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What Is Your Next Chapter?

Guest post by: Pat Mussieux

Article Overview: We're never too young, or too old, to learn. In this day and age of technology, we have so many choices and access to so much information. The question I often ask myself is: "Are you really living your life?"

What Is Your Next Chapter?

We're never too young, or too old, to learn. In this day and age of technology, we have so many choices and access to so much information. The question I often ask myself is: "Are you really living your life?" "Somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision." - Eleanore Roosevelt

As I head into a new decade, I like to think ahead and ensure that I am, in fact, writing the 'next chapter' - rather than just letting life pass me by. It would be easy to just sit back and take what comes. But that's not my style. I am very enthused about life and, as an entrepreneur, I know that I am also a control freak!

One thing I know for sure is that we create our life from the inside out - it's all about the way we think. I tend to think in pictures so, for me, to create the next chapter, it is essential that I have the right pictures in place and all around me - thus, the need to put together a new Vision Board.

In addition, I am going to create a special list: "60 Things To Do Before I Turn 60!" So, let's go inside my head for a bit as I share what I'm thinking about for the next decade.

1. Turning 60 has got to be about Health. When you have your health, you have everything. There are some basic things you can do, at this stage in life, to ensure good health over the next many years. Some of the changes I am making include the elimination of white sugar - actually, white food altogether! It's not complicated because we have heard over and over again that the simple formula to good health is make good food choices, exercise, get 8-9 hours of sleep each night and minimize stress in your life.

2. Turning 60 has got to be about Family. I am very fortunate in that my mother is still alive. Many of you know my story in that I moved across the country a few years ago to start life over again (at age 55) - I now live near my 87-year old mother and have the opportunity to visit with her regularly. I love that. She has great stories to share and we never run out of things to talk about. Technology is also a blessing in that my grand-daughter now has an e-mail account and we get to communicate regularly, and in a way that is special for just the two of us. Be sure to keep family close, communicate with them regularly and ensure that 'what needs to be said" - gets said!

3. Turning 60 has got to be about Gratitude. Meister Eckhart once wrote that "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." For 14 years now, ever since Oprah introduced the "Gratitude Journal" on her show, in an interview with Sarah Ban Breathnach, I have kept a gratitude journal. It has changed my life. People, in general, have a habit of always finding the negative in life. Once you adopt the habit of keeping a gratitude journal, and writing down 5 things each day for which you are grateful, it totally changes your perspective in life. Start one today and you will see the difference it will make in your own life.

4. Turning 60 has got to be about Goal-Setting. I had dinner with a friend in Toronto recently and she will be celebrating her 75th birthday this fall. She was telling me about conversations with her son in which he is always encouraging her to set new goals - so that she, too, lives life with purpose each and every day. What an inspiration. Don't 'settle for less' - give it all you've got. Goals can be very small (e.g. what you're having for dinner tonight) or larger than life (my 60th birthday celebration will be a month at a villa in Spain). Goals make life more meaningful and more interesting.

5. Turning 60 has got to be about Laughter. Look around you - how many people can be seen laughing these days? Laughter is good medicine. We make life too complicated and there's really no need for that. Keep things simple and laugh more. It's important to be able to laugh at ourselves - start right there.

While this article has focused on turning 60 - you can substitute any number. The only thing getting in the way of your living your best life is YOU!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Start a new tradition and create your own Vision Board this month, for the remainder of the year.

2. Along with that, create a fun list of goals - keep life simple for now.

3. Laugh more, and start today.

Put some of these basics in place and I guarantee you will not only grow personally, but your business practices will also improve. When you develop new skills, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life, and the business, you truly want. You will be much more comfortable and successful in the overall scheme of things.

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Article Tags: business success, career, Confidence and courage, goal setting, gratitude, Pat Mussieux, Self Growth, Setting Goals, Time Management, women entrepreneurs



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