Step Two: Establish a Personal Family Plan

Deciding where you are going and how to get there.

This second step in becoming an intentional family is to create a personal family plan. One thing we love about the Intentional Family process is that it does not create “cookie-cutter families.” The Intentional Family process is designed to help families achieve the life unique to their identity and values. The Intentional Family process provides families the freedom to determine their identity rather than having to conform to uncomfortable molds.

But with this great freedom come great responsibility. As an Intentional Family, you have the responsibility to explore and decide the best way to achieve your family’s goals and identity. This can seem overwhelming, and that’s why we are here to help you!

A family plan is vital in the Intentional Family process because it helps us align our goals with our values, and determines how to best achieve those goals.

You’ve already completed the first step by recognizing your family’s identity and goals. To be able to create the family plan, you will need to 1) set clear goals, 2) establish family rhythms, and 3) manage family resources that align with your family identity and values. We provide this downloadable worksheet to help you work through these steps!

Setting Family Goals

The family plan provides clear direction for where the family is going. Setting goals allow families to move their dreams into reality. Intentional Families create clear, measurable goals with their family values and identity in mind. They create a purposeful life that helps them achieve those goals. Intentional Families ask questions like:

How do we become a (unique identity) family? What steps should we take?
Where do we want to be in 5 years? In 10 years? In 20 years?
What are we currently doing to get there?
What are we currently doing that will keep us from getting there?

Establishing Family Rhythms

Once you have set clear goals set, then as an Intentional Family, you get to establish a family rhythm. Family rhythms are the way we do family life. Family rhythms are defined through our family roles, routines, rules, rituals, and recreational activities.

To establish an Intentional Family rhythm, you can ask questions like:

Roles: Who does what in our family? What should we each be doing in our family?
Rules: How do we do things in our family? Given our goals and values, what should we do? What should we not do?
Routines: When do we do certain activities and tasks in our family?
Rituals: How do we connect and celebrate with each other?
Recreational Activities: How do we rest and enjoy one another?

There are many good, even great, family rhythms. But not all family rhythms will help you achieve your family values and goals. The goal of family rhythms to choose family expressions that showcase your family values and help move your family goals forward.

Managing Family Resources

Intentional Families create family rhythms because they want to achieve their goals, but also because they recognize that their resources – time, money, and relationships – are limited.

Intentional Families become adept at setting clear, consistent boundaries with their time, money, and relationships in pursuit of their family identity and goals.

So Intentional Families manage their valuable resources wisely. They know who they are and where they are going, and this helps them say “no” to opportunities, even good ones, that don’t fit with their family values and goals. Intentional Families determine to use their “yes” for the best opportunities and experiences.

Once you have set your family goals, identified a rhythm and plan for managing family resources, you are ready to put your Intentional Family plan into action through Step Three!