We embarked last week into stage two of our journey of effectiveness - Habit Two. Today we will go further to look at how we can develop a clear end in mind.
 In your mind's eye, visualize someone walking toward you about half a block away. At first you can't see who it is. As this person gets closer and closer, you suddenly realize, believe it or not, that it's you. But it's not you today, it's you as you would like to be one year from now.
- Now think deeply.
- What have you done with your life over the past year?
- How do you feel inside?
- What do you look like?
- What characteristics do you possess? (Remember, this is you as you would like to be one year from now.)
You can float back to reality now. If you were a good sport and actually tried this experiment, you probably got in touch with your deeper self. You got a feel for what's important to you and what you'd like to accomplish this next year. That's called beginning with the end in mind. And it doesn't even hurt.
In fact, thinking beyond today can really be quite exciting and, as this advanced level student attests, can help you take charge of your life:
I have never planned a thing in my life. I just do things as they crop up. The thought that one should have an end in mind never, ever entered my mind. It has been so exciting to learn, because I suddenly find myself thinking beyond the now. I am now not only planning my education but also thinking about how I want to raise my kids, how I want to teach my family and what kind of home life we should have. I am taking charge of me - and not blowing in the wind anymore!
Why is it so important to have an end in mind? I'll give you two good reasons.
- The first is that you are at a critical crossroads in life, and the paths you choose now can affect you forever.
- The second is that if you don't decide your own future, someone else will do it for you.
The crossroads of life
Let's take a look at the first important reason. So here you are. You're young and you're free. You have your whole life before you. You're standing at the crossroads of life and you have to choose which paths to take:
- Do you want to go to university?
- What will your attitude toward life be?
- Should you try out for that team?
- What type of friends do you want to have?
- What values will you choose?
- What kind of relationships do you want with your family?
- What will you stand for?
- How will you contribute to your community?
The paths you choose today can shape you forever. It's both frightening and exciting that we have to make so many vital decisions when we're young and full of hormones, such is life. Imagine an eighty-foot rope stretched out before you. Each foot represents one year of your life. Teenagehood is only seven years, but those seven affect the remaining seventy-three, for good or bad, in such a powerful way. Every step you take on these years is so important. Let's look at these crossroads in detail next week. Have a wonderful week thinking about the crossroads. |
E-mail