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How do you make massive selections? And what’s a “high quality of life” resolution anyway?
This month on the weblog we’re speaking about doing massive issues and chasing massive goals.
As a result of it’s the top of the yr and with the top of the yr come extra obligations, extra strain to have life found out for the subsequent yr, and many selections to make.
Final week, we talked about alternatives, which of them we are saying no to, and which loopy goals are value pursuing. (Like this one!) And right now we’re strolling by the method of how we make these massive selections. The identical course of we used for deciding to purchase our first RV, to RV overseas, to start out our first (and second and third) companies, and to start out a campground.
How do you make these massive selections?
Just a few years in the past, at our first RVE Summit really, Eric & Brittany Highland had been sharing their story once they mentioned a phrase that I didn’t know I wanted to listen to.
“It was a high quality of life resolution,” they mentioned of why they began RVing.
As soon as Heath and I heard it, one thing clicked in our heads. This was precisely the psychological course of we used to make our massive selections put right into a phrase that made sense.
Once we first determined to maneuver into an RV, it wasn’t to see the world or to flee the 9 to five. These had been contributing elements for positive. However we needed to start out our marriage dwelling a lifetime of journey collectively. And we knew if we stayed in Austin, we’d find yourself persevering with to work jobs we weren’t thrilled about, dwelling in an condominium, and complaining concerning the visitors.
However the RV would thrust us into an journey. We might journey like we at all times needed. We might lastly begin a enterprise (or go broke). We might write books. We might dwell the life we’d dreamed up collectively.
Shifting into an RV was making the choice that answered “Which path goes to provide us the highest quality of life?” What will make me the very best model of myself? The #livingmybestlife (and insert different cliches right here).
We had been happier, stronger, and “working in our genius” as my good friend Jill says.
Learn how to Make a “High quality of Life Choice”
We begin by asking ourselves a number of key questions:
1. Does this align with different massive targets in my life?
We’ve all received goals. Some massive—like touring the world. Some small—like internet hosting a cooking present. A high quality of life resolution aligns with these massive goals and pushes you nearer to them.
Why begin a weblog? So I might write a ebook.
Why begin a software program firm? So Heath may very well be a CEO of his personal firm.
Why purchase an RV? So we might go to all fifty states.
These selections pressured us to pursue these massive targets, one step at a time.
2. Once I consider making this resolution, does it really feel mild or heavy?
Which is a elaborate manner of asking, will this route make me glad?
You already know that feeling when making a decision and immediately the load you didn’t know you had been carrying is lifted off your shoulders? The burden of massive selections is heavy, which is why determining the way you’ll really feel after you’ve decided is so vital.
Will I really feel mild after I select this path? Or will it really feel heavy?
Like once we determined to purchase tickets to Italy earlier than Ellie was born. For years, individuals (unsolicited) informed us to rush up and get journey out of our system earlier than we had youngsters. And after I needed to be stationary for the primary half of being pregnant, that thought began to permeate its manner into my mind. A life with out journey did not align with my massive targets. It felt like a darkish cloud hovering over me.
So Heath and I made a decision to go forward and ebook flights to Venice. After which we appeared like this:
As a result of it was the choice that made us excessively glad (and slightly nervous and slightly out of consolation zone, like all good selections do).
I felt 100 kilos lighter—mentally at the least, I used to be bodily eight months pregnant and the dimensions of a small whale—and knew it was the best name.
3. Am I able to pursue this path?
I feel that is the scariest query to ask.
As a result of for many massive selections, when somebody asks for those who’re prepared, the reply is often shaky.
Are you able to promote your home and purchase an RV and transfer away from all of your family and friends and miss Thanksgiving and never know the place to ahead your mail to and work out the place you possibly can even camp in that factor?
For us, we weren’t geared up to function an RV. We flooded that factor, received it caught within the mud, backed it right into a automotive within the grocery retailer car parking zone.
However we had been prepared. Prepared for the journey. Able to attempt one thing massive and daring and totally ready to fail spectacularly within the course of.
Generally selections aren’t about having all the best abilities and expertise. Generally it’s nearly having the drive and readiness to push on.
4. Would this open me as much as do extra issues that I really like?
Final week on the podcast, Tyler and Morgan mentioned they determined to RV as a result of it opened them as much as do extra issues they love. Mountain climbing. Getting open air. Visiting nationwide parks.
High quality of life selections = being the very best model of your self.
And meaning giving your self the chance to do extra of the issues that mild you up.
For Heath, that is why he selected to start out a software program firm. It may very well be began remotely and he might nonetheless journey. He might work with others as a substitute of working alone. He might do all the massive image, strategic enterprise stuff that he loves.
It checked all of the containers.
This yr, I informed Heath that every one I needed for my birthday was a month on the seashore. So we took our Winnebago to Florida for a month and LOVED. IT. We might stroll on the seashore. Work outdoors within the solar. Put our toes within the sand. All of the little issues that I really like. (And by the way most likely the very best factor concerning the RV. Movable seashore home!)
5. If I might do ANYTHING, what would I do?
If cash wasn’t an element.
If time wasn’t an element.
How would you wish to spend your time? Would you continue to wish to do that factor?
For me, the reply is I might write, which is how I do know persevering with to be a blogger is at all times the best resolution for me.
6. Will I’ve one other alternative like this?
One of many hardest issues about making a choice is feeling prefer it’s now or by no means.
If I say no now, will I ever get an opportunity like this once more?
My intestine at all times insists the reply is not any. However after I actually give it some thought, for many of my main life selections the reply is undoubtedly sure.
Ought to Heath promote the corporate? Very doable there might be different alternatives to promote.
Ought to we purchase this campground? Very doable there might be different campgrounds on the market sooner or later.
Generally the reply may be no. This can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative and now’s your solely probability. Which is why it’s vital to cease and actually assume: will you will have one other alternative like this?
7. Will this one resolution assist me make many extra selections?
That final query is the one Heath and I are inclined to deal with essentially the most.
What resolution, what route, what selection will assist me make different selections? Or will even make these selections for me?
That is the place we’ve gotten caught prior to now. Saying sure to this would imply saying no to that. Which is once we determined that with regards to massive life selections, we wanted to determine which resolution would make all the opposite selections for us.
Like final yr once we had been making an attempt to resolve what 2020 would maintain. Ought to we purchase a brand new RV? Which RV? The place ought to we go in that RV? What about our campground dream? Are we going to take motion on that? What about Ellie? Can we work on the street whereas she learns methods to crawl and stroll? Will we nonetheless wish to RV full-time? Or ought to we purchase a home and RV part-time? The place would we even purchase a home? Will we even need a home? WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NEXT?
Partnering with Winnebago to be within the Forza with an RV-entrepreneur-specific floorplan for one yr that was large enough for a crib answered virtually all of these massive selections for us.
We felt lighter. Happier. I liked my month on the seashore. We had been prepared to start out touring extra with Ellie. Every thing fell into place with that one high quality of life resolution.
We’re in the course of some massive selections proper now (extra on that quickly!). It’s all about your high quality of life. Doing what makes you higher, happier, and fulfilled.