How to Start Living by Design Today
Live your life by design, not by default.
It’s silly to think that a saying can change the direction of a person’s life. But that’s exactly what happened for me. A few years ago I was struggling big time. Fresh out of school, I was working a job that paid the bills but didn’t light me up. I wanted a career I was passionate about, where I could make a difference in the world. The only problem was I really wasn’t sure what that career looked like. To make matters worse I was eating horribly (I actually thought chicken nuggets with cheesy broccoli and ranch was a healthy choice) and my body was feeling the effects of my increasingly sedentary desk job and overall lifestyle. I was frustrated and on an emotional roller coaster. I felt like crap.
I desperately wanted something more out of life, but I had come to accept the fact that life sucking was just a part of growing up. My friends and peers seemed to be on the same page. While we prided ourselves on epic profile pictures and vacation albums highlighting our cliff dives and elephant rides, the everyday didn’t seem to be so social media worthy. Or if it was, it was accompanied by hashtags like #adulting #mondayblues #fml and #life.
When did we decide that subpar energy, passion, impact, and health are the norm?
Living by design, not by default means rejecting that status quo. It’s a call to actively create our own opportunities and visions – one’s were crazy about. To live a life by design means to take radical responsibility for your unique purpose and to pursue it courageously. Living by default, on the other hand, means accepting the status quo and surrendering to the fact that adulting just sucks and there is nothing you can do about it.
There is nothing wrong with us for getting comfortable and defaulting, but the first step to pursuing an extraordinary life is deciding we want something more. We deserve something more. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather live in a world where people are pursuing their passions and working their buns off to truly come alive, than one where we’ve decided ‘meh’ is just fine.
Living by design is a journey, one I certainly haven’t mastered yet. But I’m excited to wake up every morning and try. Will you join me? Are you ready to thrive? Here are three steps to start designing today.
DREAM
Give yourself some space (I’m talking mentally and physically) and get clear on your desires, values, strengths, and your great why. Go for a walk or sit down at your favorite coffee shop and reflect on your foundation. What makes you, you? What lights you up? When was the last time you felt wildly alive and happy? What were you doing? Spend some time reflecting on what you really want out of life and create a vision to work towards.
“Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
-Harold Whitman
DESIGN
The next step is creating a plan to make those dreams and visions a reality. We set goals all the time without really considering our why. Then we wonder why we’re unhappy even when we achieve them. Make sure you have the foundational pieces in place and set goals in alignment with your dreams. Don’t forget to make them SMART, just because they’re inspiring doesn’t’ mean they shouldn’t also be structured for success.
“A dream without a plan is just a wish”
– Katherine Paterson
DO
A life by design is continually evolving. Regularly give yourself time and space to reflect, re-evaluate what’s working and what’s not, and set new goals in alignment with your vision. Building a tribe of people who challenge and support you is key here. Your tribe are the people who connect you with your vision, your truest, best self, and encourage you in the pursuit of your dreams.
‘Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames’
– Rumi
You deserve more than the status quo. If you are ready to thrive, start designing using these three simple, crazy effective, steps. I can’t wait to see the extraordinary life of purpose, impact, health and happiness that unfolds!
To your health and happiness,
Julia
P.S. Want to grow your tribe? Connect with me!
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