Hey Friends,
Do you ever feel like you have the potential to do great things with your life, but just aren’t sure how to start?I know that feeling very well, as it’s taken me years of reflection to figure out what activities make me feel happy and fulfilled. I hope this letter will give you a gentle push in the right direction.
Simply and honestly, try answering next ten questions for yourself and you will get to know how to unlock your potential :–
Q1. If I could write a letter to the (….Year….) version of myself, what would it say?
Let’s pretend that you are living in the future and have been handed the opportunity to write a letter to the 17 year version of yourself. I’m not going to offer you any further direction as I feel this exercise will be more powerful if I don’t lead you one way or another, but just in case you’re curious, here’s what I would say to the 1995 (17 year-old) version of myself:
Dear Teenage Joe,
You’re feeling a bit nervous right now, but take a deep breath and do the tougher things, because it’ll be worth it. I know the idea of getting on a stage look scary and getting involved in multiple activites in school is taxing, but you’re going to walk away with more confidence, comfort, friends and an overall mature outlook.Never stop dreaming big, no matter what other people say and think. Yes, listen to feedback from others, but don’t get caught up in any negative opinions that aren’t accompanied with positive input; because without that, it’s a waste of your time. Oh, I almost forgot, In a couple of years, someone is going to offer you, your first beer/ scotch or a shot of tequila in a party. Just because you feel “okay” after that first drink/tequila shot does not mean you should immediately drink four more. I know you’re still young-and-innocent, but just trust me on this one, it’s not a good idea.—- JOE from the Future (2022 version)
2. Why should I care what other people think about me?
- If you spend all of your days consumed in concerns about what other people think about you, then you’re going to be too stressed out and depressed to take the action necessary for improving your life. Find your way out…..?
3. What are the top three things that make me feel happy and fulfilled?
- This could be training, coaching or teaching other people;
- Writing books, blogs or articles; spending time with your children, partner or loved ones;
- Enjoy nature activities like hiking, camping or rafting; or maybe you’re a wandering soul who wants to travel to all of the places.
- Figure out your top three things, and build your schedule around them for a happier existence.
4. What are the top three things that distract me from enjoying my life?
- The one you feel are still holding you back.
5. Am I in control of my thoughts, or am I at the mercy of them?
- If your thoughts are negative and nasty, then you can’t expect your life to be positive and pleasant.
- Reality is a funny thing, as there isn’t exactly a single one, but rather we all live in our own realities that are influenced by our beliefs, thoughts, and ideas.
- You can’t expect success in life if you keep telling yourself you will never amount to anything, aren’t “good enough”, or don’t deserve to be happy. If you’d like to defeat the mental barriers that limit you, this might help.
6. Am I in control of my eating decisions, or am I at the mercy of them?
- Just like your thoughts influence your perception of reality, your eating decisions influence your mood and energy levels.
- I don’t want to be judgemental in saying what is a “good” or “bad” food, because every person has their own individual needs… but if it makes you feel bad, you probably shouldn’t be eating it.
- If you’d like to improve your relationship with food, this might be useful.
7. What strengths did I use to achieve three major goals in my life?
- Think about three of the biggest achievements of your life. That could be graduating college, getting a promotion, getting your “dream job,” or (..insert your thing here…).
- Now, think about what personal strengths you used to achieve those things.
- Did you see any trends? If so, the road that leads to success is right in front of you.
8. How can I use those strengths more often?
- While it is sometimes important to correct a weakness if it causes a significantly negative effect to your performance, it is often much easier and less time-consuming to simply play to your strengths in a way that make your weaknesses completely irrelevant.
- Write down the strengths you came up with in the question above, put them somewhere so that you can see them daily, and keep asking yourself, “How can I use those strengths today?”
9. If I could only accomplish one thing before I die, what would that be?
- Not two, three, or four things: what one thing do you want to achieve, accomplish, or experience more than anything else? Once you figure that out, pursue it with every ounce of hustle you’ve got, because life is too precious for regret.
10. Why do I exist?
- I know that question is a lot to spin your head around (that why I saved it for the end), but nonetheless, it is something you need to think about.
- Look at it this way: if a person want to give a speech about you, what would you want them to say? Or, if someone was to write a biography about you after you are gone, what would you hope it would say?
I hope answering these questions helps you in unlocking your potential for more success in life. I would love to know how this exercise worked for you, so please tell me know in the comments.
Take good care & enjoy reading your dose of mindful productivity!
JOE
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