Pray, imagine, write it down and make it happen.
These words of action were central to Connie Sokol’s Education Week workshop in the Pardoe Theatre of Harris Fine Arts Center on Monday morning. Her workshop, titled “Tidy Up Your Life Part 1: Create a Life Plan,” focused on finding oneself and not neglecting that during life’s busy moments.
Sokol, a public speaker and mother of six, began by saying she tried the workshop approach this year so the students could leave with something already accomplished. Periodically she invited the audience to write things down and then share them aloud.
Sokol shared her disappointment with some LDS women who have shared with her their feelings of putting away personal hobbies and passions to be dedicated wives and mothers. She read part of Doctrine and Covenants 58:27 which reads “…Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”
Sokol mentioned a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in which he said children of God are creative beings and should give and share what they learn and become. Sokol then had the students write down the answers to questions that would help them realize what they want personally in life. The questions included, “If money were no object, what would I have/do/be in my life to be happy?” and “What would my relationships look like?” After being asked to share, the first question prompted answers from members of the audience such as travel, photography, ballroom dancing and home decorating. Some students said they would like their relationships to be relaxed and have more trust.
Sokol pointed out some ways people’s dreams go unfulfilled ― fear, lack of time, stress, no energy and confusion were some of the concerns. She said the way to overcome these obstacles is to trust in Heavenly Father, who will show the way to overcome after an outline or rough plan is made by the person because He can refine and enhance plans.
“He refines and illuminates what we are trying to articulate but just can’t put down on paper,” Sokol said.
Part of creating the plan is to write a life paragraph, which Sokol explained as a vision of how someone wants to be personally, to have their relationships and how to improve their life skills. This includes spiritual and physical health, relationships with family and friends and organization and time management.
Sokol said setting goals is important to moving forward in life and one way to meet goals and not avoid them is to set deadlines.
“You are good people,” she said. “You will meet that deadline; you won’t weasel out of it.”
An important part of keeping a goal is to choose one thing to focus on at a time. Sokol said that is the way to develop something that can be maintained instead of flitting between goals.
Sokol warned of the two-week bomb which threatens to derail someone from keeping their goal. She said to adjust, make a plan B and pray for increased strength and ability to overcome the bomb.
Through all the goals and improvements, Sokol said it’s about experiencing the cream of life and finding something daily to enjoy.
“As long as we keep what’s most important as central in our lives, we will be fulfilled,” she said.
