Looking to the Future
What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?
Every setback and every negative encounter can be seen as an opportunity to let the waves of life wash you out to sea or the genesis of a great story of overcoming. We make that choice, it is not made for us.
To the future me: You have spent your entire life chasing things. That has gotten you wealth, power, and prestige. But it hasn’t gotten you peace, purpose, or meaning. Thank goodness, at 45, you stopped chasing things and started prioritizing relationships. Now, you rest in the love of many.
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
I believe most people spend too much time fixating on the past or the future while the present goes unattended. Then, at some future time, this present moment is what we fixate on as a lost opportunity.
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
Our greatest fear should not be failure, but succeeding at things that don’t matter – D L Moody. The hardest goal to achieve in life was to stop thinking so much about myself and more about others.
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.
What about skill and aptitude?
Disregarding skill and aptitude it would be: musician, author, or artist. (It is insane how gifted people are in expressing themselves)
But since I have neither the skills or aptitude, I’ll go with Residential Architect (first love), World Travel podcaster, or Wilderness Tour Guide (personal passion)
What could you do more of? The key to life and contentment is to realize that life has never been about me. It has always been about the people who traverse my life. I need to focus more on them; not to direct them or fix them, but to listen to their stories. To let them know that there is someone in this univese that cares.