Special Project for Lesson Two is to complete a Rational Life Plan
Your Special Project for Lesson Two is to complete a Rational Life Plan. This has 2 parts.
Page 15 speaks to many of the ideas to be reviewed within your Rational Life Plan. Organize the project as you see fit in terms of full paragraphs or bullet points containing complete sentences. Be sure to cover all aspects of the outline below. You may also add additional categories if it makes the Life Plan more useful for you. This Plan should be well organized and include ways to meet both short term and long term goals. A very important part of a working plan are everyday details that support the short term goals. Use the outline below.
RATIONAL LIFE PLAN OUTLINE
1. Values: List at least 3 key values, describing why they are meaningful to you.
2. Characteristics: List at least five of your key strong characteristics. Think in terms of your interests, health, emotional well-being and skills.
3. Barriers: List at least five of your personal barriers. Think in terms of your resources, emotional and physical health, relationships and skills.
4. Stressors/Relaxers: Create a T chart by creating two columns. In one column list the elements of your life you find causes you stress and in the other column list aspects of your life that are relaxers, that is those things that bring you the greatest happiness. Each column should contain a minimum of 3 items.
5. Overall Goals: List one long term goal (at least 6 months in the future) and three short term goals (generally tasks you perform at least weekly to help move you toward achieving a long term goal) for each of the following areas of your life. Health, Education, Relationships, Financial, Personal Happiness. This means you will have a total of 5 long term goals and 15 short term goals.
For example, a long term goal may be to graduate with your degree by spring 2019. A short term goal under this may be to study at least 15 hours each week. Be sure that all goals have are measurable and have a clear timeline for completion. For example, rather than "get good grades" as a long term goal, you would want to say "achieve a 3.5 GPA for the spring 2018 term."
6. Philosophical Reflection on Plan: After your plan is put together, write a one page reflective work on the overall happiness built into your plan. How can you maintain more happiness in your life? What roles do education, healthy relationships, and financial stability play in your life happiness? Why are your values and goals meaningful to you? What barriers do you anticipate facing in your efforts to achieve your goals and a happy life?
Sample Solution
Rational Life Plan
Values
- Learning and growth: I believe that it is important to never stop learning and growing. I want to challenge myself intellectually and personally, and to continue to develop my skills and abilities.
- Relationships: I value my relationships with my family and friends. I want to nurture these relationships and build strong, meaningful connections with others.
- Giving back: I believe in giving back to my community and making a difference in the world. I want to use my skills and talents to help others and make a positive impact on the world around me.
Full Answer Section
Characteristics
- Intellectually curious: I am a curious person who enjoys learning new things. I am also a good problem solver and critical thinker.
- Hardworking and dedicated: I am a hard worker who is dedicated to my goals. I am also able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Compassionate and empathetic: I am a compassionate and empathetic person who cares about others. I am also a good listener and supportive friend.
- Creative and innovative: I am a creative and innovative person who enjoys coming up with new ideas and solutions. I am also able to see the big picture and think strategically.
Barriers
- Self-doubt: I sometimes doubt myself and my abilities. This can make it difficult for me to take risks and try new things.
- Perfectionism: I am a perfectionist, which can lead me to be overly critical of myself and my work. This can also make it difficult for me to finish tasks and move on to new things.
- Procrastination: I sometimes procrastinate on tasks that I don't want to do or that I find challenging. This can make it difficult for me to achieve my goals.
Stressors/Relaxers
Stressors
- Workload: I often have a lot of schoolwork and extracurricular activities, which can be stressful.
- Finances: I am concerned about my financial future and paying for college.
- Relationships: I sometimes worry about my relationships with my family and friends.
Relaxers
- Spending time with loved ones: Spending time with my family and friends helps me to relax and de-stress.
- Reading: I enjoy reading books and articles on a variety of topics. This helps me to relax and learn new things at the same time.
- Exercise: I enjoy exercising and playing sports. This helps me to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Overall Goals
Health
- Long-term goal: Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight and reduce my risk of chronic diseases.
- Short-term goal 1: Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Short-term goal 2: Exercise for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week.
- Short-term goal 3: Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
Education
- Long-term goal: Graduate from college with a degree in computer science with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Short-term goal 1: Study for at least 2 hours each day.
- Short-term goal 2: Attend all of my classes and participate actively.
- Short-term goal 3: Get help from professors and tutors when needed.
Relationships
- Long-term goal: Build strong and meaningful relationships with my family and friends.
- Short-term goal 1: Spend time with my family and friends on a regular basis.
- Short-term goal 2: Be a supportive and caring friend and family member.
- Short-term goal 3: Communicate effectively with my family and friends.
Financial
- Long-term goal: Save enough money to pay for college and have a comfortable financial future.
- Short-term goal 1: Get a part-time job to start saving money.
- Short-term goal 2: Create a budget and track my spending.
- Short-term goal 3: Learn about investing and personal finance.
Personal Happiness
- Long-term goal: Live a happy and fulfilling life.
- Short-term goal 1: Make time for activities that I enjoy and that bring me joy.
- Short-term goal 2: Set realistic goals and celebrate my accomplishments.
- Short-term goal 3: Surround myself with positive and supportive people.
Philosophical Reflection on Plan
I believe that my rational life plan is well-rounded and covers all of the important areas of my life. My goals are measurable and have a clear timeline for completion. I am confident that I can achieve my goals if I work hard and stay