Live Your Gift Workbook Preview

COMPANION GUIDE The Workbook for Creating Your Life Map DANA V. ADAMS



Your life mapping journey begins here! Name: Address: Phone: Email: Life Mapping Workbook i

Praise for , Dana V. Adams, and Life Mapping “I ’m a big believer in mapping out your goals, milestones, and me on a profound level. Here is a book with practical steps on accountability metrics to maximize your gifts and achieve how to live a better, joyous life. Live Your Gift provided a your life’s purpose. This is the process that transformed the doable life plan along with the courage and grace to follow it. life of Dana V. Adams; maybe it can do the same for yours.” I plan on sharing Live Your Gift with my sober community, as well as friends who may not have addiction issues but need a —Darren Hardy, New York Times bestselling author of straightforward, thoughtful book like Dana’s to lead them to The Compound Effect and founding publisher and a happier, more fulfilling life.” former editor of SUCCESS magazine —Roberta Romero, (former KING 5 NBC-Seattle) “I f you want to finally unlock growth and live with a possibil- reporter, sober since January 2, 2004 ity mindset, read Live Your Gift! Dana V. Adams will show you how she conquered her hidden fears to start living the life “If you’ve got questions about how to fulfill the life you were she desired. With warm intelligence and refreshing clarity, meant to live, Dana V. Adams’s Live Your Gift will seem she’ll inspire you and teach you how to do it, too.” heaven-sent. It is packed with the kind of explicit guidance and practical applications you can immediately use to dis- —Dr. Srini Pillay, Harvard psychiatrist, executive coach and cover who you really are.” CEO of NeuroBusiness Group, brain researcher, and author of Tinker Dabble Doodle Try and Life Unlocked: —Carol Adrienne, author of The Purpose of Your Life and 7 Revolutionary Lessons to Overcome Fear co-author of The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide “I n Live Your Gift, Dana V. Adams brings to life a holistic tool “D ana V. Adams learned the power of life mapping first as a that takes you from belief to action, and has the potential to student and then as a teacher. She inspires, empowers, and aid you in transforming your life. In it, she borrows the famed leads a new generation to discover their gifts in her book Live quote from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love Your Gift. With the right teacher and tools, everyone can live when she states, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inade- the unique gifts graciously given them by God. Live Your Gift quate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mea- is destined to be a best seller. I encourage you to read this sure.’ Ah, yes, how true. Unfortunately, too many of us go to book and share it with family, friends, and colleagues.” the grave with unsung songs, unfulfilled dreams, and unopened inner gifts. Live Your Gift provides a key that helps —Bill Cohen, Author of Life Mapping us to unlock and release this ‘power that is beyond measure’ and empowers you to Live Your Gift AND your dreams!” “Dana is an inspiration, champion, and spokesperson for those most vulnerable. Through her own personal journey and in —Debrena Jackson Gandy, national bestselling author of support of those without voices, she continues to support and Sacred Pampering Principles and All the Joy You Can Stand drive forward the importance of self-worth and value. There are endless applications for the important lessons Dana “Dana absolutely practices what she preaches in her book Live shares in Live Your Gift. Her insights not only inspire but also Your Gift. She works full-time as a realtor, has four growing give readers the tools to thrive, regardless of the season of life boys, and was still able to find time in her incredibly busy life one may be navigating. Her book is especially enriching for to create this wonderful book to help you map out your those facing any barriers to living as their healthiest, best dreams. She is a perfect example of what life mapping can do selves, and serves as a useful, hands-on guide for achieving for your life!” new levels of well-being.” —Jessica Butts, CEO of Front Seat Life and author of Live —Laurene Burton, executive director—governance and Your Life from the Front Seat and Don’t Do Stuff You Suck At community affairs, EvergreenHealth “As a person in recovery from alcoholism, Dana’s book reached Life Mapping Workbook ii

“S ix years ago, Dana introduced the life mapping process to a “I thoroughly appreciate Dana’s insights, pacing of materials, handful of brokers in my office. Our brokers now travel to a and direction in our business planning and life mapping. resort to fully invest in the curriculum and study. Dana’s Structured work time, samples of life mapping, and anecdotes organization and presentation of the life mapping concepts from her own life are great, too!” have been very well received and embraced by our broker staff. Practical application of the concepts has resonated in —Kristi MacPherson, Realtor® the lives and businesses of those who attended, evidenced by their personal life maps and vision boards. It is a study of “L ife mapping is always evolving.Time spent reflecting on my growth and achievement in all parts of life that is very per- beliefs gave me insight into what’s true for me. Now I know sonal and unique to the student. I highly encourage your I have a North Star.” attention to Dana’s work.” —Jan Carroll, real estate broker —Michael Connolly, designated broker, Windermere Real Estate, Kirkland, WA “Throughout my life mapping experience with Dana, I real- “L ife mapping is a constant process. It’s like learning music or ized that the phrase ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ a foreign language or studying for school: you must ‘use it or could not ring more true. Taking time to gain the insight into lose it.’ Just because we stuff ourselves silly at our family’s what my life could look like—the way I want to design it— Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t mean we don’t need to eat until was one of the most inspirational experiences I’ve had. With next year. Life mapping is the same; you can’t devour the rich Dana’s guidance, I was reminded of the things I can do every content at the workshop and expect to go home and have single day to help me be a better person and draw pure joy lasting impact unless you continue to feed yourself the mate- into my daily life. I was also reminded that not only does rial and practice the concepts.” keeping your dreams at the forefront of your mind keep you motivated and inspired, but also—eventually, with some —Diane Charouhas, senior real estate specialist persistence and hard work—they really do come to light. I am so thankful for the work that Dana does, and I highly “Just the little bit I have witnessed is inspiring. Having seen recommend the process to anybody who’s ready to get back what a big part of the author’s life the book has become on track to living a life they love.” makes it easy to see how her passion for it has taken her on what looks like an amazing journey. I do believe in it and the —Darren Kentner, real estate industry professional power it has for people that follow through with it. I think in my practice of trying to do it each year it is a good reminder “I think that life mapping is a valuable tool to make a commit- of what is important to me. I do have my vision board looking ment in getting things done in your life, whether it be for back at me right now as I type this and see it as my desktop business, family, or personal goals of any nature. I enjoyed on my computer each time it is turned on. Dana V. Adams going through the motion of making my lists for what I want definitely brought value to me.” to achieve in my life. For me personally, the sessions have solidified what I have always done in my life. You can’t have —David Pope, Realtor® success with your goals if you don’t lay out a plan for achieving them. Life mapping has certainly taken that to the “Thank you, Dana, for taking us beyond the book and guiding us next level.” through the steps of life mapping. I walked away from this year’s intensive retreat focused and empowered.I would describe —BJ Connolly, co-owner, Windermere Real Estate, Kirkland, WA life mapping as starting with discovering the why to establish one’s goals and then implementing a number of manageable tasks to achieve them. By starting with the why, the goals are centered around what is meaningful. The work is, therefore, purposeful because the intention behind it is authentic.” —Jennifer Burton, branch manager, Penrith Home Loans Life Mapping Workbook iii

COMPANION GUIDE The Workbook for Creating Your Life Map DANA V. ADAMS iv

The author and publisher have taken reasonable precautions in the preparation of this book and believe the facts presented within are accurate as of the date it was written. However, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for any errors or omissions. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability resulting from the use or application of the information contained in this book, and the information is not intended to serve as legal, financial, psychological, or other professional advice related to individual situations. © 2019 Dana V. Adams. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written per- mission from the publisher. If you purchase this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case, neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.” Published by Life Mapping Institute, LLC. Attention Corporations, Universities, Colleges, Schools, Addiction Treatment Facilities, and Professional Organizations: Quantity discounts are available on bulk purchases of this book for educational, gift purposes, or as bonuses and giveaways for increasing membership. For more information, please contact us: www.lifemappinginstitute.com [email protected] Cover design by NewBreed.Design Editing by J. M. Emmert Interior Design and Composition by Accelerate Media Partners, LLC ISBN-13: 978-1-7329947-1-3 SEL027000 SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Success Printed in the United States of America Life Mapping Workbook v

contents Welcome...................................................................................................................................1 Section One: Life Mapping.....................................................................................................3 Section Two: Your Beliefs.......................................................................................................7 Section Three: Your Principles............................................................................................ 15 Section Four: Your Values................................................................................................... 23 Section Five: The Optimal You........................................................................................... 33 Section Six: Your Goals........................................................................................................ 47 Section Seven: Your Magnificent Mind............................................................................. 69 Section Eight: Activities....................................................................................................... 83 Section Nine: Scheduling.................................................................................................. 111 Section Ten: Accountability & Structure......................................................................... 121 Section Eleven: The Authentic You.................................................................................. 131 Supplemental Forms.......................................................................................................... 135 About the Author............................................................................................................... 149 Resources............................................................................................................................. 150 Life Mapping Workbook vi

welcome Dear Fellow Life Mappers, You’re about to embark on an insightful process which I hope will lead you to a life defined by clarity, fulfillment, and pure joy. You’re already a star because you care enough to pause, reflect, and then dig deeper to discover greater meaning in your  life. Everyone possesses the ability to design a meaningful life, but not everyone knows how. The Live Your Gift Companion Guide was specifically created to assist you in moving from the theoretical concepts presented in the Live Your Gift book to the concrete steps that will lead you to a lifestyle rich with intentional actions. The life mapping process is a simple, easy-to-follow method to ensure that the choices we make are aligned with living our most authentic life. When we honor who we are at our core, we invite our gifts to bubble up to the surface, ensuring a truly rewarding life. Completing this companion guide will allow you to create your personal life map. I hope you find it a systematic process for gaining clarity about who you are, what you believe, and where you want to go—and then go out and share your gift with the world! Wishing you a transformative and enlightening experience ahead! Dana V. Adams Life Mapping Workbook 1

NOTES Life Mapping Workbook 2

SECTION ONE life mapping Life Mapping Workbook 3

T his is my life... my story… my book. I will no longer let anyone else write it; nor will I apologize for the edits I make. —Steve Maraboli

LIFE MAPPING Life mapping is a multi-stage process. All the steps listed below are necessary for progress, growth, and sustained forward momentum. Determine your beliefs. Develop your list of ideal behaviors. Identify your core values. Identify what brings you joy. Make a list of your goals. Prioritize your goals. Choose your highest-priority goals. Break down the goals into activities. Create a practice for a healthy mind-set. Design your ideal schedule. Build structure and accountability to ensure success. Your persistent actions will ultimately lead you to achieve your goals. The excitement and accom- plishment you experience will inspire you as you start to reveal the person who’s been hidden inside. As you begin living your life map, your vision of the future will emerge with more clarity. If you have been walking in a dense fog, your sense of direction and purpose will crystallize, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where you want to go. You will see the adjustments you need to make to improve your quality of life. Within these pages you will learn the following: Understand what you believe about life and, specifically, why you’re alive. Create your own playbook for how you want to show up. Identify your top five core values. Learn to reconnect to what brings you joy. Learn a system for setting, categorizing, and prioritizing goals. Understand why it’s important to align goals with beliefs, principles, and values. Learn how to build a foundation for goals to increase the odds of success. Discover efficiencies in scheduling and time blocking. Understand the importance of implementing structure and accountability. Learn how to drastically improve your opportunity of living a truly meaningful life. Life Mapping Workbook 5

Life is one continuous journey. Therefore, your life map is an essential tool you’ll utilize throughout your life. It’s a living document, and not a goal in and of itself. You will regularly recalibrate your coordinates as unexpected twists and turns compete for your time and atten- tion. But now you are in charge and you have the power to decide how you’ll respond. One day you will look back in awe at how far you’ve come. Your life map and the beautiful landscape that results will ground you through life’s challenges. You will have the strength to thrive despite unforeseen circumstances! NOTES Life Mapping Workbook 6

SECTION TWO your beliefs Life Mapping Workbook 7

W hatever you believe about yourself on the inside is what you will manifest on the outside. —John Assaraf Life Mapping Workbook 8

YOUR BELIEFS What we believe in and how we stand strong in our convictions are what make us authentic. Our beliefs are at the core of who we are as human beings and form the foundation of life mapping. Confidently navigating through life requires a set of strong, sturdy beliefs. Living a life where you’re in control of your final destination begins with understanding your beliefs. Beliefs are like the deep, gnarly, twisting, turning roots that anchor the biggest oak trees securely in place for hundreds of years. Roots form the base structure of a tree, but they are also interdependent on the other parts of the tree living healthfully to find harmony. Our beliefs allow us to live out our intended purpose. And, like roots are dependent on other parts of the tree to flourish, our beliefs depend on our actions and character working together to support our most ideal self. There are two parts to the belief question: 1. Discovering your beliefs about humanity in general. 2. Understanding your individual beliefs. Most people would live radically different lives if they unequivocally knew and believed with- out a shadow of a doubt that there was a distinct reason for their life. Beliefs drive every human behavior. I would like you to begin your Beliefs List by asking the most basic question of all: How do you think it all began? What do you believe? Could it be the work of God, the Big Bang, or some other theory? Your work is to resolve the question to your own satisfaction. Your idea of how life began will help you formulate your concept of the purpose of life in general, and eventually—with the knowledge of your passions, pains, gifts, and what brings you true joy—of your individual purpose. People will debate the merits of religion versus science for all of eternity, but, ultimately, what you need to ask yourself is: What do I believe? Here is a good working definition of “belief ” from Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary: Belief: something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion. If you have the conviction and accept something to be true, it should be included in your list. Every time you add a new belief, ask yourself why you believe it. Your answer will lead you to deeper, more basic beliefs. The idea behind making a Beliefs List is to create a list that wholly encompasses your major beliefs. There is no correct number of beliefs. However, if a stranger reads your list, they should have a good sense of you, your idea of how it all began, what you think the purpose of humanity is, and your individual beliefs. Life Mapping Workbook 9

State your beliefs in a positive manner. There is no room for doubt in a belief. It is helpful to begin each belief with the words I believe. Until we understand our origin and our purpose, and develop a clear Beliefs List, we will be at the mercy of those who would influence us by default. Once you discover what you believe to be true, you’ll possess a powerful compass from which to navigate your best life. It’s time to develop your Beliefs List. The following are some thought-provoking questions that may help you, as well as a list of beliefs taken from those submitted by participants of my Life Mapping Institute Workshop. They should give you some ideas as you create your own Beliefs List. What is something you say that encapsulates what you think about life? Example: No time like the present. All you have is today. Live life to the fullest. Do you consider yourself spiritual or religious? Do you believe in God or another Higher Power? Do you have a huge dream or goal you’ve been carrying around with you that sums up why you think you’re here? Why are you able to feel emotions, have intellectual thoughts, and communicate with others? What is most important to you in your life? Do you have a spiritual practice? If so, what is it and where do you practice it? Do you have certain cultural beliefs or ceremonies you participate in? Is there something about Nature that is spiritual to you? Life Mapping Workbook 10

What are your beliefs about food and how you nourish your body? What are your beliefs about your physical body, your vessel through life? Is family important to you? If so, why? Do you think you have a soul? What do you think happens to your essence or soul when you die? Do you believe in burial or cremation of your physical body? What do you love to do most? What are your most profound life-defining moments? Do they play into your beliefs at all? What do you fear? What are your beliefs about love, hate, and forgiveness? Life Mapping Workbook 11

Sample Beliefs 1. I believe people should associate and communicate with others; it’s essential. 2. I believe a sense of humor can be one’s greatest asset. 3. I believe all people are interconnected and therefore their decisions affect other people. 4. I believe all people deserve respect. 5. I believe all people have the capacity to love and accept others. 6. I believe all people have the right to speak their mind. 7. I believe all people possess the capacity to do good. 8. I believe beauty is relative. 9. I believe challenging oneself to higher, more difficult levels is the path to finding yourself. 10. I believe education leads to better decisions. 11. I believe every human is unique. 12. I believe every cruel act should be punished. 13. I believe every person needs to be loved... and needs to know it. 14. I believe every problem has a solution. 15. I believe everyone can be honest. 16. I believe everyone can find some happiness in their lives, no matter what the situation. 17. I believe everyone makes mistakes. 18. I believe everyone wants to be happy. 19. I believe everyone wants to be loved and valued. 20. I believe everyone has a purpose. Activity On the next page take some time to record your concept of the universe’s existence. After you have your concept about the universe, write a statement in which you describe your concept of the purpose of life in general. Next, write down your list of personal beliefs. Before moving on, take one more sweep through your beliefs and ask yourself whether the beliefs you have written down are truly rep- resentative of your beliefs or default beliefs that belong to someone else who influenced you. It’s natural to mirror the beliefs of those closest to us, and who had the greatest influence in our life, but now is the opportunity to decide if those beliefs still serve you today. The idea here is to be sure you own what you’ve included in your Beliefs List. This list is yours and yours alone. Life Mapping Workbook 12

MY BELIEFS ABOUT THE UNIVERSE: ABOUT LIFE & WHY I’M HERE: Put It Into Practice 30-Day Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Life Mapping Workbook 13

NOTES Life Mapping Workbook 14

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dana V. Adams is the founder of the Life Mapping Institute and considered one of the country’s top thought leaders on the life mapping process. For decades, first as a student and now as a teacher and mentor, Dana has inspired, empowered, and led thousands to embrace their life’s gifts to live happy, abundant and authen- tic lives. After becoming a Licensed Real Estate Agent in 1993, Dana discovered the life mapping process reading Bill Cohen’s book Life Mapping. Combining the power of the life mapping process with her life’s gifts of a car- ing attitude, responsiveness, professionalism, stellar customer service, and dogged determination, Dana built an award-winning real estate business. She excels in the specialty niche of “Land to Luxury,” selling in-fill land and development property, and marketing the new homes once built. Dana has distinguished herself as a six-time recipient of the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award, Managing Broker, Master Certified New Construction Specialist, Luxury Marketing Spe- cialist, and Master Certified Negotiation Expert, and is a member of the National Association of Realtors. A native of Southern California, Dana grew up around commercial fishing. She moved to Kirkland, Washington, with her family in 1979, and after high school worked in the Alaskan fishing industry. She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business management and marketing. Still living in her hometown of Kirkland, Dana loves taking long walks along the shores of Lake Washington and living a healthy, active lifestyle. Aside from her four sons, Dana’s passions are a lifelong pursuit of personal development and community service. She has organized community-wide events on opiate awareness and served on the City of Kirkland Task Force Boards for sidewalks and affordable housing. She currently sits on the EvergreenHealth Youth Mental Health Task Force and has written for Kirkland Living magazine. www.danavadams.com Life Mapping Workbook 149

SHARE COMPANION GUIDE Give to Family and Friends Almost all of us have better odds of accomplishing goals with a little support and guidance. Consider giving the Live Your Gift Companion Guide to a friend, a family member, or your partner, and make your life maps together. Plan a Business Event If you are a business owner or manager, consider giving the Live Your Gift Companion Guide to your team. I’d love to facilitate your on-site or off-site life mapping event. Register for a Workshop Some of us need more encouragement, structure, and even a little hand-holding. If you absorb material more comprehensively by attending a class, you can visit my website and register for a live workshop. The workshops are experiential because you will create your life map—and motivational because participants benefit from the collective energy and interaction of the group. It’s a powerful personal growth experience in the company of like-minded people who want to live life—on their terms. ALSO: The book Live Your Gift Live Your Gift provides an in-depth look at why the life mapping process works and offers robust tools for aligning your beliefs, principles, and values with your goals to live a more authentic life. It shares inspiring personal stories of overcoming obstacles to live a more fulfilling life. You can buy the book in print or ebook format. If you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Even if it’s only a few sentences, your time and willingness to share your thoughts will help ensure others learn about Live Your Gift, too. For more information, please visit www.lifemappinginstitute.com.



COMPANION GUIDE Everyone possesses the ability to design a meaningful life, but not everyone knows how. The Live Your Gift Companion Guide was specifically created to assist you in moving from the theoretical concepts presented in the book Live Your Gift, to the concrete steps that will lead you to a lifestyle rich with intentional action. The first step to a richer life is completing your life map. If you’re ready to stop thinking about the life you dream of and start living the life you envision, then this workbook is for you! www.lifemappinginstitute.com $49.95 ISBN 978-1-7329947-1-3 54995 9 781732 994713