Nirvana Letter

Purpose

The Nirvana Letter is a tool to help clarify your goals and aspirations, and to develop a plan to achieve them. It’s based on the idea that if you can clearly articulate where you want to be, that you are more cognizant of the journey to get there.

Writing the Nirvana Letter can be a powerful exercise in self-reflection. It can help you to identify what is truly important to you, and to set goals that are aligned with your values. It can also help you to develop a plan of action to achieve your goals.

The Letter

Now beging, write your letter to your chosen person from that point in the future. Write from the perspective that you have achieved everything you set out to do and are living a life that you are truly satisfied with.

It helps to be as specific as you can, so use a date, talk about where you are writing from, and where you live day to day. Talk about how your day has been, what has been the most satisfying part of it?

Try to imagine exactly where you are, who you are, and what your life is like as you write this letter in the future. As you write, try to hold yourself in that future moment, tell your friend what are the most important parts of your life in the future.

When you have written about your day, start writing about how you got there, calling out your major milestones and success along the way.

The Exercise - Before You begin

Get your writing tools, pen, paper, laptop, whatever is most comfortable for you to write in

First, pick a friend or family member that is important to you.

Now, choose a period in the future that will see your life at its most complete.

This could be for example retirement, or when you think you will be living the life you want to lead.

Whilst you write

Consider these questions

  • What kind of life have you led?

  • What have you achieved?

  • What steps have you taken to accomplish your achievements?

  • What is the state of your family life?

  • How have your hobbies and interests developed?

Post Exercise

Don’t read until you are finished!

After you have completed your letter, take a few moments to consider the below questions

  • What was the most difficult part for you?

  • What is of most interest?

  • What have you learned about yourself?

  • What difference does knowing this make?