Life Planning

If you fail to plan then you have planned to fail. This is an old adage that holds much truth for those who think clearly about their future. Unfortunately, a successful and fruitful future happens only to those who make plans, take action, evaluate the results and take more action. Life planning is no different.

Life planning is a form of planning that takes into account the human side of financial planning and goal achievement. When an individual begins to make a life plan they must discover hidden goals and bring to light those things that would give them most pleasure in life. (1)

After all, we have only one life to live. There are only 24 hours in each day and 365 days in each year. The moments you use to read this article will never be repeated. The time it takes to answer the phone, eat dinner or chat with friends, will never be repeated. We are given this one life and it is our duty and our responsibility to use it to the best of our advantage. AND, the only way to use something wisely is to have a plan.

Your life plan consists of your goals and aspirations for the remainder of your life. It\’s a little like a \’bucket list\’ or a list of things you want to achieve before you kick the bucket. Using a mix of relationship skills, professional help and motivational factors you will be able to find the motivation to pursue your aspirations and face the challenges along the way.

Determining your life plan will also help to form personal short term and long term goals. The goals you hope to achieve in the next 365 days will be determined by the goals you set for the next 10, 20 and 30 years. Your life plan gives you an overall perspective that helps to shape all other aspects of your decision making.

For instance, if one life goal in your plan is to participate in the Olympics then your actions will revolve around your particular athletic skill and sport. But, if your overall goal is to climb Mt. Everest then you are best served with actions that include learning to climb, strength training and raising the money to go.

When you are determining your life plan you must also face the challenges and obstacles that may be placed in your path or that you place in your own path. These are the things that you believe do not let you achieve your goal.

And, finally, you must also write down your life plan and then revisit it every 2-3 years to be sure that your overall plan hasn\’t changed and that you are continuing along the path you set for yourself. You life plan should include several different categories, such as career, financial, family, education, health and public service. Each of these areas will continue to evolve as you progress through life but without a plan you could very well end up in the same entry level position you started, without savings, without a family, and in poor health at your retirement.

Spend some time brainstorming and dreaming about your life plan. This is, after all, the road map that you are designing to guide you on your path through life. You determine your path and the fruits of most of your labors. While many people believe that life happens to them you should turn around your attitude and believe that you create your own life by the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Don\’t leave out a portion of your life plan from the categories listed above. These categories are all important to the end result. And you should also have an end result in mind when you pull together this plan. In other words, be sure to consider how you will feel at the end of your life as you look back and consider how you used your finances, grew your family, became educated and used that knowledge or the health you do, or do not, enjoy.

Your life plan should also consider the age at which you believe you may die. Consider this – you have planned for financial security until you are 70 but with great health and advancements in medicine you are now expected to live with great vitality into your 90\’s – where does your life plan leave you? Remember that with good health and technological advances you are likely to live longer than your parents.

You life plan must address your mind, body and soul. In order to plan you must have a grasp on your strengths and weaknesses, your plans for a career or second career and development of an educational plan to address these issues. You must also take care to understand the health issues for which you are at greater risk because of your family history or lifestyle choices. And you must plan for how you will care for your soul and develop character and values.

Life plans may be first developed at the age of 20 or 30 but should always be addressed every 2-3 years to be sure that you are remaining on the right path and that you continue to choose this particular path.

(1) The University of Tennessee Chattanooga: Life Planning
http://www.utc.edu/Outreach/CommunityCareerEducation/LifePlanning.php