Design Your Future with a Life Plan
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where--" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
This classic exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat captures the feeling of drifting through life without direction and purpose. Many of us, like Alice, may find ourselves wandering aimlessly, overwhelmed by distractions, or simply unsure of where we want to end up. This can lead to a life of regret, confusion, and missed opportunities – feeling out of balance because we gave too much attention to one area of life and neglected others.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! By taking a proactive approach and creating a life plan, you can prevent that aimless wandering and ensure you’re heading toward a life that truly fulfills you.
What is a Life Plan?
In Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy explain what a life plan is, why it’s essential, and how to create one. In short, a life plan is a written roadmap that helps you design your life with purpose. It’s a tool for personal growth that allows you to outline your priorities and take intentional action in every area of your life.
A life plan is not just about what you want today; it’s about the legacy you want to leave behind. What kind of impact do you want to have on the people who matter most to you? How do you want to be remembered? By defining these answers in your life plan, you can shape your thoughts, words, and actions to align with your highest values.
Benefits of a Life Plan
Clarifying Priorities: A life plan helps you figure out what’s truly important, both in your personal life and career. It enables you to focus your time and energy on the things that matter most.
Maintaining Balance: Balance isn’t about giving equal attention to all areas of your life but rather giving appropriate attention based on your current needs and priorities. A life plan helps you strike that balance.
Filtering Opportunities: With a clear plan in place, it’s easier to filter out distractions and focus on opportunities that align with your goals.
Facing Reality: To get where you want to go, you need to know where you are starting. A life plan allows you to examine your current situation and identify what needs to change.
Envisioning the Future: A life plan helps you envision a compelling future, using your imagination to create goals and habits that propel you forward.
Avoiding Regrets: By actively pursuing your life plan, you can minimize the chances of looking back with "if only" thoughts.
How to Get Started
The first step in life planning is to reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. To guide you in this process, Hyatt and Harkavy suggest asking yourself these questions:
How do I want to be remembered?
What matters most to me?
How can I get from here to where I want to be?
Once you’ve pondered these questions, set aside time to being crafting your life plan. As Jim Rohn’s Law of Diminishing Intent teaches, the longer you delay taking action, the less likely you are to follow through. So don’t wait – set aside a day, gather your thoughts, and start charting your course toward the life you want.
You can create your life plan your own way or follow the guidelines in Living Forward or another similar program. Scott and I would be happy to help you get started - just let us know if you’re interested!
Keeping Your Life Plan Alive
Creating a life plan is just the beginning. To truly benefit from it, you need to keep it alive by regularly reviewing and revising it. Here’s what the authors of Living Forward recommend:
Daily: For the first 90 days, read your plan every day to reinforce your focus.
Weekly: Set aside 15–30 minutes each week to review your progress and adjust as needed.
Quarterly: Tweak your plan as your circumstances and priorities shift.
Yearly: Conduct a full review and revision of your life plan to ensure you’re still on the right path.
By staying engaged with your life plan, you’ll avoid drifting off course. You’ll remain focused, make better decisions, and ensure that your life continues to align with your vision and values.
As Gail Hyatt (wife of Michael Hyatt) says, “People lose their way when they lose their why.” But by creating a life plan, you can clarify your purpose and design a life that reflects what truly matters to you. This is about more than just setting goals – it’s about living with intention, maintaining balance, and leaving a legacy that matters. So don’t wait. Start planning today and begin living forward into the life you truly want.