Looking for a short 3-minute speech that could change anyone’s life? You’re at the right place! I have time skipped it to the best part. Enjoy.
Imagine it’s 50 years from now. You are near the end of your career.
Imagine you are on your couch. Just finished watching the news. It’s 2067.
You turn off the channel and start reflecting on your life.
You start to think about the successes you had – career successes, family successes, the great memories that you had.
But then you start to think about the things you wished you did a little bit different.
Your regrets.
You wish you spent more time with your children.
You wish you spent more time telling your spouse how much you love them more frequently.
You wish you spent more time telling your parents how much you appreciate them before they passed away.
And just while that is happening, a genie appears.
And the genie says “I’ve been listening in on your regrets, you seem like a good person. I am willing to give you a second chance if you are open to it.”
And so you say “Sure…”
And the genie snaps its fingers and you blink your eyes.
When you open your eyes, you find yourself right there where you are right now – 12 Sept 2017, reading this post.
And you say “Oh my god, I’m in my 20 something fit, pain-free body again!”
“I am around my friends again, my parents, my girlfriend/boyfriend.”
“This genie was serious – I do have a second chance!”
“I can have all the successes, the adventures I had the first time around. But now I can optimize things.”
“I have my parents. I can finally spend more time with them and tell them how much I appreciate them.”
“I have my other half and when I hug them, I can hug them little harder.”
“When I laugh, I can laugh louder.”
“I can sing more, I can dance more, I can laugh more.”
“I can be a greater source of positivity and empowerment for those around me.”
I often do exercises like these a lot to make me appreciate what I have going for me – my youth and my loved ones around me.
After that thought experiment, how do you plan to live your life starting today? 🙂
Ben, this is a great exercise! I love the idea of using the thought of the future to optimize the way you think about the present.
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
I also do the what would my 40 year old tell me (the 20 year older version).
I did it and I was quite surprised at the result.
You can ask yourself on career advice, love relationships and health
Love it. Keep up the good work!