Designing a Life That Works
February 23, 2007 at 1:37 am (activism, appreciative Inquiry, communication, community, creative visualisation, creativity, culture, education, inspiration, inspirational, life coaching, psychology, spiritual, spiritual journey, spirituality, transformation)
How often have you discovered something new and dreamed of the possibilities for yourself and others, yet somehow failed to launch a new vision into reality? I am talking about everything from a discovery of compassionate communication and a dream of empowering family dynamics to knowing that you have a great product, that, if marketed well, could become the next IT thing. You, along with myself and many innovative thinkers, have been drifting in the clouds of dreamland because we haven’t acquired and mastered the techniques of design. The third step of Appreciative Inquiry is design.
Design is the context, the box, the often overlooked structure of an organisation or our individual life. If your dream is huge, according to Bernard J Mohr, the structure of your current life may be too small to hold it. If your organisation cannot launch a dream into its reality, it is because the social architecture of your organisation must be redesigned to support the new dream or vision.
“First we shape our structure and then our structures shape us” - Winston Churchill
Dreaming is thinking outside the box. Now we need a bigger box!
Imagine your dream as the center of a new possibility in your life. Now ask, what elements of organisation which, if redesigned, would support my dream? Look at the areas of time, money, work, leisure, social, and family life. Imagine how these would all look if they contained your dream. Be specific and detailed! Be an architect making detailed drawings of how a house is to be built. Be intentional about how different systems interact and affect each other. And now compare that to the design of your current life, or your current organisation. You will know what changes need to happen. Make the design of your life as intentional as your dreams.
Design is the patterning and planning of any act toward a desired, foreseeable end… any attempt to separate design, to make it a thing-by-itself works, counter to the fact that design is the primary underlying matrix of life.
Victor Papanek, industrial designer (from his book “Design for the Real World”)
Design is in everything we make, but it’s also between those things. It’s a mix of craft, science, storytelling, propaganda, and philosophy.
Erik Adigard
Can you create your life with intention?
whig said,
February 23, 2007 at 7:08 am
Yes, and no. I cannot do it alone, but we can do it together. My dreams are too large for one person alone, even a married one. I am trying to say what I have done and know so that others will do the same and as we say and do our parts together we design the future of humanity.
That is the best desgn for living that I know. I have re-designed my personal and family life as a result of being a part of global sustainability and a life-sustaining social architecture. And I’ve been rewarded with a deep sense of happiness and connection. I believe that this is how humans were designed to live- in relationship, as part of the web of life.
Suresh Gundappa said,
February 23, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Yes if we allow cosmic consciousness to design life for us then we are sure not to miss the grand designs of life! Any designs arising out of present moments are the really grand ones!
Great photos! and Great theme!
That is exactly it, Suresh! When we dream big, we start to see the part we were meant to live in the Divine Plan. And it often calls us to re-design our personal life, and the social order around us.
Gracie said,
February 23, 2007 at 9:26 pm
It almost comes together like the pieces of a puzzle once you establish what the puzzle happens to look like - the hardest part of course. Fantastic imagery that accompanies your commentary, NH. Brilliant post, as always.
knightofswords said,
February 23, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I very much like the idea of structuring one’s life to fit his or her dreams. So often, I think, dreams are confined to a person’s free time, while the rest of the day is spent focused on the status quo. Where, in this design, will the dream fit? Good points here, NH.
whig said,
February 23, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Will you have comment on the benefits of herbal cannabis as part of a conscious life?
Desiree said,
February 23, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Sometimes I sit here in awe of your posts. Today is one of those times! Great job! Thanks!
Tomas said,
February 23, 2007 at 11:29 pm
my mouse moved down and up the text and I rejoiced at the pictures of your post. Yet the talk was about the other design and that was one and only I understood. While reading the fairy tales the wonderlands looks familiar as my own room, however, while browsing I am forced to admit, maybe it is indeed somewhere such world where people can have what they dream about, but I live not in a such country …
Sorry for my emotions that darken at a sunset. Thank you for the pictures that served as a bridge to other reality to me.
Gregor said,
February 24, 2007 at 3:32 am
lovely marriage of thoughts and images
sarah flanigan said,
February 24, 2007 at 9:43 am
natural, sometimes i don’t understand all of what you are saying but i love that you put forward the grand ideas. i see some definite merit in these ideas but in reality - i have difficulty applying them to my life.
sarah
purefnevyl said,
February 26, 2007 at 8:55 am
I don’t know if you can create it but you can damn sure pretty it up.
radiantwoman said,
February 26, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I would like to hear your story about how you re-designed your life? Would you consider doing this?
in2l said,
February 26, 2007 at 10:35 pm
NH asks - “Can you create your life with intention?”
From my perspective/experience I am pretty sure the answer is yes.
My most successful times on career, personal, and spiritual levels have been when I have been intentional, focused on a value and a vision I wanted for my life or others around me.
The challenge is in keeping the vision and the intention and the actions all in alignment day in and day out.
I recently realized my design was screwed up as you describe it above. I have always tried to be one thing at the office and another at home. Yet the office personality has always managed to come home with me and periodically raise its ugly head for the people at home. But if what was working for me was the person I wanted to be at home and the dream I had for myself was more like the person I wanted to be at home, why should I keep it from the people I work with?
in2l said,
February 26, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I pushed submit a few sentences too soon.
Overall, the most important thing for me was a design that helps me be the person I want to be all the time. Intentionally.
That’s the plan, now I have to execute!
Looking forward to more info on this topic.
tobeme said,
February 27, 2007 at 3:02 am
Yes, I can. I know this because I do!
Great article!
nic paton said,
February 27, 2007 at 2:27 pm
The key thing I relate to in this talk of design is the idea of integrity.
Integrity is when all the parts relate well to the whole.
This is only possible by as Thomas Moore says “Caring for the soul”. It involves getting to know yourself, coming to understand your creaturehood, and the desires of the Creator.
It involves the pain of incarnation - birthing, whereby truths become authentically and particularly yours. Not someone elses, or any orthodoxy’s, but deeply and wholely yours. We can only know this when we shut out the clamour; it might be months, years or decades, but we need to understand things on our own terms.
Then with this information, and an aesthetic, we can start to design.
Nic Paton said,
March 2, 2007 at 2:17 pm
NH
As a follow up I found this by Theodore Zeldin, the “prophet of conversation”
http://www.oxfordmuse.com/museideas/emotergon.htm
Zeldin talks to a audience of designers about their concerns, and in so doing touches on issues similar to or at least complimenting what you are reaching for.
Enjoy it.
Roxy said,
March 2, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Your blog is simply beautiful. I love the pictures of the butterflies, and the meanings behind them. I just love your blog. It is simply awesome. Come check my blog out too. Look forward to visiting again. ROXY
http://rockdweller.blogspot.com/
lightcontrast said,
March 4, 2007 at 9:11 am
Hey natural, I really love this post. I know I’ve thought of plans but I either didn’t follow through or something got in the way. I feel disappointed but then I think, maybe I’ll start again or maybe I’ll think of something else. I usually think of something else; it’s always good to have several options or plans in mind. I love a litte phrase that goes, “When one door closes, a window always opens.”
Sometimes steps we take now, could work to our advantage in the future and make up a greater design in the “scheme of things.” And that’s truly nice.
Desiree said,
March 8, 2007 at 12:17 am
You haven’t posted in some time. I hope all is well with you! I miss your beautiful photos and inspiring thoughts!
Raymond Lam said,
March 8, 2007 at 4:49 am
There was a technique that got you to list down who you would be and what you wanted to be doing in 5 years time. Theory was that if you listed what you wanted to do in 10 years, it might be too far-sighted, but any less than 5 years and it would be mostly short-term goals.
okere said,
March 13, 2007 at 5:20 pm
please help me to grow in my spirit so that i can get all that i needed in life and i want to draw closer to God so that he can make use of me for others
Grace said,
March 14, 2007 at 3:56 am
Hello! I share Desiree’s well wishes - I’ve also been missing your posts as this is one of my all time favorite blogs to visit, NH! Hope all is well with you and yours!
Sandy said,
March 14, 2007 at 6:26 am
I love that you are writing about Appreciative Inquiry–a subject near and dear to my heart! Your images and thoughts are fresh and inspiring…keep going!
Blessings,
Sandy
anabelsmith said,
March 19, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Wow, this was very insightful. Great great post.
laluttefinale said,
April 17, 2007 at 12:01 am
Nice blog!
Livette said,
April 22, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Nice blog!
Rudi Cahyono said,
May 8, 2007 at 9:51 pm
have the bridge among what your strength and imagined dream!!!!
kurniati said,
May 13, 2007 at 3:25 pm
i’ve never seen a blog like this before… until i found your blog. I mean, i like AI but you cnn describe it i in inspiring way through words and pictures both beautifully….You put a sense of art and a deep philosophy in it….and great photos…
may God be with you always!
Titos said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Sorry
Othon said,
May 21, 2007 at 5:19 pm
interesting
Anninos said,
May 21, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Cool…
preilly said,
May 24, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I hope your journey brings you back to sharing with us in through your blog.
pete
Kymon said,
June 5, 2007 at 11:32 am
Interesting…
Aniketos said,
June 5, 2007 at 7:33 pm
interesting
Apostolis said,
June 6, 2007 at 3:59 am
Interesting…
Yiannis said,
June 7, 2007 at 12:12 am
Sorry
nic paton said,
June 7, 2007 at 12:53 pm
DWEEP DWEEP DWEEP!
Wierd ancient Greeks invade Natural Highs Blog!
Where’s that garden service, there are weeds eveywhere.
Dimitri said,
June 8, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Nice…
Kypros said,
June 9, 2007 at 1:50 am
Sorry
Anastasios said,
June 9, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Nice…
Carolos said,
June 11, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Interesting…
Andreas said,
June 12, 2007 at 5:56 am
interesting
Nikolaos said,
June 13, 2007 at 9:05 am
Cool…
Charalampos said,
June 14, 2007 at 12:38 am
Cool…
Angelo said,
June 15, 2007 at 7:34 am
interesting
Metrophanes said,
June 16, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Cool!
Tom said,
June 19, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Hi there–
I would prefer to write this privately, but there seems to be no contact information anywhere on your blog. I’d just like to point out to you that Living Life Fully is a trademarked title that has been in use for over eight years. While I don’t want to sound heavy-handed, if I don’t point this out to you and ask you to re-title your work, I can lose the TM rights to the title, which I’ve worked very hard to establish and maintain for almost a decade. Again, I’d prefer not to make such a demand in a public forum, but since there’s no contact info on the site, this is the only spot where I’m able to make this request.
sincerely yours,
tom walsh
livinglifefully.com
Harrys said,
July 9, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Sorry
Nico said,
July 9, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Nice
Thrasyvoulos said,
July 9, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Nice…
Kostantinos said,
July 10, 2007 at 11:32 am
Cool.
Georghios said,
July 10, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Nice
Michail said,
July 11, 2007 at 1:54 am
interesting
Leonidas said,
July 11, 2007 at 5:15 am
Nice!
Stamatis said,
July 16, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Cool…
Seduction and Hypnosis said,
July 29, 2007 at 11:13 pm
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Thanks for the article. A really interesting read. Keep in touch.
urbanpixie said,
July 31, 2007 at 2:09 am
Truly beautiful. Thanks for writing!
Desiree said,
August 4, 2007 at 11:06 pm
I still check in every now and again hoping to find you here posting again. I guess that isn’t going to happen. I’m saddened at the loss of such a beautiful blog. And just hope that all is well with you and that you are living life fully!
ciim said,
October 15, 2007 at 12:12 am
Great blog, loved your post:-)) Yes, we have been able to change our life through intention and the law of attraction but it still does take enlightened action and quiet meditation to get us there….thanks for your post..di
http://naturalleap.com
sureshrec22 said,
February 3, 2008 at 6:56 am
I was searchin for a nice life blog,,its very interesting. postings are good