The lesson: Learn from their mistakes. Don’t wait for “some day” to do what counts.
Get out a piece of paper, your journal, or open a new document on your computer. Ask yourself: What have you always wanted to do, but never have? What are you waiting for “some day” to get around to?
Some other questions to ask yourself:
- What are the places you want to visit that you haven’t seen?
- What is a lifelong dream you’ve put on hold?
- What is a professional goal you want to reach?
- What is something you always wanted to try?
- What is something you always wanted to learn how to do?
- What is something that you’d be disappointed if you did NOT do it at some point?
- What is something you always wanted to do to give back to the world?
- Who are the people you haven’t spoken to in awhile who you’d like to reconnect with?
Got your list? Great. Now ask yourself: What’s the most important goal you want to accomplish on that list? Challenge yourself and see if you can take the first step to making it happen today. (For example, want to learn how to ballroom dance? Sign up for a class today.)
Once you accomplish that first “some day” task, start with the second most important item on your list. (And then the third, and fourth and so on…) Before you know it, you’re living a deeper, richer life.
#3. Have an honest conversation with future you.
Imagine you could have a conversation with your future self. She might be the you of next year, or five years from now, or the you of 10 years in the future.
Now, here’s a twist: Use your imagination and pretend YOU are the slightly older, slightly wiser version of yourself in this conversation. Imagine you’re from the future, and you have traveled back in time to speak to your present-day self.
As your “future self:” What would you say to present-day you? What advice would you give yourself at this age? Would you congratulate present-day you for the amazing life you’re living—and how you’re already living life to the fullest?
Or would you voice any regrets? Would you ask present-day you why you’re not doing more of something you love, or spending more time with someone you love? Or would you perhaps challenge present-day you to achieve certain goals at this age?
Be as honest as you can be. Then start making some small adjustments (if necessary) to live the full life that the you of next year, or five years from now would be proud of.
Tell us: Are you already living life to the fullest? If so, how? Or are you inspired to start? As always, we’d love to hear from you!