A concise, practical handbook · 27 pages

How do you want to live?

Name: A Handbook for Building a Way of Life
Author: Rai Pardo

Organize your life around what matters to you.

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The framework

Everyone has
a way of life.

But it is often undefined, fragmented, or inherited from others. This framework helps you build one you consciously choose.

01Areas

Give every part of your life a place.

Health, family, work, and everything else draw on the same time and energy. The five Areas divide life into manageable parts, giving each part its own place. You can work with an Area as a whole or create Sub-Areas to go deeper.

The five Areas

Spirituality — your relationship with Spirit.* Spirit may be understood as God, the Universe, or another name you use.
Self — your relationship with yourself.
Environs — your relationship with Earth.
Relations — your relationship with people.
Finances — your relationship with the economy.

The two tools

02The Manual

Define your way of life, one Area at a time.

Each Area or Sub-Area has its own section in your Manual. Here you define what you are aiming for, how you want to live, and who or what you learn from. Your answers can change as you learn and grow.

Clear direction, not perfect answers.

The three elements

Aim
Your long-term vision for the Area.
What would fulfillment look like for me in this Area?
Approach
How you intend to live within the Area. It has three parts: Values, Theories, and Practices.
How do I want to live here, day to day?
Influences
The people, organizations, and traditions you draw from.
Who or what do I learn from in this Area?

03The Planner

Turn this year’s priorities into action.

Choose the Areas or Sub-Areas you want to focus on this year. The Planner is where you set Goals, define the Tasks needed to achieve them, and schedule those Tasks in Time Blocks. Adjust your plan as you go.

Meaningful progress, not a perfect plan.

The three mechanics

Goal
A specific outcome you want to achieve this year.
What do I want to accomplish this year in this Area or Sub-Area?
Tasks
The actions required to achieve a specific outcome.
What do I need to do to achieve this Goal?
Time Blocks
Dedicated periods of time for completing important actions.
When will I make time for these Tasks?

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Using the framework

Everything you need to put it to work.

Follow the examples, use the templates, and return to the references as needed. Begin with the framework as presented, then adapt it over time.

04Examples

See it done
before you do it.

Follow two worked examples from the Manual to the Planner.

Example · Relationsat the Area level
Example · Bodya Sub-Area of Self

05Templates

Start with a structure,
not a blank page.

Use the prompts and structure to build your own Manual and Planner in a notebook or note-taking app.

Template · Manualupdated over time
Template · Plannerfresh each year

06Appendix

Return whenever you need the whole picture.

See the complete structure, follow the flow to action, and look up the key terms.

Appendix · The Framework

Areas

Spirituality
Self
Environs
Relations
Finances

The Manual

Aim
Approach
- Values
- Theories
- Practices
Influences

The Planner

Goal
Tasks
Time Blocks

Appendix · The Flow

Area or Sub-Area
↓
The ManualAimlong-term vision→Approachway of living←Influencessources of learning
↓
The PlannerGoalyearly outcomeTasksrequired actionsTime Blocksscheduled time
↓
Action

Also included

Appendix · The Glossary

Framework: The structure formed by Areas, the Manual, and the Planner.
Relationship: The way you interact with and experience something.
Area: A manageable part of life based on one of the five relationships.
Sub-Area: A subdivision of an Area used to work at a more detailed level.

and eleven more

From the author

This began as a way to organize my own life. Over the years, I shaped the framework through reflection and practice. Now I pass it on to you as a structure for building your own way of life.

Rai Pardo

This handbook doesn’t tell you how to live.
It helps you decide that for yourself.