Last week, I wrote that it’s important to develop a life plan after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. In order to create a plan, you need to set goals and create a budget, but it’s hard to do either of those unless you have a feel for what you want to do or achieve.

This is one of life's most difficult questions: What do you want to do with the rest of your life?

Didn't you hate hearing that question from your parents or teachers when you were young? Talk about pressure! How the heck were you supposed to know what you wanted to do with your life—you didn't even know what you were going to do the next weekend?

For some people, a cancer diagnosis suddenly makes the answer crystal clear. Others may find this important question intimidating. However, all you are doing here is trying to get a feel for what is really important to you.

Start by planning some quiet time. For instance, block out several hours every other day to think and do some soul searching.

No excuses! There is nothing more important than taking this seriously. After all—it's only the rest of your life you are planning!

Concentrate on identifying the things in your life that are most important to you: Family and friends. Your place of worship or community. Your profession or an organization with which you are involved.

How do you feel about where you live? Would it be exciting or energizing to relocate? How about living downtown in a nearby city—or closer to the ocean or mountains? Or moving closer to those you love?

What motivates you? Given a choice, how would you most like to spend your time? Traveling and doing something fun? Great! Would you like to go back to school? University towns can be magical places. But what do you want to do once you achieve those things?

Multiple myeloma patients need to find our purpose—our reason for living. After all, time may be short. It certainly is precious.

Maybe you can't afford to do everything you would like. That's OK—we are dreaming—thinking outside of the box here.

Take a notepad or small tape recorder with you to your special place. Share your thoughts freely and openly with your caregiver, family, and friends. Get their thoughts and ideas too. You may discover those close to you know you better than you know yourself.

Be patient—the ideas will come to you. It doesn't have to be only one or two things. But remember to stay focused. The challenge may become narrowing your list down to a manageable number of options.

You may just decide you want to live your life like you had before your cancer diagnosis. That's OK! One of the feelings most of us share after our diagnosis and often during treatment is: Can't things just be like they were? Can't things just get back to normal?

These are natural feelings. But don't settle for that—the status quo—unless it is really what you want: unless you were happy and content prior to your diagnosis.

If not, GO FOR IT! But don't forget that step one for developing a comprehensive life plan is identifying what “it” is!

A big part of “it” is most likely regaining control of your life—taking it back from cancer.

Maybe you are a teacher. “It” may be regaining your strength, so you can continue to teach and help kids.

Maybe you no longer have the strength to continue working as a contractor. The “it” may be starting a small, simple business helping home owners plan and complete their home improvement projects.

Are you physically unable to perform many of the household tasks you did before you became a multiple myeloma patient? Learn to use a computer. Take classes online. Keep your mind sharp and don't give up!

Finding your purpose makes it easier to get up in the morning. Working toward that purpose helps keep you going throughout the day. Achieving that purpose isn't the important part. What matters is that you get up and keep going.

Now that you have identified what you want to do, the next steps are to set goals and figure out a way to make sure you can afford to do what you want to do. Hold on—let's not get ahead of ourselves. Next week, same time, same place, we’ll take on a little course I like to call “Goal Setting 101.”

Until then, feel good, keep smiling, and grab some quiet time to start contemplating what you want to do with the rest of your life! Pat