Plan Your Life So You Live Beautifully – The Why of Planning
Someone very near to me (who will remain unidentified) questioned why I plan. They didn’t see a point to practicing my handwriting and my lettering. They suggested that I get my priorities in order. Um… Isn’t that what I am doing when I am planning? This conversation devastated me, and probably took a month or longer to shake off. It was with someone who I expected to back me up and to understand me – no matter if they understood what I was doing. Their suggestion stated that they did neither.
I don’t know what they were meaning when they told me that I should get my priorities in order. I took it to mean that they thought I was wasting my time. But the thing is…I have so many big plans and so many ideas! Tired of sitting, doing nothing but I had no purpose. It wasn’t until I started planning that I felt like I had a purpose to my life. Before I started planning, I was wandering blindly through life, not enjoying anything. To be completely honest, I was miserable and I made everyone else around me miserable too.
I realize a lot of people out there who might not understand what I do or why I do it.
I came up with a list of reasons why I plan:
- I plan so we, as a family, know what we need to do.
- So we don’t miss an appointment.
- Personally, I plan so I can have more time to carry out what I want to do.
- I plan so I can get my errands done in record time so we can do other fun things like go to the park, go on walks, so we can play outside, or watch a movie as a family.
- I plan so we have more quality time together.
- I plan so I can live better.
- I plan so I don’t spend as much money on eating out.
- I plan to save money.
- I plan because I like feeling accomplished.
- I like to set goals.
- I like to see how far I’ve come.
- I plan because it helps balances me emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
I plan so I can live more beautifully.
This has become my planning/life mantra when I came up with it a couple of months ago. You may have noticed in earlier blog posts. Now you know why.
There are lots of different ways to plan.
There are many planning systems to use: hardbound, traveler’s notebooks, spiral bound, pre-dated, disc bound etc. Styles of planning are endless – minimal, art journaling, weekly, monthly, daily and a mix of these. Add accessories such as stickers, washi tape, doodling hand-lettering, or stamps. None of these options is wrong if it works for you. I like the bullet journal because I can change it to suit my needs. One week I may need a very clean, minimal layout, the next, I may need to immerse myself in a full-color water-painted page with pretty lettering and motivational quotes. Creating is part of my ‘why’ for planning and I like a variety.
Re-discovered Talent and Passion
I used to paint and draw every day. Then life happened to me and I forgot. I literally forgot that I liked to draw and paint for 12 years. When I started keeping a bullet journal as a planner, the pages were open for my interpretation. I started doodling again. Then I started drawing again. Shortly after, I found a paintbrush and I tried something new for me – water coloring. I had never attempted to watercolor before. What was this magic I had missed? Not long after this, I started seeing this concept of hand-lettering words and phrases that looked like calligraphy.
I practiced calligraphy a long time ago, but this looked different to me. I started trying to make the thin and thick lines that were so clear in this newfound version of calligraphy. And quickly fell in love with it.
Personal Changes Accompanying the Filled Pages
As I filled up the pages of a dotted notebook, I realized that I was changing too. I had passion in my life and I loved more deeply, not just journal-related things, but the people in my life as well. I found that I wanted to improve – as a person. Setting goals became a regular thing in my life; I haven’t liked to set goals before I started planning and keeping a journal. I do now and I enjoy it. Seeing the improvement is addictive.
What’s more, is I have started to accept myself as a person. I have started to see my worth.
This change is the most significant change I have seen in my life. Ever. Because there were times that I questioned if I belonged anywhere.
So to the anonymous person that questioned me and told me to get my priorities in order. I am. I am more than you know. This little book has brought me from the lowest of lows in my life to a place where I enjoy living again.
So friends, ask yourself why do you plan? And be honest with your answers. Certainly, you’ll discover some real gems in your life.
I plan so I can live more beautifully.
I hope you live your life so you can live more beautifully as well.
~ Tricia
Read: Give your Goals & Plans a Defined Timeline or View my November 2017 set up
![This month’s creative challenge is all about flower names! Use these everyday floral names to expand your creativity throughout this month. Check out the challenge list below, and if you’re having trouble with creative ideas, keep reading. I have lots of ideas to share. Handlettering these words is fun if that’s what you always do. […] The post Creative Challenge: Flower Names appeared first on Chocolate Musings.](https://i0.wp.com/i.pinimg.com/564x/12/65/81/1265815e2ef10a0fd4505524fb3f0eeb.jpg?ssl=1)
I plan so I can focus and accomplish something each day, even if it is only getting the errands done. Yes, I plan for the bigger things in life – becoming a successful writer and photographer – but, also, for the everyday things such as appointments and chores and things I’ve promised people I would do. Planning lets me keep everyday living in perspective. It also helps me break the big goals into managemable chunks and gives me a way to see that even on days when I don’t feel like I made much progress, I did makes steps in the right direction.
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Oh, this is great! For those that can just ‘wing it’ every single day – good for them. But for me, I have to have someplace to put all the things otherwise I forget it all. And I agree, my planner helps me feel accomplished on days when otherwise I would not feel that way.