Start With the End In Mind
It’s March! Time to refocus on all those goals you made in January. But hold up a sec. Before you get back to “crushing it,” make sure to start with the end in mind.
What is the end? Death is that end - the final chapter of your story. It might sound morbid, but considering death helps you clarify what values are most important to you. And your values act like a compass for navigating life. Lucius Annaeus Seneca is quoted as saying:
“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.”
Slow down and consider if you know where you’re headed. It’s possible to accomplish many things that aren’t important. You can reflect on your core values by understanding that your time on this planet is limited and asking yourself:
What kind of person do I want to be?
Who are the people I want to love?
What kind of things do I want to leave behind?
Popular author, Ryan Holiday, notes the ancient Stoics called this practice memento mori - the practice of “remembering that you must die.” They made a habit of this kind of reflection, because it kept them focused on what mattered most - day by day, moment by moment.
Likewise, I invite you to practice momento mori, to start with the end in mind, and then prioritize your values with action. Everything else is probably a distraction.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom
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