How do I create my “Kick-Butt List”?

Question:

Hi Mama, I heard you talk about getting clarity on what MY Kick-Butt Life looks and feels like. You mentioned something about using a list and then doing a Bubble Sort. Could you tell me more about this?

Answer:

Sure!  Let’s start with the first part of this question…creating a Kick-Butt List, since you’ll need this list before you can actually do the Bubble Sort.

One of the keys to living a Kick-Butt Life is to figure out what it is, to define it, as clearly as possible for you. One of the easiest ways I’ve found to do this is called a “Bubble Sort”, so named because as you walk through the process what is most important to you “bubbles” to the top and becomes the number 1 priority in your life, at the time you went through the process. It doesn’t mean it that it remains your number 1 priority forever and ever. And everyone I’ve ever taken through this process (including me) discovers something new about what they really want or reaffirms they’re on the right track.

Great to know, eh?

Most of us (at least in the United States), have done this when we’ve gone to the eye doctor to get our vision checked. Remember the part of the process where the doctor fiddles with some dials and then asks “which is better A or B?”. That is a form of Bubble Sort and with the same result…getting the best prescription for making sure you can see clearly!

So let’s start the process of getting the right prescription for YOUR Kick-Butt Life…This process is essential to helping you take conscious, directed action, instead of unfocused actions that don’t help you create the life of your dreams.

Before you begin

Before you create your Kick-Butt Life List, you’ll need…

• 10-20 minutes all to yourself
  Don’t spend more than 10-20 minutes creating your list. This list is about your dreams, your passions…your heart’s desires, not what your head thinks is possible. The “what” is where we’re focusing for the moment, not the “how”. The “how” will come later, after we’ve worked together to clarify the “what”.
• a blank piece of paper (or a special journal for keeping track of your thoughts, ideas and musings?)
• pen or pencil
  Have fun with this! Write with a favorite pen or maybe use some different colors to create a sense of joy and a sense of adventure.
• a quiet place to write, away from distractions and interruptions

Step-by-step

1. Center yourself in the here-and-now
   Feel free to listen to this 3 minute audio Centering Meditation.
2. Think about the following questions

   “What is really important to me?”

   “What would I do if there were no rules, no limits, no “shoulds”, no “nothing else”. ONLY what I want to do, be or have?

3. At the top of your page, write the following sentence:

   When I am living my Kick-Butt Life, my ideal life, the life I publicly (or secretly!) dream of, I am___________________________

   You can shorten it to “When I’m living my dream life, I am” or write something similar that is aligned with you.

4. Write your responses until you have at least 10 items OR you’ve been writing for a maximum of 20 minutes
5. Let your list sit for a while…maybe a few hours or the next day
6. Do a Bubble Sort

   For a short sample, listen in on this 3 minute example

Writing Tip

Write your “be, do, have” statements as individual items so you get the best result from your Bubble Sort. Try to stay away from “and” statements that link a bunch of things you want to be, do or have. Also, write the statements as if they are happening right now, are in your life right now. So, for example:

Instead of “I am traveling the world, first class, with my best friend and visiting great historic spots.”

Write

“I am traveling the world.”

The remaining statements can be used to get a clearer picture of what your Kick-Butt Life is like…and writing them this way helps you do a more accurate comparison.

Till the next time (when we’ll discuss how to do the Bubble Sort)…

love and light, hugs and blessings
MamaRed