Finding purpose and direction in life is a challenge that many of us face at various times. To address this, we can draw inspiration from design thinking—the way designers solve complex problems in an efficient and innovative way. By applying a structured, iterative process to our own lives, we can discover what we really want, try different approaches, and continue to refine our journey to the life we love.
Step 1: Identify – Gaining Clarity
The first step to creating the life you love is knowing your current situation and what might be missing. Look at your life in three key areas: health, work, and relationships.
- Health: Pertains to physical and mental well-being. Ask yourself what steps you can take to improve your health. For example, if you want to reach a fitness goal, like getting in shape, think about dietary changes or exercises that can help you get there.
- Work: Review your work and daily activities. Does your work energize you, or do you often want to fast forward through the day? “Accelerated testing,” as performance expert Ali Abdal explained, requires you to imagine having a button to quit any part of your day. If you click on it frequently, you may need to rethink your business.
- Relationships: Think about your relationships with family, friends and partners. Are these relationships enriching your life, or do they need to be improved? Reflecting on your network can help you understand what changes may be necessary to enhance your social and emotional well-being.
- Odyssey Planning: Inspired by the book “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, this exercise visualizes three different five-year paths: Mapping these points can help you clarify your interests and preferences providing a broad view of possible social directions.
- Your current path.
- A completely different approach.
- A path where you don’t have to worry about money or society’s expectations.
Step 2: Experiment – Try different methods
Once you have identified areas for improvement, the next step is to test them. This involves taking small, manageable steps to find new directions with minimal involvement.
Example:
- Starting a YouTube Channel: Trying different things, from vlogs to instructional videos, and slowly finding what resonates with you and your audience.
- Health Experiments: If your goal is good physical health, you can try personal trainers and different exercise programs or diets.
Main idea:
- Embrace Prototyping: Just as product designers build prototypes to test ideas, you should view any other activity or behavior as testing. This immediately reduces the pressure to succeed and allows you to learn and adapt.
Step 3: Iterate – Refining Your Approach
It involves reflecting on your trials, learning from them, and making necessary adjustments. This ongoing practice, reflection, and change helps you slowly create the life you love.
Useful Uses:
- Feedback and change: Use a new exercise program or activity to see what worked and what didn’t. Use this feedback to make changes. If you don’t like exercise, try something else. If the work assignment doesn’t suit you, consider a new position or career.
- Continuous Improvement: This repetitive process ensures that you are constantly getting closer to your ideal life. It’s not about making one right decision but consistently better decisions as time goes on.
Another tip for success
- Create a support network: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are also trying to improve their lives. Accountability groups or supportive friends can provide inspiration and focus.
- Embrace the small steps: Focus on small incremental changes rather than drastic changes. This makes the process less risky and permanent.
- Leverage Resources: Books like “Designing Your Life” and forums, where creatives share insights, can provide valuable guidance and inspiration.
Creating the life you love is an ongoing process that requires clarification, testing, and repetition. By approaching your life with a design mindset, you can continue to improve and move closer to your ideal life. Remember, it’s about enjoying the journey and being open to change, learning, and growth.
