5 Ways to Design Your Life
We live in a crowded world and it becomes easy to forget, especially for those who are Christ-followers, that we are part of God’s story. Everyone matters in this story. Therefore, what God said to Jeremiah applies to us as well “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Everyone has a finite life, and we know that nothing is permanent as well.
We are chosen and given temporary charge of whatever we have – our life, body, children, possessions, everything. Since we are in charge of these, there is responsibility and accountability. We have to face God on the last day and give an account for our stewardship.
What will you tell Him? How have you lived your life? Did squander away the talents that God has given you or did you passively buried them in your backyard?
I learnt that I had lived passively, playing it safe and live by default. As soon as I was awakened, I chose to live my life by design.
Here are 5 things to get you started.
-
Journal your thoughts and desires regularly
In today’s world, we are so used to typing, some may even have forgotten the joy of writing with a pen. The benefit of writing allows us to connect with our thoughts. With so much on our plates, it’s very easy to forget ideas, much less remember details. If you are starting new, start with writing down what you want, your desires. It takes practice as we tend to focus on what we do not want. For once, focus on your wants!
-
Be around likeminded people
Jim Rohn, the timeless motivational speaker, said that “you are the average of the 5 people you spend most time with”. This relates to the law of averages, which is the theory that the result of any given situation will be the average of all outcomes. Be sure to examine who you spend most time around.
-
Set goals and take action
Most do not bother with “New Year’s Resolutions” as they would have forgotten even before the end of January. If you have decided to live your life by design, then you have got to set some goals and develop an action place to achieve those goals. You can start with a 30- or 90-day goal as a warm up, to get things going and get used to having goals. This should get you starting on having a vision for the next 3 to 5 years.
-
Don’t be afraid to be trailblazer
Many people are afraid to live a life by design and some may even discourage you. Don’t be afraid and certainly don’t allow anyone to dampen your spirit. This could be the hardest part. If you want to design your life, you have to be willing to let go of people and environment that no longer serve you.
-
You have to develop self-discipline
This is a truly important step once you choose a life by design. There will be naysayers and distractions. The biggest challenge in life design comes down to saying “no.” For you to be who you want to be; for you to get to where you want to be, you have to say “no” a hundred times more than you say “yes”. You have to stay so obsessively true to yourself and your mission, and the only way to do that is to have an extremely strong sense of self-discipline.
This could be another sensitive topic, and I recognize that my views may not resonate with everybody. However, if you are serious about being a good steward of your life and seek a supportive community, do reach out here.
Blessings
Break the Rules and Shine! Adeline Heng empowers women over 40 who look good outside, yet feel empty inside, to find herself and live her best life.