When I was 31 years old, I held my mother’s hand as she passed away.

It’s safe to say that my first hand experience with her death made me a little obsessive about my own death.

Fear flooded me when I thought about how much of my own life had passed by. And I felt that I was asleep for a lot of it.  I was just living on auto pilot.  Being blown to and fro by any mood or circumstance that came my way.

I didn’t like how I treated other people and I didn’t like myself.

After embarking on a self proclaimed healing journey, discovering how I wanted to FEEL at the end of my life was the first order of business.

Not knowing this important piece of information disturbed me.  I wanted to feel SURE that whatever my end of life goal ended up being, that at least I was moving closer to it.

I didn’t want to be one of those people you hear about who at the end of their lives who are full of regrets and afraid to make that transition.

Obviously some of this is normal.  But if I could get really clear on my goals, at least then I’d have a road map to follow.

Here is what I came up with which I believe will bring me peace when I come to the end of my life.   I wanted to write this out so that I can start to live my life consciously and intentionally.

I want to treat people with respect and kindness
I want to know and accept myself
I want to live life to the absolute fullest and to be present for it all!
I want to make a contribution to the world and be a success

This may seem like a simple exercise.  But I’m telling you….. it really impacted the way I think and live.  This is now in the back of my mind and pops up when I want to lose my temper at the grandma sitting in the left lane.

It has affected my life professionally as I am now a full time blogger/Yoga teacher with the goal of helping others through my story!

Find out what YOU really want at the end.  It sounds morbid but I PROMISE that you’ll feel better after you have a clear light of sight!

Exercise

(Pen and paper needed):

Sit comfortably and begin to breathe deeply.  There is no need to feel tension and fear in this moment.  For now, we are going to just breathe.  Take a slow breath in and then let it out gently.  That’s all you need to do for the next couple of minutes.  Your breath is your whole world right now.  Your strong anchor.  Grounding you securely to what IS.  This present moment.  This opportunity to learn about YOU!  Oh what a blessing.  

Allow your mind to now drift to where you imagine you’ll be at the end of your life.  Are you in the mountains of Colorado?  Or by the ocean in Hawaii?  Who is around you?  

There is nothing in that room but peace and calm.  Please do not fear.  You are safe and secure.  Death is not the end, but a beginning.  

What do you imagine that you are feeling right now?  Satisfied?  Accomplished?  Surrounded by family and friends?  What are the characteristics that describe your family, career, and internal landscape during this time?  What do you think would give you the most peace and acceptance?  Even if you don’t currently have any of those things, write them down.  No need to judge or analyze anything that surfaces, just write it down.

When this feels complete, notice what the overwhelming themes are.  That is YOU. Those are your values. Cherish all that you are.  And what you’re going to accomplish.

Now that these goals are clear, the energy of intention will bring them to fruition.

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