What's Your Plan For Creating The Life You Truly Want? Week 1

Raising Kids/Growing Parents Community

Introduction

Welcome everyone to our month-long discussion of Life Planning. Have you mapped out a plan for the next few years of your life? Or are you just “playing it by ear” and hoping for the best? Successful people know that whether you are working on a big project at work, preparing for a big exam, or making a big transition in life, having a plan can make the difference is great success or great failure.

We invite you to walk with us as we talk about why having a life plan is so important. Learn how to set clear life goals and discover why doing so gives you confidence and direction for your adulting and parenting life.

Definition

A life plan is simply a clear picture of your:

• long-term goals,

• the values that anchor your goals, and

• the steps you will take to reach the goals.

It might sound formal but consider this: knowing what you want out of life gives you confidence to make decisions. It reduces anxiety and second-guessing. It gives you control over your life – allowing you to feel less a victim of circumstance and more like you are in charge. You start acting with purpose. And when you act with purpose, your children feel secure walking beside you.

Why It Matters

Our AP Academy’s foundation training highlights Creating a Life Plan as a core module. Why? Because adults who have a vision for their life tend to be calmer, more decisive, and more stable in their relationships. You’re less likely to drift, procrastinate, or get stuck in unhealthy patterns. This stability directly benefits your family.

When you connect your values to your life plan, you make consistent choices about money, work, and home. These are things your children will notice – and they will thrive on the consistency and clarity you provide.

Success Story

Consider this: a young family I know established a tradition that, at the beginning of each school year, they required each of their kids to write out and present their plan for the year (focusing on academics and extracurricular activities). They helped the younger kids develop their plan

As they got older, the children were required to independently develop and present their plan. Some of these kids are young adults and have no problem mapping out 1-year, 5-year and 10-year plans for their lives. What a great gift their parents gave them. You can do the same for your family.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll talk about how you can build a life plan with simple steps that anyone can take. By the end of the month, you’ll have tools to outline your goals and a life plan ready for you to start living. After all, strong families often begin with parents who know where they’re going.

Assignment

Our Raising Kids / Growing Parents Podcast for this month is “How To Develop A Plan for Your Life and Why” (Season 01, Episode 03). Use the link below to listen to this podcast before your join us for Week 2 activities.

We are pleased you have joined us for this month-long discussion of this important adulting/parenting issue.

Let’s Grow Together!

Bill Shackelford, Founder
AP Academy and
Raising Kids / Growing Parents Community