Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog: Life Preview Exercise for Balance

Finding balance in today's frenetically paced world is no simple task. Yet it can be done. One way I have done this in my life is to complete a Life Preview each year. Every January, I set aside time to sit down with paper, a pencil, and a chai tea latté to warm my hands. I sit on my favorite spot on the couch where I can watch the snow falling and the cardinals playing. Then I plan my Life Preview.

I begin by writing across the top of my paper:

What My Life Will Be Like in 2010

Then I draw lines creating three columns on the page: Purpose, Outcomes, and Theme. In each column I write a corresponding attraction statement, as follows:

•   Column One – Purpose
In 2010 I will __________. I will focus on __________. (This statement summarizes the major activities and goals I'm energetically aligning myself with this year.)

•   Column Two – Outcomes
At the end of 2010, I will ____________. (This statement defines the key measureable outcomes I will achieve based on the goals I set above.)

•   Column Three – Theme
This time next year, _____________. (Here I declare to the Universe the most important outcome for me to achieve, by saying out loud, "2010 is the year of ____________.")
I take some time thinking about my purpose, the outcomes I desire, and my theme for the coming year. Then I fill in the blanks in each statement.

Next, under the "Purpose" column, I categorize my goals. Some categories might include relationships, finances, health, etc.

Some of my categories this year are:

Personal Development - Here I'll be focusing on what I want to learn this year (speak Mandarin Chinese more fluently and learn how to write, too, as well as sailing lessons), limitations I want to overcome, how I want my body to look and health to be (just started the Kathy Freston 21-day cleanse that Oprah did), and specific relationships I want to cultivate (attracting the perfect mate into my life).

Business - This year, I'll be focusing on making writing for profit the most important thing I do this year. This includes growing my eZine readership to 5,000 and my blog readership to 200 page views per month. I'll also be intentional about specific product development this year, and working with more women to create their business plans and find their niche.

Adventure Travel - This is the fun one. I'm planning a trip back to China this fall, have scuba diving in Fiji in the works, and will begin planning for my writing and painting adventure in Santorini Greece in 2011.

Economic Earnings & Investments - This year I have set a definite amount of money I intend to earn each month ($10,000) and how much of that I will be putting into savings and investments (20%), and how much of that I will be contributing to my travel (10%) and to the foundation I have in the works to start in 2010 (5%).

Contributions - I've always had a dream of starting a Foundation that helps creative women get started in business. This year, I'm turning that dream into a decision by doing the research and investigation of what needs to be done to start-up my Foundation. In addition, I have two specific organizations I'll be contributing my time and money to (Hospice and Peace Corp).

Under "Outcomes," I list what next steps I need to take to achieve each of my goals. Under "Theme" I list the deadlines for each of the actions I set for myself.

Here's an example of what my action step and deadline look like for:

Personal Development - Speak Mandarin Chinese more fluently - Complete lesson 50 by December.

1. Since this goal is a continuation of one that I had last year, I will be continuing to use the same Mandarin podcast lesson format, so I don't need to research that part before I begin.

2. Sign-up for next 6-month segment of Mandarin Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk.

3. Download lessons to iPod.

4. Print out lessons and exercises.

5. Set up time each week I will study Mandarin.

Business - Writing for profit - Increase earning from $500 to $2,000 per month by September.

1. Brainstorm with Yvonne DiVita of Windsor Media Enterprises (my book publisher) for ideas of where I might submit my writings for paid publication.

2. Research places where I can submit my writings for publication.

3. Explore my local and regional newspapers for possibilities to write regular business columns.

4. Talk to five professional writers for tips and suggestions.

5. Submit 10 articles for paid publication by June.

Finally, I take my calendar out and set dates in the spring, summer, fall, and winter when I will return to my favorite spot on the couch to review my Life Preview. This helps me see how I'm doing, make certain I'm on track, and make adjustments as needed. In this way, I ensure that I'm intentionally using the Law of Attraction to attract exactly what I want into my life this year.

Here are my dates (all around 3-day weekends, so I'll have plenty of time to review and revise):

Spring review - April 2
Summer review - July 2
Fall review - October 8
Winter review - January 4, 2011

And that's how I roll, folks.

Have fun planning your Life Preview!

Susan L. Reid

Inner Samurai Business Expert

Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Comments

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Posted by: CANTRELL32Reba | February 26, 2010 at 09:39 PM