2qtr2006 - Feature Article

Long-Term Life Planning

I was recently asked by CNN reporter Ann Hoevel, "What steps should people take, Barry, to create a long-term life plan for themselves? What can they do to get themselves ready?"

The thing is, if you're not ready to create a long-term plan for yourself, then you're just not ready. There's no secret formula to automatically make you ready. And even if there was, different people need different things so what might work for Mary, or Steve, probably wouldn't work for you. But while there's no magic recipe out there, there are certain key ingredients that you're probably going to need to effectively
P-L-A-N.

P - be Patient

Just because you don't know in this moment, it doesn't mean that you won't know in a coming moment. The key is to be ready for the insights - and recognizing them as such - whenever they do occur. Practice patience whenever you can. It's an important life skill.

Keep practicing until impatience no longer distracts you from what's going on in the here and now.

L - Love yourself

There are three types of personal power - Mind Power, Body Power, Heart Power. Mind Power helps us analyze things and their underlying logic. Body Power is the power of action and doing. And Heart Power comes from connecting with your values, your soul, your higher purpose. While most people are pretty good at using their mind and body powers, Heart Power, which might also be called an ego-less Love of Self, is where all long-term life planning really begins. Here's a great coaching exercise: Sit your body down, quiet your mind, and have a set of conversations with your heart. Listen for what it says. Hear what it's trying to tell you, without judgment, and without expectation.

The more you can befriend your heart, the clearer - and more meaningful - these communications can be.

A - increase your Awareness

So many people operate in Default Mode, ruled unconsciously by bad habits, out-dated assumptions, and self-limiting beliefs. The key here is to recognize your Default Behaviors as they occur, so you can become more conscious and purposeful about what you're deciding.

Here's an exercise that can help: Start noticing the things around you that have a particularly positive or negative affect on you. Don't worry about why they affect you the way they do, just notice that they affect you. Then, using a variation of what I call the Noun Game, identify persons, places, and things that empower (strengthen) you - or not; that motivate (engage) you - or not; that satisfy (acknowledge) you - or not.

You'll be amazed at what you can see when you start paying attention.

N - Nucleate

Find a quiet place. Let your curiosity and ingenuity percolate up inside you and let whatever comes up, come up. Don't worry about how realistic it is. Don't worry about practicality, either. The idea is to investigate possibility, without constraint. Wherever your energy collects is likely to be near the core. Make a note and come back later.

If nothing comes up right away, don't worry. Just take a break and return to the P-L-A-N process later. Patience, self-love, awareness and your ability to nucleate a life plan sometimes takes time.

Following the P-L-A-N does not guarantee the clarity of heart, mind, and body needed to create a meaningful life plan. But if you're ready, I believe it will help you get there sooner.