Why Writing Down Your Desires Actually Works (Rule 1)
The first positive rule of accomplishment in the classic booklet It Works is deceptively simple: Write down in order of importance the things you want.
Many people skip this, thinking: “I know what I want in my head. I don’t need to write it down.”
But there is a vast, scientific difference between a thought floating in your mind and a written statement. Let’s look at why writing down your desires is the catalyst for bringing them to life.
1. Activating the Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Deep inside your brainstem lies a bundle of nerves called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS acts as a filter for the millions of pieces of sensory information your brain receives every second. It only lets in information that it deems “important.”
When you physically write down your desires (and clarify why you want them), you send a loud signal to your RAS: “Pay attention to this!”
Suddenly, your brain begins to spot opportunities, resources, and connections that were always there, but previously filtered out as background noise.
2. Moving from Vague to Definite
Vague desires yield vague results. A thought like “I want to make more money” is nebulous. The subconscious mind cannot act on ambiguity.
Writing forces definition. It asks you:
- Exactly how much money?
- What kind of home?
- What state of health?
As the book It Works suggests, you should write your list and refine it daily—adding to it, subtraction from it, until it feels “about right.” This refinement is the process of getting clear.
Refine Your Desires Daily
The IT WORKS companion app lets you easily re-order, rewrite, and refine your desires, keeping your focus perfectly sharp without messy scribbles on paper.
3. The Neurological Connection of Typing and Writing
When you write or carefully type out your desires, you engage both motor skills and cognitive pathways. This dual activation stimulates neuroplasticity—literally rewriting neural connections to align with your newly defined goals.
By reviewing and updating your written list, you prevent your goals from getting lost in the daily grind.
How to Write Your List Today:
- Be specific: Don’t just write “a new car.” Write “A silver Tesla Model 3.”
- Order by importance: Put your most critical desire at the absolute top of the list.
- Define the purpose: Write down why you want it. The purpose carries the emotional weight that fuels manifestation.