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The Quickest Way to Reveal What Really Matters in Life

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Scott McIntyre | CATEGORIES: self improvement

Are you being bombarded from all sides with a barrage of tasks and people demanding your time?

There always seems to be something important to do, and someone else who wants a piece of your attention. Pretty soon it all gets out of control and you struggle to keep a grip on everything.

So, we create lengthy To-do lists. We fill our schedules and diaries with appointments and decorate our calendars with red marker pen circles.

In this haze of conflicting demands, it can be difficult to know what our priorities are ñ let alone for us to get our priorities right.

Not everything matters, though we mistakenly think it does.

I’d like to share a simple exercise with you that cuts through all this clutter. Hopefully, it will help you decide what really matters the most in your life.

The ‘What Matters the Most’ Exercise

- You don’t need to complete any time management questionnaires

- You don’t have to draw any fancy graphs or charts to plot your goals

- You don’t even need to read any self-help manuals

You just have to ask yourself this little question:

If you could plan it, how would you spend your last day on Earth?

Think about what you would do during your final 24 hours. Write down all your ideas.

Trying out this exercise will focus your mind and give you perspective on what really matters the most to you. The question might be basic, but the answers will be huge.

Would you spend it on your own or with family and friends? Will you do familiar or new things?

What do your answers tell you about your real priorities in life?

For me …

I’d get up at the crack of dawn to watch the sun rise. I’d go back again to see it set. I’d witness both amazing sights in one day.

I’d hastily arrange a last-minute party for family and friends. I’d call up those people I hadn’t seen in a while to invite them along. I’d make sure I told everyone what they meant to me.

I’d celebrate my life. I’d reminisce about the past few decades and squeeze all these memories into a few hours. I’d forget about the downs and rejoice in the good times.

I’d do as much as I possibly could.

What about you?

How would you spend your final 24 hours?

Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you.

Read more articles from Scott McIntyre on colorful living – and how ordinary people can do great things ñ by subscribing to the Vivid Ways feed. You can also add color to your life by signing up for the free Vivid Ways newsletter.

  • Lalalove89

    This is the first article on here that I did not like…..

  • http://www.martinthemindreader.com Martin Mendler

    When I first read the question I almost stopped reading thinking “Last day on earth? how cliché”… But when I think about it it is a pretty revealing question if you find yourself walking through life like a zombie, so why not ask it? I’m sure the article will help a few people.

    I’d spend my day like this; Get up early, write down my dream, go to the finest hotel to eat the most delicious breakfast, preferably with my family, go parachuting, write a quick and final masterpiece of a blog post that’d come right from my heart, and finally spend all my money and energy to host the greatest party ever, invite all my friends to invite all their friends. Then I’d bang a girl from the party.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Abdul-Muktadir-Shafi/100000234744174 Abdul Muktadir Shafi

    I would say all my friends and others that I love them all.I will give my wife lots of big hug (though not married hope to have a wife in my last day).will go out in d street along with my wife.will try to spend money 4 poor people.At last somewhere if We find a place in the night (moonlit)beneath d sky on d lap of the girl by d name of god I will breath my last,no medical books,no patients,because they will take my majority portion time.

  • Baz970uk

    are you trying to be clever? This does not help me priorities work load.

  • http://www.clintcora.com Clint Cora

    It’s this type of question that reminds us how we should be living.  Another way to put it without using the last day question is how would you spend your time if money was no longer something to worry about – what would you do Monday morning?

  • cagalindo

    I’d hop on a jet and travel the World meeting up with family and amazing friends I’ve met throughout my trips.

  • http://www.colon-liver-cleanse.com/ Sean

    Take a nice hike through the woods with my wife up to our favorite hot springs. Yeah, that’s always my favorite and would be an awesome last night on planet Earth

  • http://www.bradentalbot.com Braden Talbot

    I’ve heard 2 variations on this “limited time to live” exercise that I thought were wonderful:

    1. Jiddu Krishnamurti, who said to forget the last day. What id you only had 10 minutes? It sure changes the game.

    2. Another drastically different, but equally powerful was Dr. Eldon Taylor’s 50 days: not enough time to procrastinate but more than enough to get the meaningful done.

  • http://Mazzastick.com Justin

    Hey Scott,
    I think that it is a good idea to learn time management skills but once we master it I don’t think that living a life of graphs and to do lists is necessary.

    I would spend the last 24 hours of my life in deep contemplation.

  • http://www.todaysration.com Inpursuitoftruth

    Often times when this question is asked, it is likely that you will get from people rash responses  that certainly should not be adopted as principles or daily habits.  Furthermore, even on the “good things,” it is possible to take the power of an experience away by indulging in it too frequently.   I think a better question to ask would be “On the last day on earth, what will I have wanted to accomplish with my life and what type of person do I want to be?  Furthermoree, what can I do daily to reach this point?”  These questions in unison should provide an outline of solid daily habits to adopt as well as provide an understanding of where your priorities lie.

    In Pursuit of Truth
    http://www.todaysration.com

  • Melissaherr5

    I would get up really early, for some alone time. Take a bath, and think. I like to sit and just think. Then I would get with my daughter and spend some one on one with her because I love her the mostest. We would go to the salon to get dressed. I love getting dressed-up and all that girly stuff. Have A PARTY!! With lots of friends and family. With fabulous food & drinks. Laughing, talking, dancing and singing. Then love on my loving husband, realizing how wonderful it is. I would get a massage by a professional “spa-like” massage, until I feel a sleep. That’s how I would spend it.

  • Memphis

    I read that article until the “self manuals”-part, had a big grin in my face. Followed by a stunning “WTH” when it came to the last day on earth.
    This should be some direct or group work. As it is to unpersonal for public use, as i find, you may shape it more personal by adjusting the main question.

    Maybe like this:
    “What will be your greatest day in life?”

    The word “last” recalls bad memory, compresses all time i have left in my life into one small thought: I will die. That is alright in sessions you are working eye to eye and may assist in times including bad reactions.

    Make your main part, that counting one, more positive and more target specific by using words like “will be”, “want”, “is”. Forget about “would”, “could”, “should” and so on. That are good words you may place in another context. Here, just go with the “now” as far as you can.

    Also the answer has to be in the “now”.
    “I will go fishing with my best friend” sound much more definied than “I would like to go fishing with my best friend when he has time for me”. Second one will probably never happen.

    Thank you for your article :)

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  • Nunosoaresmoreira

    Parachuting, a big concert from my favourit band. A stroll in the eye of london. Kiss my wife.

  • Tedgray

    in prayer,thanksgiving

  • Pilgrim

    1. Go to Confession
    2. Receive Holy Communion
    3. Get a final blessing from a Holy Priest
    4. Contact and make peace with anyone I’ve wronged.
    5. Give all I can to Charity for the poor.
    6. Spend the remaining time with my little angel, Lea.