Create a Life Map

Breakfast in bed, flowers and a dinner out… perfect gifts from your family. But you as Mom need one more - a gift from yourself. A chance to look at your life, your dreams and make sure you are going in the right direction.

Soccer, dance, playing Barbies, vacuuming, cleaning, washing, cooking, shopping, paying bills, reading, hair cuts, working, doctor appointments… It is no wonder Moms sometimes lose a sense of self. We are doing but are we being. Moms may sense something is missing but if asked what it is or what it is they actually want, they really don't know.

At some point, many Moms go through what I did a few years ago. I found myself in tears. I loved my family and my husband, I loved my life, my home, my friends, but something was missing. I was missing me, my sense of self. Once I made this realization, I decided to take a look at my life. I realized I needed a road map. Instead of looking where I was going, I had put my journey on hold until later It was time to include my journey in the family map. I made a goal, something to do for me. Through the process of setting this one goal, I started a ball rolling. One goal led to another. I found myself. I am more balanced and guess what, so is my family.

Taking care of myself means I can take better care of others.

Creating your Life Map

A road map for life has 3 components. Dreams - your destination, activities - your directions, and goals - your itinerary. The following steps will guide you to create your road map.

Destination - Dreams

Write down at least 50 things you dream of doing - it could be things you wished for as a child or things you wish for now. Big dreams, small dreams, realistic, or unrealistic. Don't pre-judge them - just write them all down.
Now take 3 minutes and write down all the things you would do if you found out that something would happen to you in 1 year. (Don't worry about details, just focus on your dreams).
Compare the lists, what did you put in the second list. These are the things that are really important to you.
Pick, from both lists, five dreams you would like to start to focus upon. You can do most everything you want in life but you can't do it all at once.

Directions - Activities

For each of your dreams record all the different activities or actions you can do to achieve them. As with your dreams don't pre-judge the activities, just write down everything you think of. The more you can think of, the more opportunities you will come across.
For example if your dream is to become financially free, these are some possible activities - save money, invest, get a part time job, get a better job, cut out one latte a day, take lunch, trade childcare, walk places, take local trips, etc.

Itinerary - Goals Goal setting is taking your dreams and the activities and creating the actual map.

Goals must have dates. I will complete my education by time my son is 6.
Goals must be specific. I will start walking and doing weights every week to get fit.
Goals must be possible. If you have never skated before, you likely won't become a gold medallist, but you could set a goal to learn to figure skate.
Goals are incremental. You need long term, short term, weekly and daily goals.
You must write down your goals and commit to them. A great idea is to do this activity with a friend and share your goals, thus creating a stronger commitment. I have achieved every goal I have written and committed to.

Starting with at least one of your dreams, use the guidelines above and set your goals. Add your other dreams to complete the map.

You now have your life map. You need to use it. Refer to it daily so that you don't get lost. Make changes as necessary. Add new goals as you achieve others.

You will be amazed at the success you will find from doing this activity. By becoming aware of your dreams you start to see opportunities all around you that will lead to them. Things you had thought were impossible will occur. Make sure to re-do it yearly. Your dreams change, your life changes, opportunities change, your children grow and have different needs, the journey changes, but make sure you always have the map to follow. Remember you need to take care of yourself so you can better care for others.

Tracy Lyn Moland, B. Ed. is an internationally known Life Management expert and presenter. She is the author of the Amazon.ca bestselling Mom Management, Managing Mom Before Everybody Else (TGOT, 2003). For more information visit www.TracyLynMoland.com