By Jackie Wicks, PEERtrainer Co-Founder
Last night I was talking to someone about some of the stuff I had been reading recently in "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." I had read this book before many years ago, and for some reason decided to pick it back up. (I'm very glad I did, and the reason for this post is to share something from that with you.)
I was really excited about a particular exercise that helps you figure out what you really want in life. It had a deep impact on me personally and I wanted to share this great insight.
This person mentioned that she had tried the book years ago but she just couldn't get into it.
But curiosity got the best of her. "Ok, tell me, tell me, I want to do the exercise you are talking about."
So I said here is the exercise, "You've just arrived at a close friend's funeral. You look around and you see a lot of your friend's family, mutual friends you've known over the years. Maybe you see some people from their job.
And some people they've played bridge with, or maybe tennis. You're filled with an emotional charge in the room and you move towards the casket. You look down and you see your own face."
The author asks you, "Now think deeply. What would like each of these speakers to say about you and your life? What kind of husband, wife, father or mother would you like their words to reflect? What kind of daughter? What kind of friend? What kind of working associate?
What character would you like them to have seen in you? Look carefully around you. What difference would you like to have made in their lives? As you answer some of these questions, you see what personally drives you and how you want to live.
Then I said, "Isn't this just wild? It's so powerful".
She responded by saying "That's nice. It's just really not for me."
I was shocked. I thought, how could this not be for you? This was one of the fastest ways I've seen to get to the core of who you are without having to actually go through a life-changing event.
Then I realized, oh. This must be too heavy. To actually contemplate your death.
But her answer was totally unexpected.
She said, "It's too late for me. There's no point in doing this. Maybe 20 years ago. But it's too late."
I was stunned at this answer, and I just felt the tears coming out of my eyes.
I thought, how could she think this way? How can I help her change her perspective? I see people change their lives every day at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, even 80.
Every single day.
Every day, I see someone get out of pain. I see someone change the entire course of their lives. I see 45 year olds with better bodies than they had before they were pregnant. Forget before they were pregnant, better than they had just out of college.
I see 50 year olds run marathons after only starting to run at 48. I literally can feel the excitement jump off the page when someone has lost 10 pounds after trying for 4 years.
So my question to you is this: do you feel like it's too late?
Have you lost all of your drive, really your hope of getting what you want because it's just too late?
I need you to do something today. You have the entire day to do it.
I want you to think of someone, a family member, someone you work with, someone you know who completely defies the notion that it's too late.
If you can't think of anyone, look around when you're on your errands today. It could even be on the grocery line.
You will find someone. I guarantee it.
And it will be the first seed to plant the thought and the belief that it's not too late to get what you want.
-Jackie
PS: Please share your thoughts with us on this PEERtrainer Community Thread:
http://www.peertrainer.com/LoungeCommunityThread.aspx?ForumID=1&ThreadID=171072
