That “What’s Next?” Moment
We’ve all had that moment—standing in the middle of a major life change, looking around, and wondering,
“Now what?”
Maybe you’ve just become an empty nester. Maybe your career took a sudden turn. Or maybe you’ve stepped into a new season that’s exciting… and a little unsettling.
Whatever the transition, one thing is certain: you’re not the same as you were before. And without a clear plan for what’s next, it’s easy to drift, react, and lose sight of the bigger picture.
That’s where a Life Plan changes everything.
It’s not some rigid, color-coded spreadsheet (unless you’re into that—no judgment). It’s your personal roadmap for where you’re going, with the grace to make changes when life takes a turn.
If you’re an Enneagram Nine like me, that clarity keeps you from quietly drifting into “go-with-the-flow” land for months on end. A Type Three might need it to avoid chasing every shiny new opportunity without checking if it aligns. A Type Six might need it to feel secure and confident they’re heading in the right direction. Whatever your type, a Life Plan helps anchor your decisions so you can move forward with purpose.
By the end of this post, you’ll have the first steps to create your plan —and a way to go deeper with me, either in a weekend retreat or in my upcoming six-week cohort version for those who want to take their time.
Step 1: Know Your Roles
Your roles are the different parts you play in the world.
They’re not just job titles. They’re how you show up in life.
One of my roles is being a coach. It’s not just something I do—it’s part of who I am. I want people to become all they can be. That desire flows into how I listen, encourage, and even interact with friends and family.
Knowing your roles matters.
It helps you see your life as more than one box. If you only define yourself by a single role—like your job or your role at home—you can feel lost when that role changes.
When you understand the full picture of who you are, you can adapt with confidence.
If you’re a multipassionate person like me, you wear many hats. I’m not just a speech-language pathologist. I’m also an entrepreneur, wife, mom, sister, and co-worker.
Each role matters. But each will evolve over time.
Along with knowing your roles, it’s important to recognize your activities—the ways you carry out those roles in meaningful ways. Activities are how you use your skills, knowledge, relationships, and resources to fulfill each role. For me, that looks like coaching, speaking, creating tools that make planning easier, hosting cohorts, and connecting with people one-on-one. These activities are what bring my roles to life.
When my boys left for college, I had a strange realization: no one was around to do the dishes. The kids’ chores had been split between my husband and me. Suddenly the sink didn’t clean itself.
The house was quiet—too quiet. I missed their humor and energy. I had to be intentional about adding laughter and fun back into my days.
That shift in my “mom” role changed how I saw my time and priorities. It also changed how I approached my other roles—and sometimes, even the activities I used to fulfill them.
Action step: List your current roles and the main activities you use (or want to use) to fulfill them. Then imagine how each role and activity might evolve in the next year, five years, or ten years. Seeing them clearly now will help you adjust with purpose when change comes.
Step 2: Know What You Stand For
Your mission and values aren’t just for businesses.
They’re for you.
They guide how you make decisions, spend your time, and respond when life changes. Without them, it’s easy to get pulled in too many directions or say yes to things that drain you.
For years, I thought “mission statements” were just something companies stuck on posters in break rooms. But when I began coaching, my mentor encouraged me to create my own.
I remember early in Terrie Power Coaching, I was asked to help develop a new volunteer program. I could have done it. I was capable. But I was also working full-time, starting my business, and my youngest was in his last years of high school. When I looked at my values—faith, family, and meaningful work—I knew my family came first in that season. Saying no wasn’t easy, but it was right.
Your Enneagram type can shape how you use your mission and values:
- A Type One might use them to stay aligned without falling into perfectionism.
- A Type Two might use them to set boundaries so they don’t over-give.
- A Type Seven might use them to stay focused and not chase every new idea.
Whatever your type, your mission and values are your filter. They help you choose what matters most instead of reacting to whatever’s in front of you.
Action step: Write down your top five personal values and your desired impact. Then craft a short mission statement for your life that connects them. A helpful suggestion from Full Focus is to use this template:
I am a(n) [ROLE(S)]. I exist to [IMPACT(S)]. I do this by [ACTIVITIES].
This simple formula helps you combine who you are, the difference you want to make, and the way you’ll make it happen—so you can keep living it out with intention.
Step 3: Define Your Future in a Balanced Way
Once you know who you are and what you stand for, it’s time to decide where you’re going.
I recommend looking at your life through nine key domains—and in Terrie Power Coaching, we add a bonus tenth: Body, Mind, Spirit, Love, Family, Community, Money, Work, Hobbies, and TPC Bonus Domain: Physical Environment.
When you plan in all these areas, you avoid building a life that looks “successful” in one place but is running on empty in another.
For each domain, write a vision statement or a goal that describes what you want it to look and feel like in the future. You can have more than one per area, or you may decide not to focus on an area.
This is your chance to dream without holding back—write down the big ideas, even if they feel far away right now.
The Full Focus LifePlan Kit makes this process so much easier. It walks you through each domain with prompts so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering, “What on earth do I put here?” With the cards provided, it even takes out the overwhelm and gamifies the process.
Action step: Choose your time frame—5, 10, or even 25 years. Create a vision or larger goals for each domain. You can have more than one per area. Think big, think bold, and make it personal.
For example, one of my core values is joy. For me, joy is something God gives, not just something I find. Even on hard days, I choose to look for goodness. Like Romans 15:13 says, I trust that He fills me with joy when I trust in Him. Your values might come from your faith, life experiences, or personal beliefs—what matters is that they are true to you.
Step 4: Review Your Plan Regularly and Adjust
Life will surprise you.
Some changes—like losing a job—are hard.
Others—like having a baby—bring joy.
Either way, those moments can shift what you want for the future.
For years, I had a goal to earn my PhD. It’s still not completely off the table, but over time, I realized I wanted to spend more energy building my business and being present with my family. That’s the beauty of reviewing your plan—you get to adjust when your priorities shift.
Action step: Review your plan every three months. Ask yourself: Does this still matter to me? Am I heading where I want to go?
Step 5: Make Your Plan Visual—and Fun
A Life Plan shouldn’t hide in a drawer. It should be alive—something you see often and smile about.
I keep two vision boards: one for my future plans and one for my values. I use pictures and words to remind me where I’m headed and why. It’s surprisingly powerful—when you can see your goals, you feel more connected to them.
This doesn’t have to be complicated:
- Cut out pictures from magazines
- Create a Pinterest board
- Use sticky notes and a wall
- Doodle in a “future journal”
Action step: Pick a visual format you enjoy. Keep it where you’ll see it daily. Let it remind you that your life is a work in progress—and that’s a beautiful thing.
The Power of a Life Plan
When you know your roles, clarify your values, define your future, review your plan, and make it visual, you create something powerful: a framework that keeps you moving toward the life you want—while leaving space for joy, growth, and God’s unexpected blessings.
Friend, I see you. You want to live with confidence, peace, and purpose—and you can. Take the time to dream. Write it down. Pray over it. Then start walking toward it, one step at a time.
One of my favorite tools for creating my own plan—and the one I recommend to my clients—is the Full Focus LifePlan Kit. It’s a guided process with prompts, exercises, and a framework to help you think through every area of your life.
If you want to grab it, here’s my affiliate link: Full Focus LifePlan Kit. (If you use my link, it supports my work at no extra cost to you.)
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