You are the author of your life!

Have you ever wondered what those vision and mission statements mean for companies? They outline a company’s purpose and long-term goals. They are usually inspiring and guide decision-making. Organizations then define OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), which help them achieve their mission by providing a structured framework for setting, aligning, and tracking goals. By consistently aligning OKRs with the mission, companies can ensure that their short-term actions contribute to their long-term purpose.

Why don't we apply a similar structured approach to drive our personal growth?

I stumbled upon this question a couple of years ago and began a quest to define what a good life means to me and how to achieve it. However, one of the problems with applying OKRs in our personal lives is that we may become more focused on achieving the outcome than enjoying the process. It may diminish the sense of freedom and creativity we crave. Moreover, most personal goals are qualitative, making it harder to create measurable key results. So, we need a balanced approach that allows flexibility and spontaneity for personal fulfilment.

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I evaluated some frameworks and programs and signed up for Lifebook at the beginning of 2023. It is an online course designed by Jon and Missy Butcher, based on the premise that you are the author of your life. It helps you create a personal pathway, a master life plan tailored to your needs.

During the program, you’ll learn how to strengthen each of the below 12 categories of life:

1. Health and Fitness
2. Emotional
3. Intellectual
4. Character
5. Spiritual
6. Love relationships
7. Parenting
8. Social
9. Career
10. Financial
11. Quality-of-life
12. Life vision

At the end of this program, you will have a book called Your Lifebook written by you that will act as a guide to unfolding your life across all these dimensions.

It is your destiny, authored by you!

For each category, you will start with a Premise, your core beliefs about this area, whether they are empowering and how you can change them to shape your life. After that, you will define a Vision, i.e., the ideal state you want to achieve in this area. This is followed by determining a Purpose, a compelling reason behind what you want in this category. And finally, you’ll define a Strategy, i.e., specific actions that will get you where you want to be. This is also called the PVPS framework.

Below is an example for the “Health and Fitness” category from my LifeBook, which I wrote in early 2023 (censored some content):

Premise

> My body is a temple, and I’m fully committed to caring for it.

> Maintaining fitness is more about self-discipline, which I’m good at already.

> The human body heals naturally if you take care of it.

> Reverse ageing is a thing and is entirely possible.

> When I’m fit and feel good about myself, I feel confident.

> Health is wealth, and my health is my number one priority.

Vision

> I want to get rid of excess fat in my body and feel good about myself.

> I want to look and feel young than my age.

> I want to live at least 100 years and want those years to be high-quality.

> I want to solve all my physiological problems naturally.

Purpose

> I want to eliminate shame and low self-esteem associated with my current shape.

> I want to set a good example for my kids.

> I want to avoid visiting doctors and hospitals or taking medication.

> I want to be part of Swedish culture, where health and fitness are regarded highly.

Strategy

Meal Plan:

> General: No snacking; I won’t eat any leftovers at home.

> Intermittent fasting: I’ll start intermittent fasting and will do it 2–3 times a week.

> Sugar: No sugar in coffee/tea. No more binge eating cakes/pastries/sugary stuff.

> Carbs: I’ll limit my intake of carbs, such as rice, pizza, potatoes, and other starchs. I’ll not eat rice more than once a day except on Saturdays.

> Protein: I’ll only stick to chicken and reduce its consumption gradually. I’ll focus more on vegetables rich in protein and fibre.

> Fats: Avacado 3 times a week for breakfast, increase olive oil/other good fats intake.

> Hydration: Drink warm water before meals and stay hydrated throughout the day. Drink at least 4 litres of water daily, regardless of the season.

> Alcohol consumption: In moderation, and that too, red wine. Max once a month.

> Smoothie: I’ll occasionally take green smoothies.

Exercise Plan:

> General: I’ll not skip my morning warmup routine. I’ll keep improving/refining it.

> Gym membership: I’ll join a nearby gym at least four times weekly.

> Weights training: I’ll start lifting weights.

> Cardio: I like to run outside. If the weather permits, I’ll not hesitate to walk or run.

> Swimming: I’ll resume swimming again.

As you can see, you write down in detail what you want, why you want what you want, and how to achieve it. Writing them down creates a psychological commitment. It’s like making a promise to yourself, which can increase motivation and accountability. Also, writing engages multiple areas of the brain, especially the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which filters information based on what’s important to you.

When you write down a goal, you prime your brain to notice opportunities and resources that align with it.

During this process, you are forced to question your beliefs. Let’s say you want to create immense wealth, but if you believe money is the root of all evil, it doesn’t align with your vision. So, you must choose empowering beliefs that support your vision. Also, you need a strong “why” to achieve your vision. Your “why” gives meaning to your vision and helps you push through setbacks and difficult times. And the “how” can be as detailed as you want. Once you have a strategy, you may use advice from the book “Atomic Habits” to build effective habits.

I created my LifeBook in early 2023. It helped me improve in all areas of life, though I see good improvement in some areas. Writing down every area of your life in detail might be overwhelming at first, but the beauty of this exercise is that you are creating your own blueprint for life! You can review it every six months, see how you progress, and adjust the plan. Your LifeBook can serve as a guide for the rest of your life.

The best way to predict the future is to create it!

As we enter 2025, I encourage you to think and write about a vision for yourself across all areas of life (or areas where you want to improve the most) using the PVPS framework. While systems and goals can help you achieve what you want, a vision serves as the compass, ensuring your goals and systems are aligned with your higher purpose.

I’m also including a tool as a bonus to help you assess how you are doing across all dimensions of life currently. You can take it here. As you take the survey, you will be asked how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement. After completing the assessment, you will be presented with a detailed report and a Life Quotient, a single number personal to you, which objectively quantifies your overall quality of life. You can use this number as a starting point and track progress as you adapt to your lifebook.

Here is to a year of growth and success. Happy New Year!

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