed by each individual.

The foundation is laid in working through the first level (sequential link through).

Index of the four Levels