I am reminded of what Haanel wrote in lesson 7, point 9 when he talks about how an architect begins a building with a vision that he wants to see.

Before laying a single brick, they see their building in vivid detail—its towering heights, its intricate design, its harmonious balance with the environment. They do not sit and dwell on the flaws they wish to avoid. Instead, their focus is singular and intentional: creating the masterpiece they envision.

This practice holds a powerful lesson for all of us. Too often, I’ve found myself fixating on what I don’t want. I picture the reality that failure, setbacks, and the things that might go wrong could occur.

It is easy for me to “realistically” visualize the realities of the resources I have at my disposal with a limited mind. And then I wonder why negativity seems to cloud my mind and sap my energy to take action. The answer is clear: what we focus on grows.

If I’m constantly rehearsing the worst outcomes in my mind, I’m unintentionally shaping a mental blueprint of negativity thinking that I am being careful. This mental architecture affects how I feel, how I act, and ultimately, what I create in my life.

Like an architect drawing flawed plans, I’m building the wrong structure—one based on fear and doubt rather than vision and purpose.

So, what if I changed my focus? What if, like the architect, I chose to visualize the life I want to build? Instead of lingering on fears, I could invest my energy into imagining success, fulfillment, and growth.

I could picture myself overcoming challenges, achieving goals, and living with purpose. By doing so, I’d be setting the foundation for a life that aligns with my deepest aspirations. An architect does not draw a flawed building with all of the problems that could happen.

He does not draw the worst looking building (or life) that he has ever seen. So, why then do I find myself designing a future where I see issues or problems first and foremost, and then get surprised that I am not making progress.

I am now seeing that while a necessary shift may sound simple, it is not, because it requires new thinking and new practice, but it is transformational. When we consciously direct our thoughts toward what we want to create as I am now doing with my DMP, we’re not just dreaming—we’re designing. We’re laying mental blueprints that guide our actions, fuel our perseverance, and keep us aligned with our goals.

So, here’s my challenge to myself—and to you: take a moment each day to be the architect of your own life. Visualize your goals vividly and with intention. Picture the life you want to live, the person you want to become, and the impact you want to make as though you are living it.

Let that vision shape your thoughts, decisions, and actions. I am better understanding that my subconscious mind does not know whether it has happened yet or not. It cannot see the difference between visualizing, feeling it, and mentally experiencing it when done correctly in my mind’s eye, vs having seen it with my physical eye.

Because, just like the architect’s building, the life we create will reflect the blueprints we design in our minds.

Let’s design wisely, whether it has happened yet or not.