Life Audit

Time to Refocus

Is your life what you expected it to be? How did you once respond when you were asked ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ If you keep going the way you are going where will you end up?

These are the questions people are often forced into answering when they experience a tragedy in their lives or are diagnosed with an illness. But it is healthy to reflect on the direction of our lives from time to time, otherwise we may end up one day, a long way from where we hoped to be.

Here are some useful ‘life audit’ questions;

• How are you different now to who you were 10 years ago?

• What do you hope your life will be like in 10 years time?

• If you were honest, what do you really think your life will be like in 10 years time if you keep going the way you are going?

• Are you in a job or a career you feel passionate about? (Remembering a job is something you do for money. A career is something you do because you have an inner calling to do it.)

Stephen Covey the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People says that the quality of your life is 10% dependent on the things that happen to you, but 90% dependent on how you choose to respond to what life throws your way. Do you agree?

You have created your life as it is now. It is the culmination of many thousands of decisions some made consciously, some unconsciously. Equally, everything that you have experienced in the past has got you to this point in life. You have gathered a wealth of wisdom and experience that will continue to serve you.

Three further questions that will focus your mind are -

• 1. In terms of your work life, what is most important for you to achieve in the remainder of career?
  

• 2. From a personal perspective, what is most important for you to achieve in the remainder of your life?
  

• 3. How do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be?

Like everything in nature we are either growing or dying. You have created the lifestyle you are living today, if it doesn’t excite you, or if you want to change something about it, then it is up to you to change it.

In conclusion ask yourself, ‘Do I want to wear out or rust out?’ ‘Do you want your life to be an example or a warning?’

“Which is greater the pain of risk or the pain of regret?”

 

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