D.I.V.E. into Action
According to the Stoics, we essentially have two tasks to accomplish in our life: be a good person and find an occupation you love.
Being a good person is no easy task, but it is a basic duty and responsibility to be a kind person with well-intentioned actions to create happiness in life for you and the people around you.
Your occupation should be aligned with not only what you love to do, but it should honor your unique talents, values, and personal interests.
If you can strive to live in line with these two concepts, many other things in life will fall into place. But how do you start?
Let’s D.I.V.E. into action!
Direction
Intention
Vision
Emotion
DIRECTION
Be committed to define your goals, milestones, and targets.
Invest time to journal, daydream, and think deeply about your answers to any of these questions:
What do you want to achieve?
What do you REALLY want?
What are the milestones I want to accomplish in the next year / 5 years / 10 years?
INTENTION
After identifying the milestones you want to accomplish, it is time to dig deeper to truly clarify your purpose.
Invest time to journal, daydream, and think deeply about your answers to any of these questions:
Why are these milestones important for me and others?
How does my best self think, act, and behave?
What is the legacy I want to leave in this world?
VISION
Everyone has a vision, but no one’s vision is exactly like yours. Take pride in the fact that you and only you can bring your unique vision to life. Paint your own picture of success by highlighting your strengths and gifts you can offer the world.
Bonus points - make a vision board! Collect images, quotes, personal pictures, and symbols that represent your vision to display in a space where you can view it daily.
Invest time to journal, daydream, and think deeply about your answers to any of these questions:
With your milestone(s) in mind, can you describe what achieving this goal will look like? Feel like? Sound like?
How do imagine the process and outcome of reaching my milestone? Tap into all of your senses to describe.
How will my milestone(s) impact my life and the life of others in my family / community / team?
EMOTION
Evoke emotion by connecting to your “why”, deepening your motivation, and exploring your feelings.
Invest time to journal, daydream, and think deeply about your answers to any of these questions:
WHY is it important for me to go through the process to achieve my milestone?
What kind of feelings or emotions do I want to experience while going through the process to achieve my milestone?
What will I be most proud of a year from now / when I achieve my milestone?
Taking time to D.I.V.E. into a clear picture of life can be the motivator to truly take ACTION.
Once you define and get clear on what you really want, there is nothing left to do but create daily commitments to close the gap from where you are and where you want to be:
What daily action can I commit to take every single day that will get me closer to my milestone?
How can I keep myself accountable with the action that I need to take?
What is my plan to celebrate progress when I follow through on my daily actions?
Go through this process and revisit your ideas often.
You evolve every day, with each challenge or success you face.
Give yourself permission to adjust your vision as you change and grow.
This is one of the greatest and powerful activities you can do for yourself and your life.
Be committed to do the work on creating clarity and D.I.V.E. into a life of goodness and purpose!
