When you think about your ideal life, what do you see? What does the rhythm of your life look like? What are you doing? How much of it are you doing? When it comes to creating a life that matters, it starts with you, your desires, passions and calling.

This is not to say life planning is a selfish undertaking. Your compassion for others and your faith will strongly inform this life you picture in your mind. We begin with you first though, knowing these other aspects are simultaneously and continuously informing your life plan.

Many people have various names for what I call the soils of life. They call them accounts, areas, or spheres of life. Normally, you are given a list and required to plan accordingly. I want to give you some suggestions, but I want you to decide what goes on your list.

What are the soils of your life that you want to bring focus to and continue to invest in — in order to bring nutrients to your life? Here are some options:

• Personal Development

• Nutrition and Exercise

• Finances

• Marriage

• Parenting

• Spiritual Life

• Career

• Ministry

• Social Life

• Hobbies

These are all areas of your life that are important. Depending on you, some soils have greater value than others. What are other potential soils I have not included above?

As you look through this list, which areas stand out to you? Go ahead and write those down. Begin thinking about, in an ideal world, what your life would look like. What kind of goals would you set in these areas? Do not spend a lot of time on this. Broadly speaking, from a long-term perspective, what would you like these areas of your life to look like?

Give yourself grace. It is not possible to do it all — all of the time. If you were creating your life and these areas were thriving, what would that look like?

Please leave a comment. Which life soil is (or needs to be) a priority for you right now?