Life! By Design_ 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You - Laura Morton [55]
If your intention in buying this book is to make more money or have a better relationship, that would be easy to accomplish. What I’m talking about here is having it all. You might be doing well at work, but everything else is death in your wake. Is one area of success enough? Wealth isn’t about how much money you make. Focusing on wealth alone is a limited perspective. To me, true wealth is defined by our relationships with one another, with ourselves, and with some higher guide. It is found in the quality of our love life, our social life, our philanthropic endeavors, and our career. If you are in search of true wealth, then you are, without a doubt, seeking a life By Design.
The Core Value Assessment was created to help you set forth specific intentions of what you want out of life as well as why you want it. Depending on your answers, you may need to address all or some of the Core Seven, which includes your career, intimate relationships, finances, physical health, spirituality, contribution/giving back, and desire to learn and grow. I suggest starting with the areas you think need the most attention. If your career is mostly on track but your relationships are not, focus on creating a plan to improve your relationships. If your finances are in trouble, there’s an urgency to create a plan to get them back on track. It’s important to know which areas need your focus so you can make immediate changes and start seeing positive results.
If you didn’t answer the questions in the Core Value Assessment, do so now. You cannot move on with the following steps to live By Design without going through that process first. Failure to do so will keep you living by default, and our work here will be done. If you did answer those questions earlier, bravo, my friend. You are clearly committed to your desire to live By Design.
If you are still uncertain about your ability to accurately and honestly assess your life, ask someone close to you for help. But choose that person wisely because you are now in an exposed place and this process will make you feel vulnerable. You cannot be the hardened warrior who has no problems and no issues and is coming into this merely to feed your ego. The By Design plan is predicated on honesty and your ability to see things as they really are.
When you face your answers, you may feel a little resistance or pain because you’ve engaged your senses and emotions. I want you to feel something when you think about the Core Seven categories and the answers you gave for each.
Is there room for something more?
Do you want to improve in these areas?
If you have a satisfying job or a successful business, how are your relationships?
Are you as connected as you could be to your spouse/partner?
Do you feel good about your kids and their futures?
How do you feel about your friendships?
Do you feel good standing naked in front of the mirror?
Are you satisfied with your income, savings, and investments?
Do you take care of everyone else, leaving nothing left for you?
Do you contribute enough to others, or is it all about you right now?
Are you spiritually in a good place?
Ask yourself enough questions and the right questions to feel pain and discomfort. Don’t be afraid to delve into the dark places you’ve kept hidden away all these years. Bring the family secrets to the surface and allow your emotions to bubble over.
Show me a flawless person and I’ll show you someone who has learned to cover up their deep wounds. We all have pain, my friend. I have pain just as you do. Look, when you get sick, sometimes the doctor prescribes rest to get better, while other times it takes something more. The same holds true when you self-assess. Sometimes you can ask surface questions that will evoke emotional responses, and other times you’ve got to go deeper, all the way into your heart and soul.
Some people reading this book will understand Step 1 and be able to complete it on their own.