This is one of the core exercises in Designing Your Life, and if you do not do any of the other exercises in the book, probably a loss, you should do this one, as below.  In short, we encourage you to do all the exercises in the book as you read it together.

Writing a Lifeview

Write a short reflection about your Lifeview. Not a long paper, but we do want you really to write this down. Don’t do it in your head. This should take about an hour or so. 

Below are some questions often addressed in a Lifeview, just to get you started. The key thing is to write down whatever critical defining values and perspectives provide the basis for your understanding of life. Your Lifeview is what provides your definition of what have been called “matters of ultimate concern.” It’s what matters most to you. 

• Why are we here? • What is the meaning or purpose of life? • What is the relationship between the individual and others? • Where do family, country, and the rest of the world fit in? • What is good, and what is evil? • Is there a higher power, God, or something transcendent, and if so, what impact does this have on your life? • What is the role of joy, sorrow, justice, injustice, love, peace, and strife in life? 

We realize that these are somewhat philosophical questions, and we did just mention the “G” word. Some readers will see God as unimportant; others may have wanted us to address this up front as the most important issue. You’ve probably figured out by now that design is values-neutral, and we don’t take sides. The questions, including the ones about God or spirituality, are given to provoke your thinking, and it’s up to you to see which ones you want to try to answer. They are not talking points for religious or political debates, and there are no wrong answers— just answers— no wrong Lifeviews. The only way to do this incorrectly is not to do it at all. Besides that, be curious and think like a designer. Ask the questions that work for you, make up your own, and see what you discover. Write down your answers. Ready. Begin.

It should be written in such a way to be shared orally with your guide team.  These are large questions but try your best to do as the assignment asks. 

Writing a Workview

A Workview should address the critical issues related to what work is and what it means to you. It is not just a list of what you want from or out of work, but a general statement of your view of work. It’s your definition for what good work deserves to be. Again, something short.  

A Workview may address such questions as: 

• Why work? • What’s work for? • What does work mean? • How does it relate to the individual, others, society? • What defines good or worthwhile work? • What does money have to do with it? • What do experience, growth, and fulfillment have to do with it?  

We’ve noticed that a Workview is a pretty new idea for most people. And we’ve noticed that when people get stuck on this exercise it is because they are just writing down what they’re looking for in a job or an employment situation, which is a “job description.” For this exercise, we’re not interested in what work you want to do, but why you work. What we’re after is your philosophy of work— what it’s for, what it means. This will essentially be your work manifesto. 

When using the term “work,” we mean the broadest definition— not just what you do to make money or for “a job.” Work is often the largest single component of most people’s waking lives, and over a lifetime it occupies more of our attention and energy than anything else we do. Accordingly, we’re suggesting you take the time to reflect and articulate what work and vocation mean to you (and perhaps what you hope work means for others as well).

How do the two fit together?

Read over your Workview and Lifeview, and write down a few thoughts on the following questions: 

• Where do your views on work and life complement one another? • Where do they clash? • Does one drive the other? How? 

Please take some time to write up your thoughts on the integration of your two views. This is where people often get the biggest “aha” moments, so please take this part of the exercise seriously and give the integration some thought. In most cases, this reflection will result in some editing of one or both of your views. 

By having your Workview and your Lifeview in harmony with each other, you increase your own clarity and ability to live a consciously coherent, meaningful life— one in which who you are, what you believe, and what you do are aligned. When you’ve got an accurate compass, you’ll never stray off course for long.