Day 7: Review, and Start a Map Book

Take a few minutes to review your first week. Look through your journal. Write about your accomplishments and what you still need to work on. Did you:

-- Brainstorm some lists of goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for your future, and write about your most important reasons for living, and what your best life would look like?

--Go on a vision walk to access your deeper, intuitive mind- your inner guide?

--Write a letter from your future self?

--Discern your top 10 (or fewer) core values and principles that describe the vision of who you are and how you want to proceed down your path?

--Discern your top 4 to 8 priorities that seem most important and feel most meaningful to you in your life right now, that will give your days focus and help you to decide how to best spend your time?

--Map out the relationship between your core values and your top priorities to help clarify connections and renew your sense of purpose?

Start a Map Book

Your Map Book is a place to collect your various maps and plans and creative visions as you work through this book. (I use a 3-ring binder.)

• Today, punch holes in your Base Map and put it into your empty Map Book. If your map is too large, fold it!

Summary

Mapping your path is a habit with two main components: 

Core values are the compass that show the direction you want to move in; that describe who you are and how you want to proceed down your path.

Priorities are the guidance system that give your days focus, and help you to decide how to best spend your time.

With this habit, you have created an image of your possible life path that you can carry in your back pocket. I say possible, because it's still unknown terrain ("Thar be Monsters") and will need to be updated as you get more information. You will need to develop the habit of checking your map regularly to get your bearings, and make adjustments.

Going forward, you will:

• Review your core values and make a new Base Map - once or twice a year (I do it in January);

• Discern your top 4-8 priorities for daily action for the month ahead - monthly (at the end of each month or at the new moon);

• Brainstorm new goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for your future - weekly (more about this next week).

Week 2 Needs:

• Your journal notebook
• Lined paper or a spread sheet app (for month priority goals and the Priority Grid)
• Colored pens (for the Month Map)
• A planner book or a calendar app