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	Design Your Destiny: Life Is What You Make It

	by Michelle Casto

Like William Henley who once said, "I am the master of my fate. The captain of my soul." I agree that life is a do-it-yourself project. If you want to live a certain kind of life, you are going to have to be PROACTIVE so you can consciously create life as you would like it. You must first mentally visualize and then physically create what you want. You can do this by having a clear vision and developing strong INTENTIONS. Your life is your gift, how you appreciate it and use it is entirely up to you.

BUILDING YOUR OWN HOUSE

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his HEART was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so DIFFERENTLY.

HOW ARE YOU DESIGNING YOUR DAYS?

So it is with life. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then we are shocked to realize we have to live in the house we have built! If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. And better. But you cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Your ATTITUDES and the CHOICES you make today build the house you live in tomorrow. Build wisely! Build with commitment, pride, joy, and love.

YOUR LIFE BLUEPRINT

When designing the life you want to live and the work you want to do, it is important to pay attention to your LONGINGS -- this is your soul trying to communicate with you its deepest desires. The word intuition is latin for "in to you," and by learning to listen to your intuition, you will make wiser decisions. Contrary to popular belief, life is not meant to be a struggle. You are meant to experience ease and enjoyment, but you have to learn to LISTEN to what your higher self is saying to you. And then you have to take action by designing your "life blueprint."

LIFE DESIGN ELEMENTS

If you want to create a life you will love, you need to incorporate some guiding principles that will lead you in the right direction:

Your lessons are your personal learning and growth opportunities.

Your values provide DIRECTION and guidance for important life decisions.

Your vision is your overall blueprint for the kind of life you want to lead.

Your purpose is who you want to be and what you want to share with others.

Your passions are the things you LOVE.

Your life's work are the on-going personal and professional projects that you complete.

Your goals are mini-steps that help SUPPORT your work, purpose, and vision.

Your roles are the parts you play along your journey.

Your supports are the people, places, and things that give you a sense of balance.

Your path is the way you CHOOSE to create your life by conscious choices you make during your journey.

You must find your path and bravely follow it wherever it leads!

Michelle Casto, M.Ed. is a whole life coach, speaker, and author. She has written numerous self-help books and workbooks on life empowerment topics -- available directly at www.OnlineOrganizing.com. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching. She helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. Contact her for a complimentary coaching session at or visit her website at www.brightlightcoach.com.

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