Before you begin: Write out a timeline of each of the significant events in your life over the last 40 years. Start with your date of birth and work through until the present day.
Consider:
Important childhood memories, siblings, pets, starting school, holidays, friends, significant childhood events, birthdays..
Teenage years, starting secondary school, 18th birthday, first relationship, first part time job, subjects you did well in at school, learning to drive..
Leaving school, studying, 21st birthday, overseas or domestic travels, baptism, hobbies and interests, voluntary work, 30th birthday, first full time job, promotions, marriage, divorce, buying a home, having children (maybe grandchildren)..
Other exciting memories, anniversaries, awards, achieving fitness goals, meeting a hero...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: From this list, highlight the accomplishments you are most proud of.
Take the time to celebrate these and reflect back on what you are most proud of.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Now take time to think about the not so great things which have happened over the last 40 years.
Serious illness or injury, redundancy, not getting your dream job, death of somebody special to you, natural disasters, damage to your property, bullying, abuse...
Write each of these things down on a piece of paper, acknowledge that it happened to you and that it hurt you. Now burn that piece of paper and acknowledge that although it was a terrible time of life, it will not define you and although you may never forget it you are moving forward.
Also acknowledge things you may have done which you are ashamed of. Forgive yourself and move on.
ACCEPTANCE: Now take time to reflect on the things you dreamed about doing when you were younger but have not yet achieved. Maybe you wanted to be an actor, a famous sportsperson or to have a particular line of work which has never eventuated. Maybe you wanted children and you can't unless you go down the road of assisted conception. Really tough. Maybe you wanted to be married but you haven't found the right person or maybe you wanted to complete a degree but being full time at home with small children is making it really hard. Think about whether you are still going to pursue your dream and will you do it now or in the future? If so, what are the first three steps you are going to take towards it? Seek help from appropriate agencies. Go out and meet new people. Put a plan in place for small steps towards achievement.
If you realise that you have outgrown your dream and that although you still want it you accept that it is not going to happen, let it go. Was your dream about fulfilling your own ambitions or about impressing others? Be honest about this with yourself.
APPRECIATION: Appreciate the small things. Think about how you would like to spend your last day on earth. I'm sure it wouldn't be shoe shopping (maybe it would be for you and if so then that's okay!)
Also take time to appreciate the things which you have now that you may not have in 10 years time. If you are lucky enough to still have your parents around, spend time with them. Appreciate getting your period (yes,really!!) because when it stops so do your fertile years. Appreciate your forty year old body and face. Appreciate your children, the empty nest will come soon enough. Appreciate your partner and employment, nothing is guaranteed in this life. Appreciate your life!
ADVANCEMENT: Now that you are approximately half way through your life, what do you want to do with the other half?
Often living a life of success in the first half of life moves aside for living a life of significance in the second half.
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want people to remember you? What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?
Let's appreciate the first half of our lives and let's make the second half of life really count for something.
Consider:
Important childhood memories, siblings, pets, starting school, holidays, friends, significant childhood events, birthdays..
Teenage years, starting secondary school, 18th birthday, first relationship, first part time job, subjects you did well in at school, learning to drive..
Leaving school, studying, 21st birthday, overseas or domestic travels, baptism, hobbies and interests, voluntary work, 30th birthday, first full time job, promotions, marriage, divorce, buying a home, having children (maybe grandchildren)..
Other exciting memories, anniversaries, awards, achieving fitness goals, meeting a hero...
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: From this list, highlight the accomplishments you are most proud of.
Take the time to celebrate these and reflect back on what you are most proud of.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Now take time to think about the not so great things which have happened over the last 40 years.
Serious illness or injury, redundancy, not getting your dream job, death of somebody special to you, natural disasters, damage to your property, bullying, abuse...
Write each of these things down on a piece of paper, acknowledge that it happened to you and that it hurt you. Now burn that piece of paper and acknowledge that although it was a terrible time of life, it will not define you and although you may never forget it you are moving forward.
Also acknowledge things you may have done which you are ashamed of. Forgive yourself and move on.
ACCEPTANCE: Now take time to reflect on the things you dreamed about doing when you were younger but have not yet achieved. Maybe you wanted to be an actor, a famous sportsperson or to have a particular line of work which has never eventuated. Maybe you wanted children and you can't unless you go down the road of assisted conception. Really tough. Maybe you wanted to be married but you haven't found the right person or maybe you wanted to complete a degree but being full time at home with small children is making it really hard. Think about whether you are still going to pursue your dream and will you do it now or in the future? If so, what are the first three steps you are going to take towards it? Seek help from appropriate agencies. Go out and meet new people. Put a plan in place for small steps towards achievement.
If you realise that you have outgrown your dream and that although you still want it you accept that it is not going to happen, let it go. Was your dream about fulfilling your own ambitions or about impressing others? Be honest about this with yourself.
APPRECIATION: Appreciate the small things. Think about how you would like to spend your last day on earth. I'm sure it wouldn't be shoe shopping (maybe it would be for you and if so then that's okay!)
Also take time to appreciate the things which you have now that you may not have in 10 years time. If you are lucky enough to still have your parents around, spend time with them. Appreciate getting your period (yes,really!!) because when it stops so do your fertile years. Appreciate your forty year old body and face. Appreciate your children, the empty nest will come soon enough. Appreciate your partner and employment, nothing is guaranteed in this life. Appreciate your life!
ADVANCEMENT: Now that you are approximately half way through your life, what do you want to do with the other half?
Often living a life of success in the first half of life moves aside for living a life of significance in the second half.
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want people to remember you? What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?
Let's appreciate the first half of our lives and let's make the second half of life really count for something.