As I previously mentioned in my last posting, the first step in knowing how to not waste a year is to know what the end result looks like. Once you have really visualized what that ideal is and painted that wonderful picture in your mind in explicit detail then you can take step two.
Step two is two parts-
1) Take a self/goal inventory. This is almost an extension of the Perfect Day exercise, but different enough to warrant its own step. Here you take stock of the 3, 4, or 5 areas of your life that you wish to see grow. For myself, the 5 areas were finance, relationships (specifically with my wife), my relationship with Christ, my career, and physical. These were things that if I focused on throughout the year and nothing else, I would not consider it a wasted year. So often we get sidetracked doing things we think we want to do, when in reality they are only things we wanted to do right then. There is a difference. Spend some time on this step as it can give you insight into who you are, what makes you tick, and what you should possibly be spending the rest of your life doing. Once you have identified those things break them down into 3 or 4 sub categories or areas. That part is important for the second part of this.
2) Now that you have your 3,4,5 categories with their appropriate sub-genres, you can proceed to develop an action plan. A good action plan is not a 659 page essay on every little detail of your new (soon) life. A good action plan consists of figuring out what is it that you have to do which will help you further your goal for that area. Sometimes that involves daily actions, sometimes it doesn't. Another personal example is in my spiritual area. Preaching catapults me to deeper intimacy with my savior. However, I am not a preacher. But I am a welcome change of pace at my local church...about once a quarter or so. Whatever your action plan looks like, it needs to be something which is tangible, and that is "measurable". Measurable is in quotes because you are not measuring yourself against anything or anyone else, however without making clear action steps these areas will stay on the back burner of your subconscious. Write these up. Type them up. Do something to make them more than scribbles on a notepad which will end in the trash.
Congratulations! You are on the right track to seizing life. Living every moment in a way that is deeply fulfilling and satisfying to the core of who you are. Stay on target. Don't lose focus. The results, I've been told, are o so worth it. I envision a day when from the time I rise to the the time my head hits the pillow, I do nothing but that which I enjoy doing. Maybe not because it is easy. I probably won't find everything on my action plan easy to do. But I'll enjoy it because of I'll know where its taking me. Within the next week I'll post an update on how this is working out for me. If you have any questions or comments please leave them and I'll respond ASAP.
- Special thanks to 18 minutes for inspiration.
- special thanks to
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