A simple tool for easily reconnecting with your priorities

Last summer, I was awakened by the sound of an eerie ‘ping’—sort of like the sound I’ve heard submarines make (in movies, of course), drifting into my bedroom every 10 seconds or so. Curious to find its source, I looked out my window and saw the street filled with fire trucks, firefighters and many of my neighbors in their pajamas. Down the block, a house was ablaze, smoke pouring through the roof. It was a devastating fire, and fortunately no one was hurt.

The next day, I recalled the ‘ping’ sound and wanted to know what it was. I learned that firefighters sometimes get disoriented in a burning building and tragically can’t find their way out. Some clever person created a device that emitted a focused sound at the entrance to the fire, so that firefighters could more easily find their way back to safety.

I found that interesting, but didn’t give it much thought until recently, after I had attended a business retreat with other productivity consultants and trainers. In order to help us create a vision for our personal and professional lives, we were each asked to write and deliver our own eulogy. This may sound a little strange, but it was quite exhilarating.

Our teacher, Chris Crouch, reminded us: “For many people, modern day-to-day life and work have become a chaotic fog. Personal destiny is commonly left in the hands of employers and other external factors. Focusing on how we would want to be remembered (who and what we want to be and what difference we have made) helps develop a fundamental aim or idea from which people can then ‘work back’ and begin to think about how they will get there and what needs to change in order for them to do so.”

We were encouraged to be creative and have fun, and many of the eulogies were funny and not surprisingly touching. There was a small chapel on the property where the retreat was being held, and laughter mixed with tears filled the pews as we listened to our friends share their deepest desires for success, adventure, family and to leave a legacy.

The following week, back at the office and anxiously unpacking my bags in a frenzy to get back to work, I came across my eulogy. I immediately reconnected to the vision I had created of my life when I was on retreat. It helped me reconnect with my passion, my deepest values, and my own spirit.

Realizing how easy it is to get disoriented in the chaos, distraction and urgency of external demands of our lives, I saw how this eulogy became the ‘ping’ that helped me find my way out of the fog and back to myself. It also provided perspective for some things I was experiencing as crises, and it helped me prioritize a heavy workload for this month.

If you think you could benefit from a loud ‘ping,’ here are some ideas for writing your own eulogy:

“For this exercise,” says Chris Crouch, “put whatever has gone on in the past or is going on in the present that you do not like about your life aside and imagine that the rest of your life from this day forward will turn out to be a grand and rewarding experience. You have permission to stretch the truth, suspend reality, and tell tall tales.”

Imagine you have just died. You have lived a long and happy life. What would your eulogy say about you? How will you want people to remember you?

Possible intro: “We are gathered together in this beautiful place (sweeping panoramic hand gesture) on this fine Fall day to mourn the passing of (choke back tears)…and celebrate the life of (facial expression should express a combination of joy and sadness as you nod your head up and down)…our beloved friend (your name).”

• Birthplace
• Where and how she/he died?
• Things about childhood
• Spouse
• Children/grandchildren
• Places lived
• Career
• Organizations
• Friends
• Hobbies and activities she/he enjoyed
• Favorites
• Personality (easy going, compassionate, etc.)
• Funny stories
• What will they be most remembered for?
• Services: time, date, details or burial and remains

Having a way to reconnect with our vision for our lives while surrounded by a cloud of urgency, external demands and busyness is an incredibly powerful tool. Beginning with the end in mind lets us see whether we’re on a path that will lead us where we want to go, and make course corrections when we need to.

Want to use this article in your e-newsletter or website? You can use this material in whole or in part, as long as you include this complete attribution and live link: Productivity consultant and trainer Cristin Lind of Clearwater Productivity helps busy professionals enhance their work and enrich their lives. If you’re ready to get more done with less effort, visit www.clearwaterproductivity.com.