What if you only had six months to live, and in that scenario you were well enough to LIVE fully every single 24-hour day of it. Let's say that instead of a debilitating illness, you were simply given the foresight that your time here on earth would instantly cease exactly six months from today...
What would you do?
Perhaps that seems like a morbid question, or a negative thought to ponder. Maybe it is. But let's be honest - we are all on borrowed time, and no one knows exactly how much time that may be. Let's think it through for a minute, though...
I suppose the easy way out would be to just STOP - relax - quit pushing yourself so hard. I mean, why pay the bills or get in amazing shape or do anything at all really? You could just drop everything and ENJOY LIFE. Right?
The fact is though, you could live another 6 years or 60 years, so you don't really have the option to QUIT and do nothing. We all have to live every day like it's the very last, and like we need to make it last, at the same time.
This question came to mind while I was considering my priorities.
On that note, there's a big difference between Goals and Priorities.
We all know what our goals are, or have a general idea at least. Goals are basically just a wish list - things we want or hope to achieve. Priorities is where we actually spend our time, they are the things that are most important to us.
If you want to know if your Goals are even a priority to you at all, keep a Time Log for the next week and see if any of your Goals show up in the list of things you do every day or every week. For most people, they don't.
There's a solution to that, of course: Make your Goals a Priority.
I'm heavily focused on my own priorities lately... I've been feeling anxious and overwhelmed, and I'm tired of feeling anxious and overwhelmed. There are reasons I'm feeling that way of course. Just the usual "life stuff" like pianos that fall from the sky out of nowhere right on your head or in your path, lol.
We have two options in life: continue on the current path of our lives (good or bad), or switch gears / change paths / make changes and continue in a different direction. Ideally a new and better direction. 🙂
Doing NOTHING is an option, but it STILL changes things. It's actually negligent in most cases, and will result in things going downhill.
No path stays linear, or stays the same. You're either improving or declining - even if you stick your head in the sand (or ignore your options). You're still moving in one direction or the other at all times, and at light speed sometimes it feels like.
It's amazing (or shocking) how six short months can dramatically improve - or really damage - your life, your well-being, your lifestyle and/or your financial situation.
I've never been one to sit around and do nothing.
Not for long at least. 😉
I tend to be very proactive by nature. Or maybe not by nature, but more because I don't really have any other choice, lol. When presented with "work or starve" it's basic human nature to pick "work." Or that's my thinking anyway...
While I'm working on solutions, on turning things around and making positive changes in my life, I've been reading some great pieces that I think you'll enjoy too.
Here are my Top 3 favorites from my "recent reads" I would highly recommend:
Using the 5/25 Rule to Make Decisions
Stop Spending So Much Time In Your Head
How to Overcome Procrastination and Find Your Focus
What BIG difference or BIG changes can you make in 6 months?
I'm presenting that question to you because it's one I'm working on myself.
I know what my goals are, so the "work" is in prioritizing those goals into a short-term plan: an Action Plan for the next six months. I think that's smart. It's achievable - as long as I don't get overly ambitious about it, which I often tend to do -lol.
If you're ready for a turnaround too, here are some of the questions / thoughts I'm using in my own brainstorming & planning...
What's working?
(Do more of that! How can I scale it?)
What's NOT working - and WHY?
(Can I quit it? If not, can I outsource it?)
What are my problem areas?
What is the easiest solution to those problems?
Can I turn one of these problems into a solution? (Usually!)
What stresses or worries or distracts me most?
(Solutions: How can I fix or eliminate those things?)
What do I most want to achieve before I leave this planet?
What needs to happen in order to accomplish that?
Everything is fine here. (I repeat those words several times a day.) Refer back to Link #2 above. 🙂 It pays to stop your runaway mind in it's tracks, reel yourself back into the present moment, and continue forward toward improvements and solutions.
That's exactly what I'm doing right now. I'm going to get back to it, in fact. I just wanted to stop for a moment and sit down and share this with you. My hope is that it proves as helpful to you as it has for me over the last few weeks.
If your life and business is all rainbows and fairy dust right now, bookmark this for later. "This too shall pass" works both ways. It's the poor man's greatest hope, and the rich man's greatest fear. 😉 Such is life with it's twists and turns and phases.
I wish you rainbows.:)
Hmm. If this came across negative or worrisome, my apologies. Everything TRULY is fine. I hesitate to hit the Publish button, but the thought nags me in the back of my mind that someone somewhere (you?) needs to read this today...
Best,
p.s. Create a 6 month plan today. You deserve to live the best life you can! 🙂
About Lynn Terry
Hi Lynn,
This is not really negative or worrisome. It's very good advice.
By the way, I love your remark about the piano. Makes me remember a game I used to play on my Commodore 64. It was called Asylum. In that game, you meet a guy with a board around his neck that says "Look Up". If you do a piano falls on your head and you're dead. A picture of an insane looking "Einstein" appears and tells you; "If you think a piano cannot fall on your head, this is my game, I created it, and in my game, I can do what I like".
LOL Frans! I have no idea where that "pianos falling" saying came from, but it's one I've used often over the years. 🙂 I love the reference!!
Good stuff here, Lynn, and I'm SO happy to hear Everything Is Fine there, too! 🙂 Do you ever have those days when one word/idea keeps popping up again and again? That word for me today is "priorities," and this post is the #4 occurrence. Interestingly, it started out by learning that, until the 1900s, the plural form of the word didn't even exist. Something to think about, eh? h/t to this post as recommended in Tim Ferriss' 5-Bullet Friday email... medium.com/the-minimalist/i-just-want-to-do-one-big-thing-cc6898f2d9f0#.lghak5myt
I love fun facts! Thank you, Debi - and thank you for including the link. 🙂 Off to check that out for my morning read... *cheers*
Hi Lynn! I've been a lurker here before. But I just wanted to stop in and say I love this post. There's a history of sudden heart attacks and strokes in my family in young people (scary!). Many have survived but it's definitely made me more aware of what a gift life is.
It's also helped me focus on scaling my business. If I have a sudden health crisis later down the road, I want a business that can continue running until I'm well enough to get at the helm again. It would also comfort me to know my family was still being taken care of, so that's why I go after it so hard day after day.
I hope all is well in your corner of the world! Sending HUGS and a big glass of Southern sweet tea,
Avery
That IS scary, but instead of living in fear you are using that knowledge to improve your life and implement positive focus on everything you do. I love that. 🙂 Kudos!
Scaling your business is so important, and something I'm working more on myself. Not just scaling, but really reorganizing / simplifying / making things run smoother. All such important things when you need to switch down to maintenance mode or recruit help.
Things are well here, and getting better by the day. 🙂 Thank you!! *cheers*
Totally on board with this, Lynn. As you know, my wife and I will soon be moving to Thailand. Some of what you spoke of are the same questions we've asked ourselves and are the same motivating factors.
When we get there, we'll then set out to create the life we want to live while we're living there. The slate will be clean and ready for us to fill up with the kind of life stuff we want to experience.
After all, as you have observed, we're all on borrowed time. So we're trying to embrace life!
Cheers!
Scott
That's awesome, Scott! 🙂 I love the idea of starting over and intentionally creating the life you want, in the exact way you want it, with hand-picked elements and experiences.:)
I've been following along since the decision was made and announced, and look forward to following the journey!
As I've been going through some big changes this past year, I've considered selling my home and making a huge lifestyle change myself. I'm still considering all of my options, and exploring the unlimited angles and ideas. 🙂
Yep, needed to read it today. Thanks 🙂 I wish you rainbows too Lynn xx
Rainbows around.:) Thank you for taking the time to say so. I really hesitated to share this post (these thoughts) as it *felt* like a negative angle... so I'm glad to hear it was well received!
I'm putting all of my energy into positive solutions & changes. It's the only way to turn things around. 😉 Have a great weekend & week ahead! *cheers*
Hi Lynn, we've been online friends for years, and as someone who has witnessed a lot of your ups and downs, I have no doubt you will be fine. I too am going though a very challenging situation- we had a horrible thing go down in our family a week ago. But like you, I am very goal focused, proactive, positive, and smart. I know I will get through this and be ok. My self care is always a top priority. To that end I am starting therapy today. Really looking forward to healing. Sending you a big hug xx
Thank you, Lisa. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through a challenging time right now (too). You're a STRONG person. I admire that in you. I know it's not always easy. 😉 *hugs* back!
Very timely, for me, that you wrote this post. I've been doing some goal setting this month, and #2 is something I've been particularly interested in. Outsourcing is coming to mind for some things, as it feels like I'm spending too much time doing housekeeping tasks rather than money tasks.
I'm happy that you're 'fine' - actually have been worried about you for a few months.
Is that because I've been quiet? 🙂 I have been super busy & active on my carb site & pages. I'm doing well though - thank you!
Outsourcing is a GREAT thing. The key is to outsource the RIGHT things so that it frees you up to focus on the things you ENJOY, or the things you're best at - where you can contribute most, and enjoy it most.
Hi Lynn,
You have motivated me as well and I feel sure that you won't mind if I email this link to my
less tham motivated 38 year old daughter who seems to be resisting any changes to her life at present. Getting outside of ones comfort zone is never easy.
Perhaps this is the message that will do the trick.
Hi Bill! Our children are the hardest audience for us to inspire, educate, motivate, etc. They tend to figure it out on their own, or by our setting a great example for them. But no, I don't mind at all! 🙂
Hi Lynn, thanks for sharing this post, I'll admit laughing in places :).
A friend and client had a fall last year. Now, a year later, she's gone. The only time her website was mentioned was in the first week when she asked me to email her subscribers to tell them the party was still on.
None of us know when, we just know it will. I think it's safe to say that if it takes longer than 6 months to do online, is it really worth doing? Things like build a house; physical world things can and do take longer. But online? That's where I see your goals and action plans making the biggest impact.
Thanks for sharing this <3
Hi Sarah 🙂 I'm glad you got a laugh and enjoyed the post!
How sad about your friend, wow. *sigh*
I like your point about anything being worth doing if you can't do it in 6 months... good one!