I've been down the rabbit hole, thinking about the end of my life, and I've got to tell you—it's not as grim as you might think. Quite the opposite, actually; it's like someone turned the lights on.
You get so caught up in the here and now—this meeting, that deadline, this argument, that decision—that you lose sight of the big picture. It's like you're navigating a maze with your nose to the ground, constantly second-guessing if you've made a wrong turn.
So, what if you could lift your head up, way up, and get a bird's eye view of that maze? That's what reflecting on your death does. It helps you channel your older, wiser self. In my case, that's 90-year-old Gary, or as I like to call him, Grandpa Gary.
Every so often, I have this mental sit-down with Grandpa Gary. I ask him, "Hey, looking at my life today and where I'm headed, you good with this?" I visualize Grandpa Gary, at the edge of his life, reflecting back on the choices younger me is making. And let me tell you, when Grandpa Gary nods and says, "Yeah, you're on the right track," it's like a weight lifts off my shoulders.
It's about alignment, you know? Making sure that what I'm doing today squares with my "divine purpose," if you want to call it that. My ultimate life's work. When you get that nod from your future self, you just know you're not squandering your time on things that don't matter. And boy, does that bring peace and calm like nothing else.
I used to think that peace came from external accomplishments—getting that deal, winning that award, you name it. But what I've come to realize is that real peace comes from within. It's about knowing you're doing what you're supposed to be doing—no doubts, no second-guessing.
So, if you haven't tried this whole reflecting-on-your-death thing, give it a shot. It might just flip the switch and bring you the inner peace you've been chasing. And hey, who wouldn't want a thumbs-up from their 90-year-old self?