Designing Your Life

Random Observation/Comment #573: It’s never too late to redesign your life.

Ever since I’ve started drawing every night (currently at a 200+ day streak), I’ve started doodling more random infographics about life. This one came to me when I was thinking about a community hub model to connect people to their interests. I wanted to map what people need for a well-rounded happy life.

What is this?

Starting on the top left quadrant, this is one of my biggest drivers: self improvement. As long as we’re smarter every day, learn from our mistakes, and set realistic challenges for the physical and mental space, we’re on the right path. You can optionally add spiritual in here for those who seek to be one with everything. I find physical and mental challenges allow one to continuously learn and stay healthy.

On the bottom left, this is self improvement as well, but towards a social construct with the purpose of contributing your special strengths into a greater vision. That vision could be one aligned to a company, your own entrepreneurship, or a cause. I measure my happiness at work by making sure that I’m good at what  I do, and that I’m doing what only I have special skills to do. These skills can always improve and grow from novice to mastery.

On the top right, this is your community (career, sports, family, etc) and connectivity into the world. I believe these relationships are your immediate reach of influence and where you call home. It’s important to foster the well-being and growth of this community because these people are the ones you love and can’t see your life without.

On the bottom right, this is the broader view – a place where you can return your blessings and teach to those who will be a part of the generation to change the world. The world is often a crappy and scary place, but I believe the majority of people are good. I always recommend helping and giving back where you can.

The left and right hemispheres may seem like they imply what you do and do not have control over, but the key here is that any step you take in any of these quadrants is significant to bettering humanity.

So What?

There are tangible action items for improving and expanding all of these aspects of your life. I often plan my vision, desires, and goals around where I want to improve and grow in these areas. The bottom right side is likely the one people will have the least examples, but I firmly believe sharing and giving back what you learn is how this world can get better. For those who already volunteer regularly: #keepthatshitup.

~See Lemons Design His Life