[Video] Write Your Eulogy

There’s a book I’ve read and love by John Izzo called The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die - not to be confused with the book, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware.

John started by asking 15,000 people across the US and Canada to send him their recommendations on who they felt were the “wise elders” in their life - people who had something important to teach us.

Of almost 1000 names that were suggested, he identified 235 people who represented a diverse group of people.

He interviewed all of them and ask them questions like...

• What brought you the greatest happiness?
• What were your regrets?
• What mattered and what didn’t?
• What were major crossroads in your life?

And they responded with answers like...

• You have to be true to yourself
• Follow your heart
• Know who you are and why you are here
• Do what really matters to you

I bring this up because before you can even really begin to hack your wellbeing, it’s SO important that you...

...start with the end in mind.

If you don’t have a clear picture of how you want your life to look like when you’re at the end of it looking back, then it’s hard to know what to focus on while you’re in the midst of it.

It’s hard for many of us to think about our own death. It’s uncomfortable at best. But taking the time to confront the reality of it has huge benefits.

It creates clarity for us in terms of what’s truly important. It helps us narrow our focus and stay true to who we really are.

So take the time to write your eulogy.

Picture what it would be like to be at your own funeral.

Write down the answers to these questions:

1. Who showed up?
2. What do people say about the way you lived your life?
3. What would they say about your character?
4. What did you accomplish?
5. What major experiences did you have?
6. What kind of family did you build?
7. What values did you live by?

These are just thought-joggers but feel free to come up with your own questions. Make it as long or short as you like and refer to it often!

Keep it present in your mind in all that you do.

After all, you’ve only got this one life.

I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes by Henry David Thoreau.