Sometimes we may feel the need to redesign our lives but we don't know where to start. The change we desire may not be as big as a career overhaul, and could come in any area of our lives. Whether we want to reconnect with our faith, recommit to our relationships, or reorganize our finances, sometimes the hard part is creating a plan to get us going.  What do we want more of? What do we want less of?

In his short article "Headed in the Right Direction?" author Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., gives an exercise for "checking your compass"  that asks just that. He suggests we think deeply about what is meaningful to us, then make a list of what exactly we want more and less of in our lives. Using this information, the next move is to set three goals for any part of our life that needs tweaking. "Make them real." he says. "Make them specific, measurable and truly meaningful to you."

I moved to a new city a few years ago to go back to school. Between taking classes, working a job with a crazy schedule and caring for family members, I haven't had a lot of time for extra curricular activities. I'll be graduating soon, and one of my goals is to redesign my social life. I'd like any new friends to share my values and view of the world, and I'd like my activities to involve causes I believe in. Getting involved with organizations whose ideals line up with mine could be a specific and meaningful way to recreate this area of my life.

The trick of course will always be follow through. Personally, I'm pretty good at analyzing and brainstorming, but it takes commitment and discipline to accomplish any action steps.

 "Energy begets energy" a friend reminds me and it's true. Once you've embarked on a road, accomplishing even a small goal can fuel you to the next one. Bowden agrees: "... as you work toward accomplishing those goals, your energy will soar in a way that’s contagious.

Are there any areas of your life you'd like to redesign? Have you thought about heading off in a new direction and what are your goals for getting there?