Life by Design
The Art and Science of Periodic Life Audits
Life is a journey filled with milestones, detours, and unexpected events. Amidst the daily hustle, it's easy to lose sight of where we're heading, or even forget why we started the journey in the first place. Enter the life audit, a personal reflection exercise that helps keep us aligned with our goals and aspirations. Here's why we should all periodically carry out a life audit, what it entails, and how to effectively do it.
1. What Exactly Is a Life Audit?
A life audit is more than just a reflection or goal-setting exercise. It's a personal inventory-taking process. You're taking stock of where you've been, where you are, and where you want to go. It's a powerful exercise in self-awareness, allowing for recalibration and reorientation in your life's journey.
2. How Do You Perform a Life Audit?
A. List Down Your Life Areas: Start by breaking down your life into different categories: career, relationships, health, finances, personal growth, etc.
B. Rate Your Satisfaction: On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your satisfaction in each area. This helps in prioritizing which sectors need more attention.
C. Set Clear Goals: Once you've rated each area, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for the ones that need improvement.
D. Take Action: Devise a plan for how you’ll achieve these goals. This could mean setting daily tasks, seeking out resources, or even seeking professional help where necessary.
3. Why Should We Periodically Carry Out a Life Audit?
A. Keeps You Accountable: It's one thing to set goals, but another to review and adjust them periodically. By taking a step back and examining where you stand, you're better positioned to adjust your sails and steer your life in the direction you truly desire.
B. Helps Identify Growth Areas: Personal growth isn’t always linear. A life audit can help pinpoint areas where you've stagnated or regressed, prompting you to seek improvements.
C. Promotes Gratitude: Recognising your achievements fosters a sense of gratitude and satisfaction, improving overall happiness and well-being.
D. Uncovers Forgotten Dreams: Over time, certain dreams and aspirations may get buried beneath life's responsibilities. A life audit can help excavate and revive those dreams.
In conclusion, a life audit isn't just a task for New Year's or a random activity when you're feeling lost. It’s a periodic necessity for those wanting a purpose-driven, fulfilled life. Taking the time to sit down, reflect, and plan can be the difference between living life by accident and living it by design. Remember, life is short, but with regular audits, it can also be sweet.