How I did it: I listed all of the things I wanted to do before I died.  Then, I organized them in a timeline that made sense.  Some things I could do together and others I should do at different stages of my life.  Some things would be easier when I'm young and others would be okay if I'm older.  Some things weren't actually things to do - they had to do with the types of relationshipsor lifestyle I wanted.

Having a plan has made me stay focused on my goals and work toward them diligently.  It also helps me feel good about saving money instead of trying to keep up with others' lifestyles.

Lessons & tips:

• You can always add to and change your plan
• If you are married, work with your spouse so your plans are compatible. 

Resources: Martin Seligman's book Authentic Happiness

There is also a website: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

This helped me pinpoint the things that made me happy that I would want to incorporate in my plan.

Aug 19, 2009, 05:23PM PDT | 0 comments | 3 cheers