Is your life exactly the way you want it? Or are there many things you would like to change?You can find a new path and set yourself on the road to greatness with the steps outlined here. Set aside a day, or a weekend, to do the process. Buy a notebook or journal to record your thoughts. Take the time to think about each exercise and complete it thoroughly.
Start by listing qualities in yourself you would like to enhance in the next year. List at least five qualities, then list ways you can enhance them. To help select ways to enhance those qualities think of self-talk, actions, scheduling and relationships. How can you use those to enhance the qualities you like? For example, you might want to increase your patience, your ability to listn or have more self discipline.
Next list the activities that you do that are most draining. List ten of these, then prioritize them, putting the most draining activity at the top of the list. Create an action plan for completing or eliminating the top 2 most draining activities.If these are things that cannot be eliminated, such as getting up with the baby in the middle of the night or caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease, list ways you can get support and assistance to make them less draining.
List the ten activities you find most exciting and energizing. Next to each write down how often you do each of them. If you do not engage in at least one of your ten most energizing activities each day examine your schedule to see where you can fit them in.
On the next page of your journal describe the ideal winter day five years from now, including as many of the energizing activities as possible. On the next page describe the ideal summer day five years from now, again including the energizing activities.
Stop and reflect on your ideal winter and summer day. Notice any patterns and examine how each day relates to your ten most exciting and energizing activities.
Create a new list of the most important elements of the previous descriptions. These may have to do with relationships, activities or qualities of yourself.
List all of the roles you play in your life. For example I could list mother, wife, teacher, writer, landscaper, business manager, housekeeper and youth group sponsor. Put them in order with the most important one first. It is very difficult to fulfill more than 6 roles in your life. If there are more than 6, which one would you like to let go of first? Try to determine how you can let go of this role. Again, if it is impossible to eliminate the less important roles see how much you can delegate or how you can spend less time fulfilling that role.
Next list 5 obstacles that could prevent you from becoming healthier and more fit in the next five years on the left side of the next page. On the right side list how you will overcome each of these obstacles. Then list 3 things you will do to make yourself healthier and more fit. List 3 things you will do to have more fun. Then list 3 things you will do to make more time to relax.
On the next page list the people who are most important in your life. Decide who are the six most important people in your life and write something you will do to let them know you appreciate them.
On the next page list a secret(or strong) desire you have not acted on. Why have you not acted on it. If it is a worthy desire, what action will you take to make this desire a reality.
List things you would like to accomplish or do in the following areas: home, family or relationships, work, leisure or hobbies, financial, personal, spiritual and other desires. Prioritize the things you would like to do and choose the top 3. Then list actions you will take in the next week to move toward those priorities.
Return to your descriptions of the ideal winter and summer day. What five things in those descriptions would you most like to achieve.? List those. Set a goal for reaching each. Remember that a goal is a stretch but it is achievable. It has a time limit and it is measurable.
Next set a goal for the next three to five years in each of the following areas: house, family or relationships, work, leisure or hobbies, financial, personal, spiritual and any other area that is important to you.
Finally, prioritize all your goals and select the top 5. Write these five goals on paper in large print and post them where you can see them daily. List a series of steps that will get you closer to the goals and review the steps each night before you go to bed.
Your personal mini-retreat is now completed. Do something fun and relaxing and congratulate yourself on having new direction in your life.
