We all love it when a plan comes together. The payoff for standing firm through the process is attained when fitting the pieces together resembles what we've envisioned. Seeing the object of our intentions actually fulfilled brings a sense of peace and joy that cannot be duplicated. Planning is a tool, which in itself is not the answer to circumstances, but a pathway to uncover answers. Our goal should never be to plan our lives away or seek to have a perfectly balanced life; this does not exist. Keeping it simple and living in real time with a focus on responding to life's issues instead of reacting to them help create a purpose-driven life that starts with a plan.How you view plans and the planning process will determine the level of freedom and flexibility you incorporate into your life. A plan is not a resolution, but a structured representation of giving desires and dreams arms and legs to arrive at a destination of choice. Having a plan takes the pressure off trying to remember everything and everybody and why we are doing what we are doing. It builds in management pieces that keep what is important in view and weeds out distractions as it defines elements that are worthy of your time and energy. A plan is not a to-do list or a rigid, minute-by-minute schedule. It may have portions of to-do items and a schedule format within it, however, it is representative of much more. Planning requires all parts of our being to reconcile-to work together and generate direction. It is a thought process governed by specific variations, not just idle actions. It is a resource for planting seeds of commitment, forgiveness, and compassion toward ourselves to reap a harvest of possibilities in our life. Believing in ourselves and investing in who we are has to faith forward in order to manifest into our space. What you believe and where your spiritual values-or lack thereof-come from has everything to do with the direction of your life. It's not about what your family or friends believe or what people say; it's about what is faith filled and meaningful to you. Does your soul (mind, will, and emotions) experience and promote peace, love, hope, forgiveness, joy, and sacrifice without judgement, bitterness, wrath, or hate? Do you practice what you believe-are you guided by the convictions of your faith? The objective is to establish and settle on the purpose and origin of your convictions. Through faith we can turn impossibilities into possibilities even though life around us continues to have uncertainties.The tools within this planner will assist you in taking those final steps of preparation for a faith forward, purpose-driven life. Personal goal-setting is the key to effective time management and life planning. Instituting goal-setting principles help you gain a sense of achievement, sustain motivation, reduce stress, and support body-mind-spirit alignment.
About the Author: Gayle Smith, M.Ed., LC, is an Educational Consultant, Life Coach, and the CEO of Essentials For Change, Wellness Resources. Her education career of 30+ years (now retired) has touched "educational" facilities as a teacher, administrator, consultant, and adjunct lecturer, and community organizations as a volunteer, organizer, and executive director. Her passion for advocacy to create, maintain, or increase the quality of life for people and factor in lifelong initiatives has been apparent throughout her life. Gayle's comprehensive and consistent assessment, evaluation, goals, and objectives integration strategies were demonstrated with precise delivery long before "coaching" became popular. She became a certified life coach in 2007 with the Certified Coaching Federation. Her approach is incorporating education, inspiration, and organization to facilitate positive change. Together, coach and client create an expectancy of purpose and destiny where the learning and practicing of skills uncovers the secrets to soar. Her body, mind, and spirit philosophy is credited with remarkable health improvements, a weight loss of 107 lbs., and the reversal of illnesses. Gayle's coaching philosophy and education empowerment strategies combine to inspire women to invest in themselves by promoting spiritual peace, self-esteem, resiliency, and strong voices, enabling women to be healthy and whole, with lives reflecting their authentic selves both personally and professionally. When asked why her coaching to accomplish positive change in life seems to work when other attempts often fail, Gayle stated: "Personal goals help people develop growth patterns that result in achievement. On a whole, success is defined largely by how one perceives, assesses, and manages their needs and life circumstances/events. The main component is the 'process' it takes to walk out the steps of putting goals into action. Here is where coaching is invaluable-a link to what's inside coming out and being projected into user-friendly objectives." Her workshops, classes, online courses, and discussions all deliver points of interest that allow others to find their place of "wellness" within an increased awareness of healthy lifestyles. The Faith Forward trio-book, workbook, and planner-are a testimony of Gayle's struggles to find herself and the faith that brought her through as she learned to trust God more fully.