Would you like to have an amazing, remarkable life?
In a revealing episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Debbie Millman shared an extraordinary personal development technique called "Your Ten-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life". Originally learned from her mentor Milton Glaser, this powerful affirmation exercise involves writing an incredibly detailed description of your life ten years in the future.
The core of the exercise is simple yet profound: imagine your ideal life , in 10 years time, in vivid, specific detail, and then commit that vision to paper. What makes this approach unique is the recommendation to read the essay annually, tracking how remarkably close the predictions come to reality.
Millman's own experience—and that of her students—suggests something almost magical happens when you deeply visualize your future. The predictions have an uncanny ability to manifest, transforming from seemingly far-fetched dreams into actual lived experiences.
This isn't just goal-setting; it's a deeply personal act of imagination that invites individuals to dream without limitations, creating a roadmap for personal transformation.
So what do I need to do?
See below, what Debbie said in an extract from the transcript of the interview between her and Tim.
So lets say it is winter 2027 [Change for 10 years from now]What does your life look like? What are you doing? Where are you living? Who are you living with? Do you have pets? What kind of house are you in? is it an apartment? Are you in the city? Are you in the country? What does your furniture look like? What is your bed like? What are your sheets like? What kind of clothes do you wear? What kind of hair do you have? Tell me about your pets. Tell me about your significant other.
Do you have children? Do you have a car? Do you have a boat? Talk about your career. What do you want? What are you reading? What are you making?
What excites you? What is your health like? And write this day, this one day ten years from now. So, one day in the winter of 2027[Change for 10 years from now]; what does your whole day look like? Start from the minute you wake up, brush your teeth, have your coffee or tea, all the way through until when you tuck yourself in at night. What is that day like for you? Dream big. Dream without any fear. Write it all down. You don’t have to share it with anyone other than yourself. Put your whole heart into it and write like there’s no tomorrow. Write like your life depends on it because it does. And then, read it once a year and see what happens. It’s magic.
Does it work?
It seems to. Debbie mentioned that she continually gets letters from her students saying things like "Debbie, it all came true! How did this happen?".
How long should it be?
Debbie mentioned that some are 2 pages, some are 20. She thought the longer it is the more likely it is to be affirmed, probably because you have put more effort and detail into it.
How to Create Your Ten-Year Plan
The Core Approach
- Choose a specific date in the future (e.g., Winter 2027)
- Write a detailed, immersive narrative of your ideal day
- Include every possible detail about your life
What to Include in Your Plan
- Personal Details
- Living situation (city/country, type of home)
- Relationship status
- Pets
- Family structure
- Personal appearance
- Professional Landscape
- Career trajectory
- What you're creating
- What excites you
- Professional goals
- Lifestyle Elements
- Daily routine
- Health status
- Hobbies
- Reading interests
- Personal possessions
Key Principles
- Dream Without Fear: Imagine your life with absolute certainty of success
- Be Specific: The more detailed, the more powerful
- Write Passionately: As if your life depends on it
- Review Annually: Read your plan once a year and track your progress
Pro Tip: Aim for 10-20 pages of handwritten content. The more care and detail you invest, the more likely your vision becomes reality.
Remember, this isn't just a planning exercise—it's a magical journey of self-discovery that has transformed countless lives by helping individuals visualize and manifest their deepest aspirations.
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