The Roadmap: The Importance of Having a Life Project
A common interpretation of happiness involves concepts such as “positive emotions” and “optimism”. Most people believe that happiness depends on how much pleasure there is in your life and, simultaneously, how few negative emotions there are. But this is just one possible interpretation of the idea and it doesn’t work for everyone. Going beyond these assumptions and drawing up a life project is a way to stay happy.
The perception of well-being is more strongly related to living a meaningful life than a pleasant one. By “meaningful life” we mean one that not only has meaning, but also a purpose. For most of us, contemporary society tends to offer a life plan for happiness that’s strongly tied to consumption. That is to say, buying more and more things.
Feeling enthusiastic about life
Feeling enthusiastic about life might seem like something out of a poem, but it’s actually the foundation for a meaningful life. In order to achieve this, you have to become fulfilled as a human being and wake up every morning eager to face the day ahead.
David Perkins, an expert in education and artificial intelligence, frequently alluded to the condition that condemns human beings to auto design. People need to discover the reason why they exist beyond the simple fact of just existing.
A life plan
The truth is that everyone has a life plan. However, not every life plan constitutes a life project. People create their plans centered on the environment where they live. Your life plan is based on your past experiences, acquired knowledge, your expectations, and your beliefs. All of these elements come together to create the plan.
Lilian R. Daset, professor of psychology at the Catholic University of Uruguay, compares this situation to books with missing pages or incomplete chapters. However, whether complete or not, this plan ends up becoming the axis of our lives. As such, that’s why many people end up being loose leaves at the mercy of the wind.
Creating a meaningful life plan
Realizing why you’re alive and the elements that renew or refresh your motivation for life are the first steps to creating a meaningful life plan. You have to reflect on whether your values and principles make you feel good and determine whether your actions are consistent with them or not.
Discovering your life purpose also goes hand in hand with identifying the passions that motivate you. Undertaking an activity that makes you feel complete is important. This will allow you to discover what’s really important and essential for you as an individual.
A life project is a roadmap
When you create a meaningful life project, you’re reconstructing your own identity. This also implies making important decisions and a profound commitment to your personal development. Deciding your own destiny and reaching your maximum potential as a human being are the root goals that frame any life project.
In addition, it’s important to understand your own personal history, your experiences, and the knowledge you’ve gathered that have made you who you are. This also helps you understand your present situation and prepare you for your future.
You should also work on recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. Analyze your social environment and determine what opportunities it might present you. Doing these things will also facilitate your understanding of where you need to improve. They’ll also tell you where you need to put the majority of your effort.
On the other hand, understanding your personal mission is essential for creating a life plan where challenges and strengths have their place. Additionally, it’s important to reach a certain alignment between what you think, feel, and do. However, a lack of agreement among these elements shouldn’t bring you down. Having a life project helps in a major way. It separates what’s really important in your life from what you can do without.