| > | | | | do these things, you might want todo a dozen or |
| Have you ever accomplished something, then | | | | so things with each providing the same |
| wondered where to go next? Or,perhaps you've | | | | fulfillment---thisleads to clutter and confusion. |
| accomplished something and just continued down | | | | To resolve this situation, write down all of the |
| that same pathbecause it worked. Many people | | | | different objectives youhave in your life. Make |
| become stuck in this way because of the | | | | them action phrases like "writing a book" or |
| "security of sameness." You can get stuck from | | | | "driving across the country." Make the list as long |
| problems as well astriumphs. | | | | or as short as youlike. |
| I have to say that my life has been a most | | | | Once you're done, next to each item, write the |
| interesting set of twists andturns, but I've always | | | | specific fulfillment to beachieved next to each |
| had the opportunity to maintain a little bit | | | | item. Make each word an adjective or each |
| ofcontrol. The control I kept, however, was not | | | | phrasedescriptive of something tangible. For |
| over my environment or mydirection, but on me | | | | instance, "writing a book" mightprovide "fame and |
| and how I handled or initiated change. | | | | fortune" while "driving across the country" might |
| You realize when you get stuck and that you | | | | provide |
| devise a plan to moveforward---it all depends on | | | | "freedom." Once you've finished classifying your |
| how you manage and initiate your own change. | | | | objectives, you'll findthat most of them duplicate |
| --- Planning Out Your Life --- | | | | the fulfillment achieved and others have noreason |
| I hear so many people say that you cannot plan | | | | at all. This is where a lot of people run into a |
| your life, "you just let ithappen." So, what happens | | | | problem! You havea million things to do, no time |
| while you're sitting there waiting for life tohappen? | | | | to do any of them, and your inner need is tofeel |
| But, if you plan your life too rigidly, what | | | | the fulfillment. |
| experiences will youmiss out on? | | | | To resolve this, group the items in separate lists |
| You really can't plan your life right up to the end, | | | | by the fulfillment youdescribe and eliminate those |
| nor can you plan it outfive years and expect it to | | | | items that have no reason. From each new |
| work as you expect. I know that sounds bad, | | | | list,figure out the tasks that will give you the |
| butplanning your life and expecting to stick to it | | | | greatest feeling of satisfactionand fulfillment. From |
| will only limit your optionsand keep you in one | | | | this final list, you have your primary objectives |
| place all the time. | | | | toaccomplish---all others are secondary and should |
| Realize that, as you experience change and enjoy | | | | not be focused upon untilyou've finished your |
| life, you grow. Growthspawns new ideas, feelings, | | | | primary objectives. |
| and intellect that change your point of view. | | | | * Your Mission, Vision, and Goals |
| As your point of view changes, so do your | | | | Once you've figure out your primary objectives, |
| directions and options in life. | | | | you must now figure out howto get there. This is |
| You must be willing to change your life's plan as | | | | not an easy task and it might take a few days to |
| you grow so that you cantake on more | | | | cutthrough the fog that has settled in your mind. |
| challenging things and be accepting of other new | | | | The Vision is a view of things in the |
| experiences. | | | | future---where you see yourself. Itis the tangible |
| As I write, I think of some of the things I've | | | | item that you chase to feel the fulfillment you |
| done in my life. I onceworked for a major | | | | seek. |
| corporation and wanted to be in management. | | | | Realize that your Vision will change many times |
| But, once Igot there, what was next? Nothing. I | | | | over your life, but eachredefinition gives you a |
| didn't realize that I forgot to thinkabout what | | | | clearer view of where you want to go based on |
| happened next and I didn't know that once I got | | | | yourgrowth. |
| there---"there"was not where I wanted to be | | | | The Mission is a statement that defines what you |
| anymore. | | | | will do to reach your |
| The point is that you cannot plan your life in an | | | | Vision---the action that you perform to reach |
| absolute manner or you'lleither miss out on new | | | | your Vision. As your Visionchanges, so must your |
| experiences or end up in a place you no longer | | | | Mission because your direction will change as well. |
| wantto be. You must learn to adapt and change | | | | Goals are important in that they add direction and |
| your plan after each step of yourpath. As you | | | | purpose to life. Theydefine the intermediate steps |
| achieve each new goal, you grow, taking you one | | | | involved in accomplishing your Mission. Theseare |
| step further. | | | | selected items from your objectives that must |
| --- Geometry of Life --- | | | | be achieved to build thepath of your Mission. As |
| Sameness is security for many. You wake up, go | | | | each Goal is accomplished, you are that |
| to work, go to the store,take care of the kids, | | | | muchcloser to your Vision. |
| change the oil in the car---what else is there? | | | | --- Executing the Plan --- |
| Ifyou notice, the sameness you experience is in | | | | Once you've defined your Goals, you can begin |
| the form of a geometricshape---line, square, circle, | | | | defining and executing yourplan of action. For each |
| rectangle, or triangle. Take note of thethings you | | | | Goal, you must define the steps required to |
| do during your day and determine the shape of | | | | reachthem. For instance, one of my past Visions |
| the consistentpaths you take. | | | | was to "work at home as awriter." My Mission |
| For instance, when I worked in downtown Denver | | | | was to do "technical writing and work in other |
| and lived south of town, mypath was a straight | | | | writingarenas to enhance my talent and my |
| line. I lived at the end of Broadway, 14 miles | | | | exposure." Some of my Goals to reach theinitial |
| fromtown. I drove down Broadway to my office, | | | | Vision were: |
| which was located in a buildingon Broadway itself. | | | | - Locate three writing contracts. |
| All of my stores, friends, and family were within | | | | - Work to generate income for six months of |
| oneblock on either side of Broadway. This | | | | unemployment. |
| became so monotonous that I coulddrive to work | | | | - Locate insurance. |
| in a daze and still get there safely. Sound familiar? | | | | - Quit day job. |
| The easiest way to break out of this shape is to | | | | For each Goal, I defined a set of smaller steps or |
| change your path fromtime-to-time. I'm not | | | | actions that helped meaccomplish the Goal. For |
| specifically referring to your path to and from | | | | instance, my plan of action for "Locate |
| work. | | | | threewriting contracts" was: |
| I'm speaking of any path that seems to have | | | | - Assemble my writing samples. |
| etched itself into yourexistence---you create a | | | | - Rebuild Web site to advertise my work. |
| "rut" in your virtual road from travelling the | | | | - Rewrite resume to reflect direction for |
| samepath too often. For instance, instead of going | | | | software documentation. |
| down Broadway, I should'vetaken the freeway | | | | - Talk to local recruiters about opportunities. |
| and made a square, then changed it later to some | | | | - Visit sites for telecommuting opportunities on a |
| othershape. | | | | weekly basis. |
| At first, even small changes will take a lot of | | | | - ... |
| effort, but the one thingyou'll begin to notice is | | | | Obviously, you must be careful when defining |
| that you're indirectly changing other things aswell. | | | | your Goals and plan of actionso that you perform |
| This is what you want to do! | | | | the steps in the proper order. If you define your |
| Once you "break out of your shape" you have to | | | | stepsin such a way that you end up in a deadlock, |
| figure out what it is thatyou want out of life. | | | | then your entire plan isuseless. Make sure that |
| Don't go material, go more for fulfillment | | | | you organize your Goals and your plan of |
| asmaterial things are only a reward for | | | | actionsuch that each step builds on the previous. |
| accomplishments. Also, beingemotional beings, | | | | --- What's next? --- |
| satisfying a feeling or desire is a fulfilling reward | | | | Don't feel that this process is over after you do it |
| initself---it makes us feel whole. | | | | the first time. |
| --- Making a Plan --- | | | | Realize that you will grow as you accomplish your |
| To help you stay out of your rut, you must | | | | Goals toward your Vision. |
| make a plan that takes intoaccount the many | | | | As you grow, your Vision will change and so must |
| things you want to do in life that fulfill you. | | | | you change your Mission and |
| Theoverall plan consists of your Mission, your | | | | Goals. |
| Vision, and your Goals. Each ofthese items | | | | This is an iterative process that forces you to |
| identifies what you want, where you're going, and | | | | reevaluate your direction asyou accomplish each |
| how to getthere. | | | | Goal in your path. Not only will this reevaluation |
| * Defining Your Objectives | | | | andreassessment of your direction help you stay |
| Realize that, just because you want to do | | | | out of the consistent geometricshapes that put |
| something, there is a reason youwant to do that | | | | you in a rut, but it will keep your life moving |
| thing (i.e., fulfillment, acceptance, and education.) | | | | forward togreater fulfillment in the things that |
| Sinceyou're probably not sure why you want to | | | | really make a difference for you. |