The life plan maximizes long-term joy by helping you generate what you should do next and why you should do it. Many of the benefits of a life plan require that your actions completely reflect what is written.
What if someone you knew well saw your life plan? How well would it match the person they know? What if someone were following you all the time comparing you to the paper? Would you want your kids to live the same contract? Would you want them to see yours?
Discipline yourself so that your actions only come from your to do list. Discipline does not describe a lack of freedom, but how you use it. You can’t be disciplined without one, and without discipline, you’ll never achieve what you would if you had it. Your purpose, goals, and tasks are a contract. You can choose what you are a disciple to, but live up to what you choose.
Ideally, every single action you ever take will come from your to do list and your curation process. This would mean that there are no random reactions, no unstructured deviations from the plan, and so on. Whenever you are doing anything, you should ask where this is on your life plan. If it isn’t there and needs to be, add it. If it isn’t there and doesn’t have a place, there is something better for you to spend your time on.
Intentionality requires being honest with yourself, not lying in the moment by excusing deviations from what it is you say you want because it is easy, convenient, or comfortable to do so. You abstain from those things that detract in any way from what it is you want, why it is you want it, and how it is you think you’ll get it.