Subscribe to the NetworkWhat story is God weaving with your life? Part 1
As 2009 approached, I was doing some major introspection and asking God some serious questions. God and I have had some serious dialogue. It feels like my life has been on this roller coaster ride and I want it to end. There were certain things in my life that I did not want to repeat, endure, or continue in 2009. I needed answers, direction, clarity, but most importantly wisdom. I felt like some of my personal goals, visions and aspirations were slipping into a faint distance. Before the holidays, I participated in a one day teaser for a process called Life Planning; it was exactly what I needed in the right moment. Now this was only a teaser, but it ignited my need to pursue several questions with the facilitator. It was the missing piece for me. I also found out Zarat Boyd, who is a good friend of mine, is the only black female certified as an advanced LifePlan facilitator. Pretty amazing, Zarat is an awesome leader, mother, and wife. She actually sat down with me and answered all of my questions about the Life Planning process and why, as a believer we should embark on the journey to see the pattern that God is weaving together in your life. I knew from talking with friend that I was not the only one at a crossroads in my life. Many of my friends felt like their personal visions and goals have been placed on pause or the back burner of their lives. I asked Zarat a few questions and hopefully they will be helpful to others considering LifePlanning or those like me who are searching for what’s next.
Tasha: What is Life Planning? Define the process
•Zarat: The LifePlan™ experience is a proven, spiritually and behaviorally sound process designed by Tom Paterson, a surrendered follower of Christ, and an internationally recognized strategist and business leader. The LifePlanning process helps you discover your unique design, clarify your life mission, and apply your discoveries to your personal, family, vocation, spiritual, and community life domains.
•LifePlan is capitalized for a reason. A LifePlan is God’s MasterPlan for our life. We discover and live out that unique plan for His purposes, not our own.
Tasha: What does the process involve?
•Zarat: Prayer, meditation on God’s word, full reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide, intimacy, stamina, openness, honesty, confidentiality, a safe environment, love, and surrender
•Guided by a professionally trained LifePlanner, the process involves a series of exercises and tools to gain perspective, acknowledge emerging truths, and accept personal responsibility.
•As a result of the charted pathway and a spiritually-guided 2-day process, you develop a custom tailored MasterPlan that defines your total life strategy. Leading toward your focused LifeMission, it includes detailed, measureable action plans to help you begin to fulfill this mission. All work is done on flip-chart paper in sequential order and later put into electronic form.
•I require a full two days, uninterrupted, for the 18-20 hour process as well as a minimum 3 month commitment to follow-up, coaching for accountability, encouragement, and continued development.
Tasha: What are some of the key modules of the process?
•Zarat: Key expectations
•Detailed evaluation & picture of your life right now
•A detailed timeline of key turning points of your entire life
•Talent matrix that highlights key attributes, heart concerns, and top gifts
•Assessments that highlight your drivers, comfort zones, and ways of organizing the world
•Learnings Matrix
•Significance based action plans
•LifeMentors & partners
Tasha: What are some key questions that LifePlanning addresses?
• Zarat: Who am I?
•What are my talents?
•How did I get to where I am right now?
•How does my past contribute to God’s plan for my future?
•What perspective have I gained?
•What is my significance?
•What is the current match with my success profile?
•What is my plan or action for each area of my life?
Books:Purpose Driven Life-Rick Warren, Pathway to Purpose, Katie Brazelton