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Where should you start if you decide to rewrite the script of your life – that is, change your outlook on the past and look to the future with more confidence? We share 4 practical recommendations.
1. Define the chapters of your life
Imagine that the story of your life consists of several chapters, usually from two to seven. What are they about? Name each: for example, early childhood, school years, student days, first job, first love, and give a summary of them. Carefully consider your place in each of the chapters.
2. Recall their key events
Pick a key event for each chapter. These should be real deeds and actions from your past. For example, you made an important decision one evening last summer. Or at the age of 12 you had a serious conversation with your mother. Here’s what to remember:
Ups and downs
Remember the brightest moment associated with the experience of joyful emotions. In your memory, this must be one of the best, most beautiful experiences of life. Where did it happen? Who took part in it? How has this experience affected your life?
Scroll back the tape of events and remember another moment when you experienced extremely unpleasant emotions for you: despair, disappointment, guilt. Even if you hate to remember it, be extremely honest. What were you doing at that moment? Who was nearby? What did you think and what did you feel?
turning points
Remembering the events of our lives, we can accurately determine the time when significant changes took place in life. Turning points can affect different aspects of life – career, personal interests, relationships with people at school and at work … Try to realize what the importance of this event is for you personally – and remember that it should not repeat events from other rubrics.
Significant events
- From Early Childhood—Choose a relatively clear childhood memory and describe it in detail. It may not be super important in your current life. What makes it significant is the fact that it is one of your very first vivid memories.
- From conscious childhood
- From adolescence
- From adult life – a key event that happened to you after 21 years of age.
In detail, with details, describe each of these events: who took part in it? Where did it happen? What were you doing then? What did you feel? Determine the degree of its influence on your life: what does it say about you as a person then and now?
3. Work on the script
Model two life scenarios in which your own story could develop in the future:
- Favorable life scenario – first, develop the desired scenario based on your life goals and desires. Be bold but realistic;
- Unfavorable life scenario – now create a scenario of undesirable development of the situation in the future. Describe your fears, come up with a situation that you hope you never get into. Again, be realistic.
4. Choose a main theme
Flip through the chapters of your life again, including the imaginary future. Can you identify a key theme, idea, leitmotif of your story about your life? How do you interpret significant events in your life? Consider these events from different angles and you will see how the angle of view changes your outlook on life.