Why should we use bucket lists to discover our potential and pursue our dreams, even in the midst of life’s trials?

This article is about the experience of making a bucket list in the midst of life’s trials, crystallizing one’s dreams and goals, and growing and understanding oneself in the process. It’s a story about finding direction in life by accomplishing small goals and learning important lessons along the way.

 

Everyone has trials in life. No matter what form they take, they can be very troubling for each individual. Some people suffer from health problems, others from relationship or career problems. For me, there are some things that are part of my memories that I laugh about easily now, but at the time were very difficult and painful. When things didn’t go my way, the anxiety and worry about the future was endless. I lost myself more and more and wandered around, not knowing what to do.
That’s when I discovered the bucket list. It’s a list of things you want to do before you die. You can have grandiose plans and goals, but you can also write down things that you simply want to do, seemingly simple things like learning yoga. At first, I was skeptical about the point of this, but gradually, making lists made a positive difference in my life.
Writing a bucket list was instrumental in helping me realize what I wanted to do with my life, what I was interested in, and what I was excited about. Through this, I began to understand myself more deeply. It made me think about what I really want and why they are meaningful to me. My bucket list was full of activities such as traveling to many parts of the world and meeting different people, being involved in cultural activities, and working on interesting projects. I realized that the things I liked and was interested in that I thought others would naturally prefer and find interesting were actually unique to me.
I thought that traveling to foreign countries, having local experiences, and making local friends was a trait that most people share. But I realized that there are some people who don’t travel abroad, and others who are uncomfortable with foreigners. I hate being awkward in new environments, so I tend to get to know people quickly by engaging their interests as much as possible. And this trait of fitting in anywhere is not just a personality trait, but a way of life that I value. I realized that this passion for relationships and the desire for interaction is what drives my life, regardless of nationality or age.
In addition, I have gained my own sense of fulfillment in the process of learning, thinking, and solving new things. The future I dream of is no longer a vague thing, but a concrete goal that I want to achieve. In the process, I realized that I had been thinking too big about my dreams. But as I checked off the small goals on my bucket list, I began to understand myself better, and what I really wanted became clearer.
The process of accomplishing small goals one by one made a huge difference for me. I became clearer about what I really wanted and what direction I needed to take to achieve those dreams. By simply writing down what I wanted to do, no matter what my current situation was, I realized that the real obstacle was not external circumstances, but myself. Dreaming and setting goals wasn’t just about success or accomplishment, it was a journey of self-discovery and growth along the way.
When people talk about their dreams, they often worry about the resources to fulfill them. I was one of them. There were many times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I wanted because I didn’t have the money or the time. But as I wrote down small goals, those thoughts gradually disappeared. I realized that dreams don’t come in rich or poor, the only thing that matters is the desire and will to make them happen. I am now convinced that despite my current lack of financial resources, I have unlimited possibilities to pursue my dreams.
Our brains are evolutionarily designed to recognize danger and fear first. Past pain, present trials, and anxiety about the future scare us and trigger an instinctive response to avoid them. This response helped our ancestors survive, but in the modern world, it often prevents us from challenging ourselves or making changes. But by writing a bucket list, I was able to move beyond fear and anxiety and envision a positive future.
Through my bucket list, I realized that life isn’t just about big goals, but the process of realizing small dreams is just as meaningful. Just as small things add up to make a big difference, I began to feel a sense of accomplishment that I was making progress every day. At the end of the day, life is only a short time to realize what you want to do. That’s why I believe that the small challenges of each day add up and lead to the big goals I dream of.