How To Properly Formulate Desires To Make Them Come True

Have you ever felt that your dream was so far away that it seemed impossible to achieve? But what if the key to success lies not in how hard we work, but in how we formulate desires? The power of our thoughts and intentions plays a huge role in how we achieve our goals. However, most people don’t realize how important it is to properly formulate desires. This article will help you understand how to set goals and express them in such a way that they really come true.

1. Be Specific: Clear Desire Formulation Is The Key To Success

The first and most important step toward achieving your desires is specificity. Your dream or goal should be expressed so clearly that you can vividly imagine its fulfillment. The more precisely you understand what you want, the easier it will be to direct your efforts in the right direction.

People often express their desires in too vague terms. For example, “I want to be successful”. This is too broad and gives no clear direction. Instead, it’s better to say something specific like, “I want to get a promotion at work within the next year and increase my income by 20%”. When you articulate your desires clearly, your mind already understands what you need to strive for. Every action you take begins to work toward that goal.

Tip: Avoid unclear or overly broad phrases. For instance, saying “I want to be rich” is too abstract. Focus on a specific amount or a clear strategy for achieving financial success. If you’re interested in diving deeper into how to set clear, actionable goals, be sure to check out our article The Art of Goal Setting for more insights on effective goal setting.

2. Formulate Desires In The Present Tense

Our brains perceive present actions as reality. Therefore, it is crucial to formulate desires in the present tense, as if they have already come true. This helps you align yourself with the energy of success and see your goal as achievable.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose 5 kilograms”, say, “I weigh 5 kilograms less and feel healthy and energetic”. This creates a mental image of already achieving your goal, and your brain begins to work in that direction.

When you speak of your desires in the future tense (“I want”, “I will”), you psychologically distance yourself from their fulfillment. But when you speak in the present tense, your subconscious begins to perceive the goal as an existing reality, and you become more motivated to act.

3. Avoid Negative Phrasing

One of the most common mistakes when formulating desires is using negative phrasing. Our brains tend to ignore words like “not” and focus on the object of the desire. Thus, the phrase “I don’t want to be poor” may be interpreted as “I want to be poor”.

It is important to focus on what you do want, rather than what you are trying to avoid. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t want to experience financial difficulties”, say, “I live in financial abundance and attract wealth into my life”. When you concentrate on positive phrasing, your attention shifts toward achievements rather than fears and obstacles. This helps you feel more motivated and focused on success.

4. Add Emotions When You Formulate Desires

Emotions are a powerful tool that enhances your motivation and solidifies your desire in the subconscious. If you formulate your desires in a dry, impersonal way, they will not create the emotional impact needed. However, when you incorporate emotions, your desires become more vivid and attractive.

Imagine how you will feel when your desire comes true. Include these feelings in your formulation. For example, instead of saying, “I want to find a new job”, say, “I feel happy and inspired in my new job, where I am valued and respected, and I receive fair compensation for my efforts”.

When you visualize and feel the emotions associated with your desired outcome, you create a mental image of the future in your mind. This emotional charge helps solidify your goal in your subconscious and directs your actions toward its achievement.

5. Gratitude: Create The Feeling That The Desire Has Already Come True

One of the most powerful techniques is expressing gratitude, as if your desire has already been fulfilled. This not only lifts your mood but also aligns your subconscious with a sense of abundance and joy. For example, instead of saying, “I want to live in comfort”, try saying, “I am grateful for the comfort and coziness in my life, for living in a beautiful, spacious home that brings me joy every day”.

In this way, gratitude tells your mind, “I am already on the path to achieving this desire, and it is already partially realized”. This not only makes the process of achieving your goal more enjoyable but also helps reduce unnecessary anxiety and stress.

6. Avoid Over-Attachment To A Specific Outcome

Another important technique is to let go of excessive attachment to a specific result. Sometimes people become so fixated on one possible path to their goal that they forget that life (or the universe) may offer a better solution. When you express your desires, be open to how they will come into your life.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to get this exact job at this specific company”, say, “I am grateful for the opportunities that open up for me and for the job that brings me satisfaction and success”. This approach helps reduce stress and internal tension, leaving room for new, perhaps even better, possibilities.

7. Visualization: Imagine Your Desire Coming True

Visualization is one of the most powerful techniques for bringing desires closer to reality. When you mentally draw a picture of how your desire has already come true, you create a strong emotional and psychological connection to the goal. The clearer and more detailed you can imagine the process and the result, the faster your subconscious will begin working on its realization.

How to do it: Close your eyes and imagine that your desire has already come true. Visualize every detail: how you look, how you feel, who is around you, how your world has changed. Try to activate all five senses—see, hear, feel, and even “taste” this moment. For example, if your desire is to improve your health, imagine yourself full of energy, running in the park, or exercising with joy. Feel how your body has become stronger and healthier.

8. Action: Start Moving Toward Your Goal

No matter how much we formulate desires, they cannot come true if we do not take specific actions toward them. Formulating desires is the first step, but action is what brings them into reality.

Sometimes people think that expressing an intention is enough and everything will happen by itself. However, active participation is crucial. Even if your desire is related to internal changes (such as emotional well-being), you still need to take steps that support this desire. For example, if your desire is to find a new job, in addition to visualization, you need to start looking for vacancies, sending resumes, and networking with potential employers.

Actions can be small but regular. The key is to keep moving forward and strengthen your intentions through real efforts.

9. Patience: Trust The Process And Give Your Desires Time

Often, we want our desires to come true instantly. However, in real life, patience is necessary. Some goals take time to realize, and that’s completely normal. It’s important not to lose faith in the process and to continue working toward your goal, even if the results don’t appear immediately.

Don’t rush the process, and don’t give up on your dream due to small delays or obstacles. Remember, all good things take time. Constant pressure on yourself can only weaken your motivation and energy. For instance, if your desire is to improve your financial situation but changes don’t occur within a week, don’t give up. It may take more time to find a better job, develop a savings strategy, or launch a business.

Patience is what helps you stay true to your dreams and not abandon them halfway.

Conclusion

Properly formulating desires is not just a mental exercise — it’s a practice that combines the power of intentions, actions, and emotions. When you clearly express your goal, visualize its fulfillment, take action, and practice patience, you become the creator of your reality.

Now you have all the tools to start formulating your desires correctly, give them a positive energy, and direct your efforts toward their realization. Don’t be afraid to dream, be specific, and boldly take steps toward your goal!

Practical Exercise: “How to Properly Formulate Desires to Make Them Come True”

Now that you’ve learned the techniques for properly formulating desires, it’s time to apply them in practice. Try the following exercise:

1. Choose one specific desire that is important to you. Write it down, but be as specific as possible. What exactly do you want to achieve?
2. Formulate the desire in the present tense. Imagine it has already come true. How do you feel? What has changed in your life?
3. Avoid negative phrasing. Focus on what you want to achieve, not what you want to avoid.
4. Add emotions. How do you feel when your desire comes true? Include these emotions in your statement.
5. Express gratitude, as if your desire has already come true. Write down what you’re grateful for in your life now and for the realization of your desire.
6. Visualize your desire. Close your eyes and vividly imagine that your desire has come true. Try to activate all your senses: what do you see, feel, hear?
7. Start taking action! Write down a few steps you can take right now to bring your desire closer to reality. Even small actions matter!
8. Be patient and open to results. Allow life to present unexpected, perhaps even more wonderful, opportunities for achieving your goal.

Scientific Research, Data And Articles

1. Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717.
2. Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1998). Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: The self-concordance model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(3), 482–497.
3. Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., Boehm, J. K., & Sheldon, K. M. (2011). Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: An experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being.