Had an inspirational week filled with a number of new ideas - three whoops for the Borders bookstore and Brian Johnson's Philosopher Notes. I learned my locus on control is mostly internal. It took me a while to digest this tidbit of information and for the penny to drop. Just like everyone out there I have my ideals and goals but the question that came to me was just how mapped out I had it.
Was it on paper, something tangible in other words or just some airy-fairy floaters on the horizon?
I used to scoff at the idea of a five year plan (that would include the hangers-on) since I thought of it as too rigid - especially in this world we live in. Of course life happens and plans change, double chins miraculously appear or disappear, hair loss becomes a reality and not just a sad man you see on late night TV. So why even bother with a five year plan? Then of course I changed as well, suddenly an internal map did not sound like a bad idea after all. But in order to get to this internal map I had to spend time on paper first. It turned out to be a fun exercise and lo and behold - I have a much clearer view on where I'm heading now and feel empowered, even uplifted.
If you want to give it a go, I suggest:
Grab a piece of paper, the bigger the better - don't restrict yourself with a sad and sorry A5-er, go big or go home.
Felt markers, pens in different colours will certainly do.
Block out time (you are busy with something important so switch of that cellphone if you dare)
Find a comfortable space where you don't have to stretch over clutter and...PLAY!
1. List at least 5 activities you enjoy - if you are able to beef up your list up to ten activities, even better.
2. Out of these activities listed, circle the ones you'd feel super lousy if you were unable to ever do it again. These are your joy-makers.
3. Next step might be hard for some folks but quickly jot down your values - what do you stand for? Five will be sufficient for our exercise. These are joy-givers.
4. Look at all the scribbles on your paper and see how this fits in with key aspects in you life like family, social ties, spiritual, physical and of course career. Very important here I'd like you to think of your stance on community and the role you play in yours...
5. How do your joy-makers and joy-givers relate to the key aspects in your life. Any chance of fine tuning it so they are better aligned.
6. Jot down your strengths and don't forget those dandy qualities your nearest and dearest commented on. If you feel brave, list your weaknesses (since we all need a dose of reality too) but don't go overboard here as we are aiming at maintaining a "creative" space as opposed to something downright depressing.
Phew - that's a lot of writing but it will form the perfect foundation for our task at hand.
Now that you have the building blocks - stand up, get some space between you and your paper - go for a walk or have a cup of java but it is important to focus of something unrelated for a few minutes. Maybe the dog needs a walk…
When ready return to your paper and visualise yourself a few years from now.
Do you visualise yourself as content, healthy, surrounded by friends and family. Or is yours a case of where you envision yourself successfully addressing a packed boardroom on your latest and greatest proposal. The sky is the limit - this is where you imagination is left to roam, jump, skip, fly.........
Once you set foot on terra firma after the flight of fancy, take the paper you so dutifully scribbled on and see how you can marry your paper with your ideal “vision”. How can the joy-makers, joy-givers assist in propelling you towards the ideal you?
Of course this will take some thinking and even head-scratching to a degree but keep it playful and you'd be surprised by how easy it becomes aligning your paper and the ideal in your head. Once happy, jot it down on paper (once again) and keep it in a place where you can be reminded of your course of action.
Have map, will venture (joyfully).
