(If you’re new here, this post is part of a 12-week series: The SONG Framework for Living Your Dreams. You can catch the introduction here.)
Leaning Your Ladder on the Right Wall
You’ve probably heard the analogy of climbing to the top only to realize your ladder was leaning on the wrong wall. It’s a sobering thought—and one many of us can relate to. While we can’t predict the future with complete certainty (because circumstances, desires, and priorities evolve), we can take ownership of the direction we set. Defining the “wall” you want to lean your ladder on helps you live more intentionally. It also gives you permission to re-strategize if new information or experiences call you to pivot.
Visualizing Your Dream Life
Before you scroll past this, stay with me for a moment. Visualization isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a practice supported by research and countless personal stories. When you pause to imagine your future self living the life you dream of, something powerful happens. Close your eyes (or keep them open if that’s easier) and picture it:
- What feelings rise up in you?
- Who is around you?
- What are they saying about you?
- How does it feel to already be there?
You can take this a step further by creating a vision board. Mine lives as a simple Google Slides deck where I snip, copy, and paste pictures from the internet that represent the life I desire for myself. It’s not fancy, but it works. In there, I have images of beautiful homes, travel destinations, and even a lady with a bomb body and six-pack abs to remind me of the kind of health and vitality I aspire to. Whenever I feel discouraged, I scroll through it to realign with the bigger picture of what I’m working toward.
Exploring the Key Areas of Life
When someone says, “Design your dream life,” it can feel overwhelming. A helpful way to approach this is by breaking it down into the main areas of life: relationships, finances, health, spirituality, career, personal growth, and so on. Tools like the Wheel of Life can give you a simple snapshot of where you are now versus where you’d love to be, making it easier to see which areas need more focus.
From there, translate your dream into high-level goals. Aim for SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that give structure to your vision.
Week 3 Homework
- Visualize your desired life in your key areas (relationships, health, finances, spirituality, etc.).
- Outline 1–3 high-level goals for each area to begin shaping your vision into something tangible.
Free Tool: 🌟 Life Alignment Assessment – Free Tool
Lilian Ngima 
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