Comments on: Watch Out! Life Plan May Be Subject to Change http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change Religion and spirituality from a Unitarian Universalist perspective Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:14:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shelby http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-6039 Shelby Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:41:02 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-6039 Ms. Theologian, The history of planning (time management, life goal-setting, and related issues) would definitely be interesting -- please let me know if you post on it or come across some good resources! Ms. Theologian,

The history of planning (time management, life goal-setting, and related issues) would definitely be interesting — please let me know if you post on it or come across some good resources!

]]> By: Ms. Theologian http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5967 Ms. Theologian Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:51:39 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5967 I retired my Franklin Planner a couple of years ago, and my life seems generally the same without having goals and objectives for every increment of time. So I don't really have a plan, and I'm okay with that. I think that it is all wilderness to me, with or without a plan, but I'm okay with the wilderness. I'd like to find out more about the history of planning. It seems a relatively new phenomenon to me brought on by the fact that there are many more options. But I could be wrong. I retired my Franklin Planner a couple of years ago, and my life seems generally the same without having goals and objectives for every increment of time. So I don’t really have a plan, and I’m okay with that. I think that it is all wilderness to me, with or without a plan, but I’m okay with the wilderness.

I’d like to find out more about the history of planning. It seems a relatively new phenomenon to me brought on by the fact that there are many more options. But I could be wrong.

]]> By: Shelby Meyerhoff http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5913 Shelby Meyerhoff Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:25:46 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5913 Jacqueline, Doh! I've been buried under tasks this week and didn't see your blog post before writing this. Now I've read your post on your five year plan, and it is a thoughtful list of experiences you want to have. It sounded to me less like a "business plan" and more like a way of articulating some of your dreams for the future. You're right that considering broad goals and things we would like to accomplish is a worthwhile -- even necessary -- way of finding inspiration. Lynn, Thank you for your comments. I agree that it can be scary to be in a "wilderness" place in life where the future is unclear. And as you said, a "roadmap" can give us hope. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous participants have found it very powerful to use a 12-step plan, and I respect that. What I am concerned about is the selling of easy formulas that equate achieving a fulfilling personal life with running a business or with making a commercial transaction. It seems to me that we can control the decisions we make, but not always the outcomes. The important thing in charting a life is to make decisions that are compassionate to ourselves and to others, and fitting with our understanding of our relationship to the sacred. However, those decisions may not always fit a business model for understanding the world, and they may have unexpected consequences. Jacqueline,

Doh! I’ve been buried under tasks this week and didn’t see your blog post before writing this. Now I’ve read your post on your five year plan, and it is a thoughtful list of experiences you want to have. It sounded to me less like a “business plan” and more like a way of articulating some of your dreams for the future.

You’re right that considering broad goals and things we would like to accomplish is a worthwhile — even necessary — way of finding inspiration.

Lynn,

Thank you for your comments. I agree that it can be scary to be in a “wilderness” place in life where the future is unclear. And as you said, a “roadmap” can give us hope.

For example, Alcoholics Anonymous participants have found it very powerful to use a 12-step plan, and I respect that.

What I am concerned about is the selling of easy formulas that equate achieving a fulfilling personal life with running a business or with making a commercial transaction.

It seems to me that we can control the decisions we make, but not always the outcomes. The important thing in charting a life is to make decisions that are compassionate to ourselves and to others, and fitting with our understanding of our relationship to the sacred. However, those decisions may not always fit a business model for understanding the world, and they may have unexpected consequences.

]]> By: Lynn Shepherd http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5911 Lynn Shepherd Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:27:10 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5911 <A> Creating a life plan is simply an exercise in awareness. Developing a sense of who you are, what you want, and how you can use the gifts you have given to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. In leading my interactive life planning classes, I have found women have a strong need for three things: security, ability to be independent and freedom. Until you have a plan in place for spiritual, physical, and financial wealth, you are in the wilderness. A scary place to be. I agree that we only have control over our own actions and our attitudes. But without a plan, we miss seeing the opportunities and instead may be held back by perceived obstacles. Life isn't fair. The "Secret" can be dangerous if we don't realize that a plan of action, not just hope or visualizations, are what changes lives. And yes, we must be open to changes. But a roadmap helps direct our path to become the best person we can be.

Creating a life plan is simply an exercise in awareness. Developing a sense of who you are, what you want, and how you can use the gifts you have given to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

In leading my interactive life planning classes, I have found women have a strong need for three things: security, ability to be independent and freedom. Until you have a plan in place for spiritual, physical, and financial wealth, you are in the wilderness. A scary place to be.

I agree that we only have control over our own actions and our attitudes. But without a plan, we miss seeing the opportunities and instead may be held back by perceived obstacles.

Life isn’t fair. The “Secret” can be dangerous if we don’t realize that a plan of action, not just hope or visualizations, are what changes lives. And yes, we must be open to changes.

But a roadmap helps direct our path to become the best person we can be.

]]> By: jacqueline http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5901 jacqueline Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:54:20 +0000 http://www.lookingforfaith.org/blog/2007/watch-out-life-plan-may-be-subject-to-change#comment-5901 Well, I just wrote about a five year plan... it wasn't something that I thought was set in stone. It was an exercise to see what I was thinking/dreaming about. I agree, I don't want my life to be a business. Change and spontaneous decisions are the spice in my life, but having goals is good too. I just don't get to hung up on any of it! Well, I just wrote about a five year plan… it wasn’t something that I thought was set in stone. It was an exercise to see what I was thinking/dreaming about. I agree, I don’t want my life to be a business. Change and spontaneous decisions are the spice in my life, but having goals is good too.

I just don’t get to hung up on any of it!

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