bruce lee’s definite chief aim
Many years ago, I came across this note written by actor and martial artist Bruce Lee. It’s entitled “My Definite Chief Aim,” and lays out his intentions for his life:
I love this with a crazy passion. I love that, for the most part, it happened -- or, at least, it looked like it was going to happen, up until his untimely death in 1973.
Back when I found this almost a decade and a half ago, I remember sitting down at my kitchen table, taking my journal, finding a clean page, and writing my own Definite Chief Aim. I have no idea if things worked out — but I do know that 14 years ago, my life looked very different: I was a mom of a seven-year-old, had just written my very first book, and was primarily a blogger. But I remember that the five minutes that it took to write my Definite Chief Aim was a really empowering five minutes. And I certainly like my life now.
So I decided to do it again. It only took 5 minutes or so to do, but I have to tell you, it was a really empowering five minutes. By the time I finished writing it down, I had convinced myself that my Definite Chief Aim was not only possible, it was probable; moreover, it was simply mine for the asking.
I don't know if I totally believe that simply writing down your intentions makes them happen (although, remind me to tell you about the list I made on the qualities that I felt made up the perfect man, about a year before I met Marcus), but I do know that writing down goals like this make you feel more serious about them. And that can't be a bad thing, right?
So, I'll encourage you today to take 5 minutes to write your own Definite Chief Aim. You know, just for kicks. I think you'll actually find it pretty fun. And if you decide to do it, might I suggest the following tips, as inspired by Mr. Lee:
1. Write it down on a special piece of paper. I used my journal, but obviously, if you're not a journaller, there's no reason to go out and buy one especially for this. But write it on a nice piece of paper -- forego using the back of a used envelope or a napkin, and instead make sure that you have a sheet of paper especially chosen for this purpose.
2. Write it in longhand, as neatly as possible. Skip the laptop: Instead, I'd grab your favourite pen, and practicing your very best handwriting (isn't Lee's handwriting incredible?), write your words neatly and purposefully. The act of handwriting rather than typing necessarily slows you down, making you think about every word you write. I think, for this exercise, this is important.
3. Don't write what you think you're supposed to write -- write what you really, truly, deep in your heart, soul, down-to-your-toes want to do. For example, don't write that you want to be the head of your accounting firm if, in fact, you despise accounting. Only write down that you want to be the Chief of Surgery at a major metropolitan hospital if you actually have an interest in practicing medicine (and not say, because your family seriously wants you to finish that medical degree). This needs to be all about what will light you up, not someone else. And be bold: make a goal of being something grand, something that you wouldn't even dare whisper for fear of being thought silly. Do it.
And if that seems risky to you, then please remember number 4....
4. No one else has to see this. You know what my favourite part of Bruce Lee's Definite Chief Aim is? The fact that at both the top and bottom of the page, the word "SECRET" appears. This isn't about proclaiming this from the rooftops -- this is about making a commitment to yourself about what your goals truly are, to help make them concrete in your own mind and heart. This is about spending some meditative time with thoughts, and really capturing what you want for yourself.
5. Sign it. Nothing makes a writing feel more serious than when you sign a piece of paper. Trust me. I'm a lawyer.
So find a quiet spot, take a few deep breaths, and give it a whirl: it's practically back-to-school season, after all, which seems as good a time as any to give birth to grand schemes, bold ideas and fantastic plans.
