If you have heard of a vision board, then you are already familiar with the Life Binder.
Maybe you have your act together; you’re healthy, fit, have a great job, a wonderful family and everything you ever dreamed. Odds are this is not you. If it was, you probably wouldn’t be here, reading this. We all have some area of our life that is not living up to expectation.
No matter how together someone may seem, they likely have a mass of insecurity inside over things they wish they were doing better, more or at all.
So Now What?
What are you supposed to do when you don’t know what you want? Or you don’t know how to get what you want?
Most of us want more from our lives than what we have. Sometimes we know exactly what we want, but usually not. Sometimes we just know that something is missing. After a lot of reading and research, I have started developing the tool to help work through this.
A Life Binder.
A bit like a combination between a vision board and a to do list, the Life Binder gives you the visual cues you need to work out your desires, while still giving you a place to develop an action plan and get there. The other advantage is that it is portable, allowing you to work on it anywhere.
So, what is a Life Binder?
It is a file of all of your hopes and dreams. It is a record of all the parts of your life that you treasure most. Use it as a tool to work through the gaps in your life; try to figure out what your’re looking for. Use it as a brainstorming tool and a device to work through a plan. And as a place to keep track of your plans for the future.
The best part of the Life Binder is that it can be anything you like. It is highly customizable and should be personalized to your needs. All you need is a small binder to play with. Cut out images, use markers and washi tape to make it interesting and compliment it with an online to do list to keep track of the details as you define them. This is all about the visuals, so make sure your binder is as colorful and interesting as you can. It should inspire you and compel you to visit time and again.
Make It Yours
You can use a binder, an online note app, a computer document or pull out the markers and put it on a poster board. Whatever motivates you. The important part is not how you choose to capture it, the most important thing is that you do.
Whatever your beliefs, capturing your goals and making them tangible will get you closer to them. That’s why this exercise is so important. Especially, if you are still figuring out who you want to be when you grow up.
There is nothing wrong with going with the flow. With seeing where life takes you. But, when you are not sure of where you want to go, it is difficult to create a plan to get there. Eventually, most of us want more: travel, career, health, family, time.
Find Your Dreams
Few of us realize all of our dreams effortlessly.
One day you wake up and want more. Whether you are 16 or 60, there is always room for more in our lives. Sometimes it is very difficult to figure out what we want and how to get there. It can be a very unsettling feeling.
Use this tool to brainstorm those things you want from life, to help you fill-in all of those blanks. Then use it to help you create a plan, a road-map to your dreams. It is daunting to figure out how to get there from here. Taking time to think about you is the only way to do it. Then you can create a plan.
Lastly, let it be your touchstone; checking in on your dreams regularly and keeping them on your radar will help you get there. Make sure you never lose sight of your dreams.
Make It Work For You
Regardless of whether you are starting out or changing direction mid-course, you need this tool to help you find your way. These printables won’t tell you who you are, but they will help you document your journey. They will help you create a life binder to help you articulate all of your dreams and desires. Download these PDFs and build your Life Binder. Don’t forget to check out some of the how-to posts to help you make use of the templates.
Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Your Life Binder – How To Start
Life Binder Contents
These pages will provide some visuals to help introduce the binder and to inspire you to define your life vision.
Goal Category Worksheets will help you define and articulate plans to get you closer to your life vision. The only worksheet you absolutely need is Step 1. After that you can limit yourself to the number of steps that allow you to move forward to your vision. Each adds a level of detail. Stay high level, or work down to a to do list, your choice.
