Self Improvement Steps for a Meaningful Life
Laura Berman Fortgang on Meaningful Work and Life Purpose
Aug 16, 2009
Laura Berman Fortgang's recently-updated version of Now What, 90 Days to a New Life Direction (Tarcher/Penguin Group, NY, updated 2009), provides a structured twelve week personal growth program involving ten weekly self improvement steps. Each chapter ends with several exercises designed to help the reader gain personal insight and useful direction for the personal growth topic of the week.
Gaining clarity around life purpose is fundamental to any self improvement program. Many people are fearful and overwhelmed at the seeming enormity of dealing with their life purpose. The author overcomes this by gently leading the reader into the topic in week one with exercises addressing what the reader dislikes about her current life.
Life Purpose Clarified
90 Days to a New Life Direction is intended for people facing a transition, such as divorce, retirement, unemployment, or answering the pull toward a new career. Major life transitions are easier if one has an understanding of the unique needs of her life purpose. Berman Fortgang makes it easier to consider this weighty issue by using terms like life blueprint as a synonym for life purpose.
The author describes the distinction between the doing and being aspects of life purpose this way: "Satisfaction does not stem from what we do, but from who we get to be while we are doing it."
Tips for Creating a Meaningful Life
90 Days to a New Life Direction provides these ten tips for anyone wanting to forge a new life direction with a more meaningful life:
- List what you can't stand about work/life. This can be easier than describing what you want for your future life and will be a good starting point.
- Recognize all change involves loss. Making a life change will result in losing some of what you now have in order to gain what you really want.
- Re-frame "I can't" to "I can." Change your thought processes.
- Understand how the past got you to where you are today. Examine your motivations, they may no longer be serving you.
- Realize that discovering your purpose doesn't have to be hard or grand. Everyone isn't destined to be another Mother Teresa. Your purpose is simply to be the true you.
- Determine your criteria for happiness. Make a list of what you truly need for happiness.
- Research everything that interests you. List every career, job, or area of interest and find out as much as you can about them.
- Tell the truth about money in your life. Money usually prevents people from pursuing their dreams. Face your money situation honestly.
- Put yourself in opportunity's way. Take risks, move out of your comfort zone, and let people know of your dreams so they can help you.
- Create a plan and get support. Make a time line and get the support you need to reach your new life direction.
Who is Laura Berman Fortgang?
Laura Berman Fortgang is a renowned speaker and owner of InterCoach, Inc., a pioneering full service life-coaching business. Her previous books include The Little Book on Meaning, Living Your Best Life, and Take Yourself to the Top.
The Benefits of a Structured Personal Growth Plan
Having a plan helps to keep you moving forward. Following author Laura Berman Fortgang's ten step self improvement program can help you make new strides in personal growth.
Readers enjoying this article may also enjoy Example Personal Growth Plan and Personal Growth Plan and A Seven Stage Personal Growth Plan.
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