Living a Life that You Design
Are you living life on your terms? Do you love your life? Are there things you want to change?
In my last two posts I have discussed concepts I learned from Dr Fred Grosse in a course my husband and I attended over a 12 month period. You can find these posts at;
It is now time to look at living your life by design. This concept impacted me greatly when I first heard it and my life changed.
At the beginning of this section Dr Fred asked us to consider these thoughts.
- Life is funded by work – we don’t live to work.
- Each day is a gift and has it’s own purpose.
- Am I living my own life or someone else’s?
We then went on to plan our Ideal Day, Week, Month , Year and Life.
We started out by designing our next two weeks. We were asked to include some 10’s (see my previous post – something simple you can do daily that makes your heart sing) in each day.
We also were asked to include some 25’s in the two week period (again see my previous blog for 25’s – but like a 10 but not something you would do every day).
Doing this activity in 2004 was the catalyst for big changes in my life.
I had 2 items in there for each morning that I really wanted to include in my life. They were:
• having a swim in the ocean every morning to start my day
• and having breakfast with my husband.
My reality at the time was: I was living in Sydney about 45 minutes drive from the closest beach. I did not swim in the mornings except for Sundays sometimes! Instead I drove to my office for about 50 minutes each morning – and had breakfast when I arrived there (while I worked). If I did not go to the office it was because I was on tour with various speakers we promoted and was living in a hotel room.
There were several other “wishes” in my ideal week that were nothing like my current reality. It jolted me into the realization that I was fitting my life around work and not doing the things that really made my heart sing. Now I loved my work but there was not much else happening.
The other revealing facts were I had very few 25’s happening in my life at the time at all. I realized that for pretty much all my life I had let my work be my priority. I decided to change and work out how I wanted my life to be, to design my lifestyle and then figure out how to make the money to support it.
It did not happen overnight but I now live in Noosa in Queensland Australia, which is a beach side resort town. I live about 4 minutes drive from the beach and swim many mornings. In the beginning I swam every morning but since living here I do not like to swim in winter.
I have breakfast with my husband and we now both work out of home.
It is a very worthwhile exercise to do and I encourage you to take the time to design your ideal day and week.
As Dr Fred says “if you spend all your life working -when do you get time for your life?”
In my next post I will discuss dollar productive activity and incorporating that into our week.
Let me ask you again – Are you living life on your terms? Do you love your life? Are there things you want to change? Please leave me your comments below.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
Click here to work with me personally
PS
Check out this free video showing how ANYONE can make $150-$500 per day online!
Adrienne says
I love this Sue,
I remember a few years ago I was reading something that Frank Kern had shared and he was talking about having written out his perfect day. He was told to be very specific about it and very detailed. At the time he couldn’t see the point to it at all but several years later he pulled that out and realized he was living each day as his perfect day.
I think for a lot of people, putting it down on paper makes it become more real. I wrote out what I wanted my life to be like and put a few photos of things I would like in my life someday. I look at that every morning and I read that out loud. I know those things are headed my way, I just know exactly when.
It makes it that much more real and you’re living proof just like Frank. Thanks for sharing this Sue, it’s so important.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
I am glad you love this and are clear on what you want and what is coming your way. I agree it is so important. I was actually quite shocked when I first did this to realise how far from how I wanted to live I was actually living. I know I am not the only one. There were people on the course we did that did not know what they wanted – no idea! I felt so sad for them because they had sort of become machines.
I have heard Frank Kern talk about this too so thanks for reminding me as I had forgotten that. He was very exact.
Thanks for your comment Adrienne.
Have a great week and see you on our hangout.
Sue
Carol Minarcik says
This is great Sue. I think everyone needs to just slow down and realize how they are actually spending their days…..as each day goes by, is one less day we have to enjoy. I also love the way you take your articles and keep a stream of information all leading to one subject….cool!
Sue Price says
Thanks Carol. I agree with you that we all need to take stock of how we are spending our days. I think you will like my next post too 🙂
I am enjoying revisiting this information.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting Carol.
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
It’s very important to have a precis vision of what we want our life to be. To help myself with this I write it down and also use a vision board. For example, I have had my perfect house in my head and on picture for a while now. The pictures are part of my computer screen saver, so they’re there all the time in front of me. I also envision myslef in that house everyday.
I agree that this life is not about going to work and survive in between. This is not living, it’s only surviving. Unfortunately, many people confuse the two big time.
Thanks for this post, Sue 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
I too have a vision board but right now it is a work in progress. I have just redone my “perfect life” goals and still need a couple of pictures to finish it off.
I agree we do need to be very precis with what we want. I have a friend who is a master at creating exactly what she wants so quickly. I sometimes do not have enough clarity. I am working on that.
Unfortunately Sylviane I think there are far too many people who are just surviving. I know many very rich people I would also put into that category.
Thanks for your comment Sylviane. Nice to see you today too. I wanted to reach into the computer and cuddle your cat. 🙂
Sue
Carol Lynn says
Love it. It’s so true – we often find a way to make our lives fit around our jobs but not the other way around. We go through long commutes, miss out on things we want to do, put work first. Why?!? I’m so glad that you were inspired to change and fit “life” before “work”. It gives the rest of us hope! I am a big offender when it comes to “work first” but sometimes I catch myself and have to reverse it and make sure that I LIVE first! Ok, no swimming in the ocean for me, but I definitely have to make time for the things I want to do instead of always the things I think I “have to” do. Thanks for an inspiration post with lots to think about!
Sue Price says
Hi Carol
I am glad you enjoyed the post. I am glad I made the switch to life first too. I still do not have my income back to where I want it to be but that will happen. I would hate to go back to the possessed person that I was. I was definitely work first, second and third.
I am glad you at least catch yourself when you are doing work at the expense of life. A mentor of mine used to say “no one on their deathbed wishes they had worked more hours”. I should add he said it to me when I was work obsessed. 🙂
Thanks for your comment Carol.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
I love your insights! Thank you for sharing your personal journey too. How I envy you now that you live in Noosa. My husband and I went there once. A very beautiful place indeed.
Interesting how you mentioned that you used to have pretty much your work as priority (over your life). Isn’t this the case for so many people? I belong to the SHE Business networking group. There are some very smart ladies who have abandoned their corporate background and chose to start their own businesses.
Some did that by conscious decision, much like you, wanting their life back! Some were ‘forced’ onto this path due to redundancy.There is this term ‘corporate refugee’. Tough time can be the absolute GREAT turning point for a much more fullfilled life 🙂
Continue your wonderful life journey, Sue.
Viola Tam – THe Business Mum
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
Yes Noosa is very beautiful. My husband and I first came here about 20 years ago when we were still living in Perth and we fell in love with the place. A few years later we moved to Sydney and had 10 years there. My husband is a country boy so Sydney was too fast for him.
Oh yes many people have work as their priority and it can become how we identify ourselves. I have never heard of the SHE group but those groups can provide so much support for women.
Yes I agree with you Viola that somethings the tough times can turn out to be wonderful turning points. Live is an amazing journey.
Thanks for your contribution here and enjoy the rest of your week.
Sue
Raena Lynn says
Hi Sue,
You are living proof that designing your life is possible. The first step is being aware that we can make changes and live a life that “makes your heart sing.” Unfortunately there are so many people who live around their work and don’t realize they can reverse the order. You have set an example for people to set their mind to what they want and to go for it!
I’m in the process of “designing my life” and it isn’t a cake walk! I’m want to be able to do what I want, and when I want. I’m seeking true time and money freedom. I know I will get there, but I’m enjoying this temporary ride. It takes faith and patience. Adrienne pointed out how she puts pictures around that remind her of what she wants. She said, “I know those things are headed my way, I just know exactly when.” I feel the same way.
It seems that the people who work their businesses online and are passionate about it, tend to fall into the “workaholic” mode. I admit, I’m guilty. I have to make a conscious effort to add balance to my life so I can follow what Dr. Fred says, “If you spend all your life working -when do you get time for your life?”
It’s interesting how you made the adjustments you needed to make your vision a reality.
By the way, I don’t blame you for not wanting to swim in the ocean in the winter! I wouldn’t do it…..bbrrrrrr!
Raena Lynn
Sue Price says
Hi Raena
I am still getting there with my ideal life. We have a nice life now but I need to get my income up. I want to travel a lot more and do some things that require money. It takes time to build an online business as we all know. At least I am sticking with it 🙂
You are spot on there are many people who think they have no choice. I know many people just like that.
I think what Adrienne does with pictures is great. I have often had a vision board and right now I am in the process of redoing it. That works for me. Years back when we had a business with another partner we went through some goal setting ideas and we made a scrap book with pictures of the things we wanted. Years later when we were shifting house I found it – and guess what, I had achieved them all. It does work.
Yes it is easy to keep working when we are building our business from home. I am very fortunate to be married to someone who is my best friend as well as other things. I really like hanging out with him so we keep each other balanced.
You know swimming in the ocean here in winter is not so bad. Where I live it is sub-tropics so the winters are pretty much like an English summer. The water temperature is still quite warm all winter. When we first moved here I did not feel the cold at all but after 7 years now winter feels cold to me.
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a great comment Raena.
Have an awesome weekend (with some time for you in there).
Sue
Julia Spencer says
Generalizing all the things you mention, I can only add that all people shouldn’t forget that each day of our life won’t ever be repeated and we should value it
Julia Spencer’s recent post.. Best Examples of Facebook Timeline Used by Popular Brands
Sue Price says
Hi Julia
OH yes thank you for that very valuable addition. I could not agree with you more “that each day of our lie won’t ever be repeated and we should value it”. Having just been with my ill elderly parents I am so aware how quickly life can change. It is our greatest gift.
Thanks Julia
Sue
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Life is more enjoyable if you live it by design. Having a happy life do not just happen. It is planned and envisioned.
Sue Price says
I agree with you designing a life means planning it 🙂