Bonnie Wan: A New Take on Goal Setting and Living Life Without Regret
Jan 11, 2024
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Bonnie Wan, an author and speaker, discusses her book 'The Life Brief' and the importance of taking action and defining what matters most in order to thrive. The podcast explores the benefits of the 'Ready State Virtual Mobility Coach' app and the process of writing a life brief to embrace vulnerability and gain insight into desires and beliefs. It also emphasizes the value of implementing change through action and engagement in community.
Writing a life brief can bring clarity and empower individuals to align their actions with their deepest desires.
The life brief process can lead to surprising revelations and a sense of empowerment, saving marriages, finding career clarity, and centering parenting.
A health brief can help individuals envision their physical well-being and set goals for a vibrant, active, and fulfilling physical life.
Deep dives
The Power of Writing a Life Brief
Writing a life brief can be a transformative process, allowing individuals to clarify their desires, dreams, and priorities. By getting messy and delving into their thoughts, people can uncover what truly matters to them. The act of writing itself is crucial as it rearranges the furniture of the mind and brings clarity. The life brief is not a one-time exercise, but an evolving process that adapts to changing circumstances and personal growth. It empowers individuals to make intentional choices and align their actions with their deepest desires. Curiosity and a commitment to asking meaningful questions are essential in this process. While initial fears and resistance may arise, writing a life brief can lead to surprising revelations and a sense of empowerment.
The Impact of the Life Brief Process
Through the life brief process, individuals have experienced various surprises and serendipitous moments. It is often surprising how sticky the idea of a life brief becomes, even when individuals initially believed it was just a passing phase. The life brief has helped individuals save their marriages, find career clarity, and center their parenting. It has facilitated decision-making, provided a sense of direction, and brought a level of certainty amidst life's uncertainties. While resistance and fear may arise when confronting difficult questions, the rewards of the life brief process are numerous, leading to personal growth, connection, and a sense of purpose.
Overcoming Hurdles in the Life Brief Journey
Embarking on the life brief journey is not always easy. People may struggle to confront deep questions about their desires, face fears of disruption and change, or challenge inherited narratives and societal expectations. The act of being nakedly honest with oneself can trigger discomfort and resistance. However, those who push through this initial resistance are often surprised by the depth of self-discovery and liberation that follows. It is crucial to recognize that a life brief is not selfish but self-centered, putting individuals at the center of their own lives and enabling them to cultivate connection, belonging, and fulfillment.
Writing a Health Brief
Similar to a life brief, a health brief can be a powerful tool for individuals to envision their physical well-being and set goals for their long-term health. By identifying what they want to be able to do physically in the future, individuals can work backward to determine the actions and lifestyle choices necessary to achieve those goals. A health brief encourages considering one's physical capacity over various time frames, from the next few years to decades ahead. It prompts a commitment to curiosity, continuous improvement, and proactive steps to ensure a vibrant, active, and fulfilling physical life.
The Role of Curiosity in the Life Brief Process
Curiosity is a cornerstone of the life brief process, enabling individuals to explore their desires, goals, and aspirations. In a society that often lacks curiosity, embracing this quality opens doors to self-discovery and connection. Cultivating curiosity involves asking meaningful questions, reflecting on one's wants and needs, and becoming a better listener. By approaching life with wonder and an openness to new possibilities, individuals can unlock insights about themselves and the world. Curiosity fosters growth, transformation, and the emergence of fresh ideas and perspectives.
Bonnie Wan is an author and speaker, as well as partner and head of brand strategy at the world-renowned advertising agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners. As creator of The Life Brief, Bonnie helps people live with greater clarity, creativity, and courage by teaching them how to write creative briefs for their lives. The Life Brief has evolved from a short form biography agency talk into a workbook, workshops, and speaking appearances at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit, the 3% Conference, SXSW, Accenture, Apple, Google, Change.org, and more.
We loved getting to know and understand Bonnie’s Life Brief strategy and can really see its application to us in the health and fitness space and to anyone wanting to get clear on any aspect of their life.
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