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October 15, 2019
In a recent newsletter, I copped to half-assing through marriage therapy. But then, something changed and I started whole-assing it, instead. All because of this little exercise below.
Many readers asked for the exercise, so here you go. With a deep bow of thanks to Ryder Carroll.
The Set-Up: Are you happy with your life? Are you getting the results you want, investing the time and effort in the things that bring you deep meaning? Carroll writes:
You need to take the time to articulate your vision for what it means to live a meaningful life based on your felt experience.
The Exercise: Write two obituaries for yourself. Take 15 minutes to write each obit. Dig deep. Be specific.
Obituary #1: The well worn path, the path you’re currently really comfortable with. In obit #1, write about your life choosing comfort over risk.
Obituary #2: The path less traveled, the path that scares you, the path that requires you to shake things up, make some changes. In obit #2, write about your life choosing risk over comfort where you pursue the things that interest you and actively work to improve yourself.
Reflection: Read through your obituaries. What realizations, emotions, questions, insights, etc. emerge as you read through these narratives? What surprised, saddened, scared, or excited you?
Act: Choose the life you like best, ID and circle the accomplishments you’re most proud of. If you’re a Bullet Journal adherent, migrate these items into a Goals Collection.
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Rebecca Ryan, APF, FRSA
Rebecca is a human spark plug. Her enthusiasm to create bold, inspiring futures is contagious. She's an economist and top-50 professional futurist. She's been named "Communicator of the Year" by Women in Communication, "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and has served as Resident Futurist at the Alliance for Innovation, the Association of Government Risk Pools, the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin. She's a keynote speaker, author and consultant with distinctions from the Association of Professional Futurists and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Rebecca's collaborative, creative approach to shaping the future has been trusted by leaders from over 200 communities, touching one in five Americans. Contact Lisa Loniello for Rebecca's keynote fee and availability.
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