045: A 45 Day Refresher for the Growth and Longevity Minded
There's no magic with the number 45.
But there is a reason I choose to highlight it in this (our 45th) issue.
90-day plans...a 90-day this or that gets all the press.
At this point in your life you might be weary of that span of time - especially as relates to evaluating your life or making changes.
So...since we're at issue 45 I thought - why not focus on halving the standard 90-day approach?
Maybe you'll find it a more appealing number.
At least that's my plan here.
And as I do with every five issues or so - thanks for being part of our PGL (Personal Growth and Longevity) tribe.
I'm grateful that you let my positive aging perspective into your inbox each week.
Feel free to share the "love" and forward an issue to someone if you think something would be useful to them.
Speaking of useful...this issue is a 45-day refresher-guide of sorts.
You can dive in all at once or use it for daily reflection for the next 45 days.
Bookmark or save it.
Refer to it.
Most important - apply it!
These 45 big ideas could be what you need to make some equally big (or small) steps in your growth and longevity journey
Like all good inspiration - the daily questions or action-points are for your personal reflection depending on where you are in life or age.
- 45 days of intentional focus could change something in your life
- Focusing on one idea a day (for 45 days) makes action more doable
- Practical action creates habits that produce results
1-Slow down
Where do you need to slow-your-roll or push pause?
Read and reflect: The "Sands of Time…" What Does That Even Mean as You Age?
2-Exit drama
What emotional, physical, or triggering drama do you need to step away from (for awhile or for good)?
Read and reflect: Are You Setting the Stage for Drama as You Age?
3-Check your attitude
Rate your current attitude on a scale of 1 to 10 (1-it sucks, 10-we good!)
Read and reflect: Someone Who Reached 100 Should Know Something About Attitude
4-Roll with change
What's changed and what hasn't changed in your life as you've aged?
Read and reflect: Two Questions That Class Reunions Compel You to Ask (and What They Reveal About Aging Well)
5-Make space for friends
Inventory your friendships based on what you're personally bringing to them, what expectations you have about them, and what you can do to build into them.
Read and reflect: A F.E.W. Essentials to Add Longevity to Your Friendships
6-Don't delay
Finish this sentence "I'm still..." (as in something you're stuck-on or delaying).
Read and reflect: A Type of Still-ness You'll Want to Deal With as You Age
7-Plan a trip
Do something today that enlarges your perspective about life, love, or your legacy.
Read and reflect: What a Road Trip Can Teach You About Keeping Things in Perspective
8-Go outside
Disconnect from being indoors, step outside, breath fresh air.
Read and reflect: The Wonder and Essential Reset Value of Nature and Time Outdoors
9-Look back
Reconnect with a recent meaningful experience you've had and think about what you gained from it.
Read and reflect: Let Your Accumulated Experiences Give You An Aging Advantage
10-Be passionate
What's a radical action you can take to improve yourself.
Read and reflect: Why I'm Nothing Less Than Passionate About Personal Growth, Longevity, and Aging Well
11-Live carefree
Identify one piece of emotional "baggage" you want (and need) to set aside.
Read and reflect: Carefree...Is That An Achievable (or Worthwhile) Way to Live?
12-"Chase" something worthwhile
Fill the blank-"I'm fulfilled when I ..."
Read and reflect: Chase That Feeling...You Might Be Amazed at How It Helps You Age Well
13-Do a pattern-interrupt
What would you say (relative to your family heritage) stops-with-you?
Read and reflect: It's Time to Own Those Generational Curses and Renew Your Legacy
14-Own your weaknesses
Think about one of your personal weaknesses and how it can actually be used to your advantage (really!).
Read and reflect: Ignore at Your Own Risk (Your Weaknesses, That Is)
15-Have a purpose
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Read and reflect: Observations About Personal Growth and Longevity as a Half-Marathon Spectator
16-Adapt
Consider how you've learned to adapt throughout your life.
Read and reflect: Can You Adapt When Necessary?
17-Train your mind
Where in your life could you use some thought-repair?
Read and reflect: Fix Your Thoughts for Mental Longevity
18-Be curious
What peaks your curiosity right now?
Read and reflect: Let Your Insatiable Curiosity Get-the-Best-of-You
19-Show some gratitude
List three gratitude "triggers" that make you feel good.
Read and reflect: Reset Your Perspective with a Gratitude Practice
20-Observe your mileage
Take an honest look at where you are, who you are, and how you feel about each.
Read and reflect: A Mile-marker
21-Try something new
What's one new interest you've always wanted to pursue?
Read and reflect: Could This Be Your Renaissance Era?
22-Play by your rules
Where do you most often conform to the norm instead of pushing the boundaries of non-conformity?
Read and reflect: Inc. Yourself
23-Choose your "hard"
What's hard for you and what would happen if you simply tried to do it (instead of avoiding it)?
Read and reflect: What If You Were Okay with Doing-Hard-Things?
24-Take the lead
Name one personal growth breakthrough you desire and the first action that can set things in motion.
Read and reflect: Be the Lead Domino
25-Consider your options
Recall something you've made-from-scratch or where you had to improvise a solution.
Read and reflect: What Are Your Options?
26-Develop self-awareness
Where do you often feel awkward or out-of-synch when interacting with others?
Read and reflect: Want Less Friction in Your Life? Develop Self-Awareness!
27-Release your inner hippie
Open your mind to being more contrarian about healthy habits.
Read and reflect: 11 Hippie-Dippie Habits for Aging Well
28-Avoid overthinking
What are you tempted to overthink in your life?
Read and reflect: Is Overthinking Misunderstood?
29-Watch your language
What words do you need to eliminate from your vocabulary as you talk (or think) about aging?
Read and reflect: Watch-Your-Language! It Could Put Your Longevity at Risk
30-Create a plan-be
Identify a reason (or two) that keeps you from experiencing more productive stillness in your life.
Read and reflect: Is "Hustle" Not Sustainable In Your Life? You Need a "Plan-Be"
31-Discover "unretirement"
Name something you would do (or can begin doing) that feels meaningful in your post-career years.
Read and reflect: Maybe It's Time to Think About What It Means to "Unretire" (But Before You Freak-Out)...
32-Define longevity
Be honest with yourself about how you really feel about aging.
Read and reflect: "Unmask" Longevity and Discover What's Possible as You Age
33-Be an age-rebel
Confront your tendencies to let your age define how you live your life.
Read and reflect: "Act-Your Age" Might Be Bad Advice If You Want to Be Longevity-Minded
34-Gain altitude
How do you limit yourself?
Read and reflect: A 14,000 Foot Experience (and an Amazingly Simple Discovery That Can Drive Your Personal Growth as You Age)
35-Set higher expectations
What gets under-your-skin about growing older?
Read and reflect: Life Expectancy: Yeah, Let's Go There...But With a Better Perspective
36-Be coachable
Ego, stubbornness, fear - which one most often keeps you from personal growth?
Read and reflect: How Coachable Are You (or Willing to Be)?
37-Use your leverage
What experience and wisdom have you gained through the years that shapes your point-of-view about longevity
Read and reflect: Thinking About Longevity: Are You "Locked-In" or "Leveraged?"
38-Empower your habits
Why is habit development difficult for you?
Read and reflect: 5 Strategies to Empower Your Habits
39-Change your mindset
Would you say you have a "fixed mindset" or a "growth mindset"?
Read and reflect: How to Re-Program Your Mindset for Growth and Longevity
40-Rethink time management
"Too much time on your hands" or "not enough hours in the day" - which best describes your days?
Read and reflect: Time - Is Managing It Really the Ultimate Goal?
41-Be resilient
How do you respond to and recover from set-backs in your life?
Read and reflect: Resilience: Your Leverage to Grow Through Life's Challenges
42-Do what's next
Are you action-biased or reaction-biased?
Read and reflect: Action That Propels Personal Growth and Longevity
43-Get practical
Where in your life does personal growth need to move from a random "idea" or a "concept" to being more "practical?"
Read and reflect: A Better-Than-Random Approach to Personal Growth and Longevity
44-Communicate
What's currently on your mind about personal growth, longevity, or aging?
Email me: estephens484@gmail.com
45-Keep going
You know what you gotta do...!
Press on...
Eddie