Life Design Frameworks

Would life be better with a blueprint? It’s hard to imagine everything playing out exactly according to plan. After all, a lot of the best things we experience happen to us, and it would likely feel dull if there was no room for surprises.?

However, we can all agree that at times, it feels as though we’re living a life someone else planned. That’s why we need to step back, reassess, and make sure we’re doing what we want for ourselves.?

It can be hard to get started, especially if you aren’t even sure what your ideal life looks like. That’s why we were so inspired by Justin Welsh ’s thread on Twitter. He described how, at 41, he took control of his life to make it exactly what he wanted.

Today, we’ll teach you a similar framework to help you design the right life for you.

What is an intentional life??

Living intentionally means doing what you want, when you want, and not allowing other people’s expectations or judgements to influence you.

Some may argue this sounds selfish, but is it really? Think about it: You only have one life. If you’re not living it according to your standards, you’re probably living by someone else’s.

In order to start changing your life, you have to ask yourself, “What do I really want?”

Answer with complete honesty. At first, you might say, “I don’t know.” That’s a start. Now, you can start exploring.

For so many people, living intentionally is difficult because it often requires a lot of uncertainty in the beginning. When you know you want more out of life, but you’re also comfortable where you are, change can be frightening.?

Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from living. In fact, consider how seeing the potential in uncertainty as a chance for you to do something you’re proud of.?

Write Your Goals

We all need structure in our lives in some form or another. But your routine doesn’t have to look like someone else’s to work. We know firsthand that becoming entrepreneurs and running our own company is nothing like the jobs we thought we’d have as kids.

Even if they seem unattainable to you right now, list what you would love to achieve in your ideal life. Here are some examples:

• Launch your own business
• End relationships that don’t benefit you
• Travel throughout the year
• Live more freely
• Stop being limited by your income?
• Have a schedule that’s build around your passions, not a paycheck

Remember, this is your life. Whatever you want to achieve, be honest, and believe that with the right approach, tools, and patience, you can make it a reality.?

But dreaming is only the first step. Now, you have to start putting intentional living into practice. Here’s how to do just that.

Define Your Purpose

“Why am I here?”

“What am I doing with my life?”

So often, people wrap their identities up in their jobs, so much so that they don’t even have a sense of purpose outside of the office.?

While your career and life passions can align, they don’t have to. Everyone’s purpose is unique and determined by them.

Justin Welsh broke purpose down into three core elements:

• Time
• Motivation
• Discipline

Time

Time is the ultimate currency. We always notice it’s passing by, and there never seems to be enough of it. Unless you’re living how you truly want to. When you adopt an intentional life, your time suddenly becomes far more valuable. As a result, you invest it wisely, and it returns more to you.

Rather than seeing time working against you, you can use time to work towards something.

Time is a gift, and we shouldn’t waste it or convince ourselves that now isn’t the best time to start truly living.

Motivation?

Motivation is more than just getting out of bed and going to work because you have to. There are actually two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.?

Intrinsic motivation is internal, so it comes from within. It's fueled by your dreams, passions, and desires. Moreover, intrinsic motivation inspires you to work hard because deep down, you feel like your efforts matter.

Extrinsic motivation is based on outside factors, and it encourages you to take actions that either result in a reward or help you avoid negative consequences. For example, working to pay your rent is an external motivation. You may not love your current job, but you know that you have to do it because keeping a roof over your head is more important than leaving your position.?

Discipline

Discipline helps you stay motivated and commit to your goals, even when there are obstacles in your path. Some life journeys experience more struggles than others, but everyone needs discipline to overcome their challenges.?

A lot of people know they lack discipline, but they aren’t sure how to change. That’s because there is more to self-discipline than mindset. It’s a combination of persistent beliefs and pervasive actions.?

Consider the difference between instant and delayed gratification. People with more discipline are willing to wait for what they want, even if they could stop now and enjoy something that’s good in its own right.

They know that instant gratification is fleeting, and they’re willing to be patient, resist temptation, and push forward.?

To become a more disciplined person, focus on three things:

• Being more accountable
• Choosing your habits wisely
• Going outside of your comfort zone

Accountability isn’t just owning up to mistakes; it’s recognizing that the only person capable of changing your life is you.

No one else can give you the life you want. It’s a personal act of creation that requires deliberate action. Taking that step can be scary, especially when you’ve gotten used to living a life that runs itself for you.

But by being more accountable, you can stop blaming other people or situations for how you feel or live. It gives you control over your life.

As far as habits go, think about what patterns in your life keep you stuck. What actions could you do repeatedly that offer a continual return on investment??

Fitness is a great example of a high-value habit. You always gain something from doing it, even for a short period of time. Meanwhile, there are many other habits we have that don’t get us anywhere, and ultimately, only contribute to keeping us exactly where we don’t want to be.?

Change takes courage, which is why getting out of your comfort zone is another important part of discipline. If you want to transform your habits, you must be willing to leave old ones behind.?

All three of these elements are important because they come together to give you a life that’s not only rewarding but sustainable. There are so many people with amazing ideas, but they never execute them. Their vision lacks focus. Their habits stand in their way. They aren’t willing to be courageous because they’d rather be comfortable, even if they’re not entirely happy doing so.

With all of this in mind, how do you put it all together and create a life that’s meaningful to you? It requires one thing: dedication.?

How Dedication Shapes Your Life’s Purpose

Whatever you dedicate yourself to becomes a major part of your life. We see what we focus on; we become what we act as if we are.?

Intentional living comes from dreaming and doing. It’s not enough to want something for yourself; you need to reach out and start finding the resources that will help you move from point A to point B.

And then? You do it all over again.?

Intentional lives don’t stop once they reach their first destination. In other words, your goals are always evolving. Maybe you dream of starting a business. Once you do, is that the end of your intentional life??

It can’t be. Otherwise, you’d wind up feeling just as miserable in your own self-made career as you do in one managed by someone else.?

The real secret to success lies in knowing what you do, why you do it, and who you do it for.?

Your own happiness should always be at the top of your priorities. This isn’t to say it’s a good idea to completely forgo compassion in favor of pleasure. In fact, some of the greatest joy in life comes from helping others.?

That being said, it’s still important to recognize that in order to live intentionally, you sometimes have to place your needs above others. You have to treat your happiness as if it’s valuable. If you struggle to do this, you aren’t alone.?

So many people are conditioned to think that making others happy is the only thing that matters. They forget to count themselves as a person worthy of their own care and consideration.?

By dedicating yourself to your new life goals, passion will emerge, and give rise to purpose.?

If your only initial goal is the pursuit of happiness, then you’re on the right path.?