Impact generations
Analyze the seasons
of your life.
of your life.
Purpose
Inspire others to reflect and write about their unique journey, impacting family, friends, and future generations.
Suggestions for use
- Create a personal Seasons Journal by working through the interview questions. Most impactful for those in the third or fourth quarters of their life.
- Interview a parent or grandparent to create their Seasons Journal as a keepsake for your family.
- Send the link to a loved one for them to create their Journal.
- Create transparency within a small group as an 8 to 12 week study. Each week, the participants work through a question or two and share responses with the group. At the end of the sessions, every participant will have their own unique Seasons Journal.
Step 1
Develop your seasons
Consider 5 to 7 breaking points in your life
Step 2
Think through each season
Deep reflection on the details of your journey
Step 3
Discover your threads
The characteristics that make you who you are
Step 4
Leave a legacy
A treasure for your family and future generations
Welcome back
Welcome back
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Purpose
Before you begin
Inspire others to reflect and write about their unique journey, impacting family, friends, and future generations.
"It happened at 5:00 am on a random morning. My dad's life suddenly ended and with it a lost opportunity to record his life for future generations. I never took the time to interview him or record his life story. I vowed that my kids would have my story." — Mike Harvey
I originally wrote The Anchor for my kids. I want to inspire them, have them learn from my mistakes, give them life lessons, and, ultimately, give them the gift of their dad's story.
Years later, I decided to inspire others to do the same. I know few will embark in writing a book, but my hope is that the format of thinking through your life in seasons will give you an outline, at a minimum, to record your thoughts in a journal to inspire others.
Many parts of your story may be too painful to write. I found that out as I wrote about my journey. Additionally, some may never feel comfortable sharing parts of their story with their kids, much less generations. I understand that as well. Whatever you choose to include, I do hope that you give the gift of your journey to your family and others.
You have a story to tell. And others, most importantly your family, will benefit immensely.
Your privacy: All answers are saved only to this browser on this device. Your responses are never sent to a server or seen by anyone else — including us. If you are using a shared or public computer, click "Start fresh" when you are done to clear your data from this device.
Thought starter 1 of 4 — Impactful events
Name the 5+ most impactful events that happened in your life.
Write down the impact that each had on your life. Write down your age when each happened. This is the most critical piece of your story. Reflect and take your time. Remember, this journal will be a gift to others.
Thought starters: family moved cross country · college · day you met your spouse · child's birth · family sickness · 9/11 · first job · a moment of faith
This is the most critical piece of your story. Take your time.
Thought starter 2 of 4 — Influential people
Who were the 5+ people that had the biggest impact on your life?
Describe why they had such an impact. Oftentimes, people coincide with seasonal changes. They help you see the world differently. Consider writing them a hand-written letter. The note would mean the world to them.
Think about people who shifted your worldview, your faith, your career, your marriage. Who helped you see things differently?
Thought starter 3 of 4 — Biggest decisions
What were the 5+ biggest decisions you made in your life?
How did these choices change the course of your life? These may end up being great breaking points for each season.
Thought starters: college choice · decision to marry your spouse · decision to follow Jesus · a career change · moving to a new city
Thought starter 4 of 4 — Places & work
Where have you lived and worked?
Name the cities where you lived. What was your house like? What was the culture like? Write down and describe every occupation you had. What did you learn at each job? How did your boss and coworkers influence you?
Place and work shape us more than we realize. The culture you absorbed, the people you worked beside — these become threads in your tapestry.
Stop and reflect
Your seasons should begin
to come into view.
to come into view.
Reflect on everything you have written. I recommend 5 to 7 seasons. Now, use this page to sketch out your seasons.
When you think about different seasons in your life, think about mindset shifts, in addition to concrete life changes. For example, when I recognized the grace of God, I entered a different season. I viewed the world and people differently. On the flip side, one of my defined seasons changed when I entered college. Any seasonal break works. It is, after all, your story. — Mike Harvey
Each of the thought starters above is designed to help you detail your seasons. Your seasons will more than likely be a combination of your answers.
Develop your seasons
The seasonal outline of your life
Consider 5 to 7 breaking points in your life, naming each season. Name the season, detail the time period, give a broad season description, and write down personal characteristics. Include the breaking point — what ended one season and began the next.
Example — Mike Harvey
Season 1 — The Foundation
birth–15
Early years, learning to do life.
Characteristics: innocence, simple, carefree
Breaking point: loss of innocence, first drink of alcohol
Season 2 — Deaf Ear, Blind Eye
college to start of career
New life, new friends, world travel.
Characteristics: fun, living for the moment, doubt, fear, anxiousness
Breaking point: change of job, moved cities
Season 3 — Grace
mid-point in life
Career change, marriage, kids.
Characteristics: love, joy, peace, excitement, hope, praise
Breaking point: felt God moving me to do work in Colombia full time
Season 4 — Wilderness
mid-point in life
Ministry, job change.
Characteristics: excitement, doubt, fear, hope, mourning
Breaking point: acceptance of job to move to a new city
Season 5 — Renewal
mid-point in life
New song, new beginnings.
Characteristics: excitement, hope, praise
Breaking point: still writing this season
Season 1 of 5
Season 1
Final step — reflection
My personal reflection on my journey
You have walked through every season. Now step back and see your full journey. Don't waste the journey by floating through life without reflection. God sent you down your individual road for a reason. Find out what that is.
Your reflection
Reflecting on your entire journey, write your personal reflection. What is the overarching story of your life?
Your threads
What threads — characteristics and traits — run through the entirety of your life? Name them. Remember, threads can be positive and negative. The key is controlling the weave.
Lessons from your journey
What are the lessons from your journey that you want to leave for your family and future generations? These lessons could quite possibly be the greatest treasure you leave your kids.
Impact generations
Your Seasons Journal
Congratulations. You have just created a treasure for your family and future generations, one that few people have as a record for their loved ones. I hope you learned a little more about yourself along the way. My encouragement to you is to pass this on to others. We each can positively influence others by giving the gift of our story. We each have a story to tell.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! — Psalm 107:2
Impact Others · Live Generously
My Seasons Journal
Analyze the seasons of your life. Impact generations.
Brainstorming
Impactful events
Influential people
Biggest decisions
Places lived
Work & occupations
Reflection & Lessons
My reflection
My threads
Lessons for my family
impactothers.blog
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! — Psalm 107:2