Think About What You Think About--Part II

In last week’s issue, I talked about how we can choose what we think about—things that make us anxious—or things that restore peace and perspective. We choose to worry—or to trust—based on what we focus our thoughts on. We discussed overcoming worry.

In Part 2 of the topic above, I want to explore this idea from a different angle—and share with you something I’ve been thinking about for years. As an avid reader, I often think about—and chew on—subjects I read about—then I apply the author’s premise to a completely different area of my life.

For example, I have often thought about something Stephen Covey, the late American educator, author, businessman and keynote speaker once said in 1989 in his bestseller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Powerful Lessons in Personal Change). This book sold over 30 million copies. One of the “Seven Habits” Covey highlights to help people be more effective in business is, “Begin with the end in mind.” Makes sense. If you know what you want to achieve in the end, you can start with a clear understanding of the goal you’re trying to accomplish, or the problem you’re trying to solve.

So, how did I apply Covey’s premise, intended to achieve business goals, to a completely different area of my life?

Instead of looking at this from a business perspective, I started thinking about this from a life perspective. In other words, when I look at the impact of my life, I want to “begin with the end in mind.” So, I’ve pondered the end of my life—and then worked backwards—by asking myself some penetrating questions.

What am I giving my life to? Am I making a difference in the lives of the people around me? My family? My friends? My professional colleagues? Neighbors? Readers of my books and articles? Am I an affirming force in the lives of the people who are in my sphere of influence—whomever they might be?

If I start with the end of my life in mind, and work backwards, what kind of life have I lived? Am I focused on the right things? If I had a chance to live my life over again what would I alter? What would I add? What would I subtract? Am I grateful for my life and its blessings? Am I living a life of contentment with what I have—and what I don’t?

Does this sound like a discouraging subject? Actually, it’s quite the opposite. In view of the brevity of life, I wake up every morning motivated to make my life count. Really count.

Why not pause for a moment and think about how you might view the rest of your life differently if you “begin with the end in mind” and then work backwards?

How might you live differently? Or think differently?

Worthy questions to think about during the “mandatory pause” this virus has given us.

Just a thought.

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