I had a very good thinking session this morning as I try to make some pretty huge personal decisions over the next month or so about both the short-term and long-term plans for my life. I was feeling somewhat unsure of how to get to where my life is leading and where I know God is taking me, so the only option after prayer was to ask myself some difficult questions.
Here are the questions I asked myself:
What life do I feel called do? What is my dream? What is the life I want to lead? Where is God leading me?
How do I see my life (if I follow my calling) in 5 or 10 years?
What changes do I need to make in order to achieve what I feel called to?
What is the main thing that will help me achieve these?
How am I going to achieve these steps and changes in my life?
In order to make these changes, what are my short term and long term SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-sensitive) goals?
The whole process took about 40 minutes, it involved adding new ideas and taking some of the less important things off my list. I think for me, I know where I feel called, but struggle with what practical steps to take now in order to get there. But 40 minutes later I feel a lot more clarity and feel I’m on the right track and accept fully I can do what I’m called to do :)
How do you plan what steps to take towards achieving your dreams?
You are so fortunate to be thinking like this when you are young. When I was your age, my life just kind of “happened”. But the best thing did happen to me anyways – God saved me and I am so grateful.
I agree with the poster above. I don’t think most people have an understanding that life simply shouldn’t pass you by, then they hit their 40′s and become too scared to change.
I really learned a lot from reading this and will try it out myself. Thank you!
Keep meaning to ask how is the cat??
Glad you feel more clear about things.
I learn so much from you!! I really need to make more effort to examine what I want, and make choices that reflect that!
So, my question to you is – how do you know what you are being called to do – and you seem to know very firmly as well. I have been wondering how to figure this out myself as I try to figure out what my life means and is here to do.
I feel like I am here to do something – to serve a purpose and I just dont know what it is. I am sharing these thoughts on my blog at the moment – mainly to see if others feel the same!
Jen
Jen I actually have a post in my head about this, will try to get it together soon! And will try to leave a helpful comment after I’ve made dinner
fantastic!
i’ve been trying to do this aswell – particularly working out immediate, mid-term and long-term goals, and trying to pin them down (make sure they’re SMART and not just vague ideas!)
i love to plan, so i love this sort of task.
have you ever tried completing a vision board? christine kane writes a bit about it, it’s a bit woo-woo but i love it as a focus, as a prayer tool…it can be great to make your goals visual and visible.
i’m so glad you feel like you’re on track and getting somewhere, especially with all the changes your facing with new jobs etc!
Yep, you’re speaking my language!
Someone once said “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got”
So to keep it brief as I, like you, have been asking many of the same questions, I have decided for this year (so far!) I have decided to
1- Start to learn Hindi (visit India regularly, volunteering with a charity that works in slums. Communication is vital to be more useful)
How- Rosetta Stone computer course and Language conversation with a Hindi speaker in my neighbourhood. Start in June! (need to save up for computer course!)
2- Improve my BSL skills (British sign language)
How- practice at church and spend a week in the summer at a Christian event attending all the seminars for the Deaf community….sign language Master Class!
3-Connecting with God and people
How- exploring earlier mornings of peace and mediation.
Making time to spend with friends (intentional diaries!)
Celebrating Simplicity so that life has a simple rhythm.
Could expand more on the last section but you get the gist!
I wish I had known the path to take when I was younger. I am only just starting to think about it now, and at my age (just weeks away from hitting the big 4-0!) it feels like I have probably left it to late.
I look forward to reading your post to Jen. I, too, wonder how you know what it is that you are being called to do. Life just seems to happen and I don’t feel a calling towards anything. Then again, I don’t think that I have ever stopped, thought and asked!
cool. I think I would like to have a go at that deep questioning. thanks for sharing.
I love reading about the thinking and planning you do. It’s so sensible, and I know from doing similar things myself that it’s more likely to get you closer to where you want to be!
(speaking of which, I got offered a job today! So all change here too, new budgets, new focus, and saying ‘no’ to a few less important things).
Keep up the good work!
x
I would definitely recommend the book ‘How to be brilliant’ by Michael Heppell!
Those are very sensible questions to ask.
I made a list of 5 values that are most important to me. In the end, those are: my marriage, my family, becoming financially independent, health, and doing fun thing. My energy and money are mostly used toward those values. Like you, I do a 5 year, 10 year, 20 year plan. Things may change but at least I’ve done my best to plan for the future.
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This post really struct a chord with me. Currently I’m feeling quite unsettled; we’re moving house and have some aspirational plans about changing our life, but it’s difficult to envisage how it will really happen. I think I shall try this activity with my other half so we can solidify our ideas a bit.
Thanks for the inspiration FT!
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