Ep 3: The Three Most Important Questions to Answer

We'll go over the three most important questions to answer regarding your life and give you the opportunity to write down or reflect on your own answers.

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Transcript

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Hi, welcome back to the show. We're talking about the three most important questions that you should consider for your life today. These questions are used as a reflective exercise in the life planning process. While these questions do not replace doing a life plan, which as I talked about in the previous episode, Is an experience innovative itself. These three questions can. Offer a lot of value and help bring out meaning in your lives. So I want to dive into them. I want to go over the three questions themselves, and then how to think about them in a way that really draws at the heart level. I am also going to give you an opportunity. For you to pause the podcast and either write down your answers or reflect on your own answers. These questions are written by George kinder, who is the founder of life planning. Question number one. I want you to imagine that you are financially secure. That you have enough money to take care of your needs now, and in the future, the question is how would you live your life? Would you change anything? Let yourself go. Don't hold back on your dreams. Describe a life that is complete. A life that is richly yours. So this question says that you are financially secure. I know for many physicians reaching financial security, reaching financial freedom. Is a big milestone. So, what does it mean? To reach financial security. What does financial freedom mean? That you have enough money to take care of your needs and your family's needs for now. And in the future, you don't have to work. To do so. So in this question, it isn't saying that you have unlimited amount of money. It is insane that you're the richest person in the world. But you don't have to worry about money for you and your family and the present moment and in the future. So in that instance, how would you live your life? Would it be the same exact life that you're living now? Would you change anything? I want you to take the time to really process the situation because most physicians are not financially free and most of us spend so much energy and time pursuing financial freedom that we haven't thought about what happens when we actually achieve it. What would life look like when you get there? Would it look exactly the same as it is now. Would it look entirely different? Are there parts of your life that you have now that wouldn't be affected by financial freedom? Let yourself go. Don't hold back on your vision. Describe that life. This scribe that life that's complete. That's richly yours. So if you're in a place where you can get out a piece of paper and pen and start writing down your answer, go ahead and do that. If you can't. Write anything down, go ahead and reflect on your answers so you can pause the podcast. And start writing that list. Describe that life. Welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to answer that question. When you gave yourself. Time to answer that question completely. Maybe you put half of a page of answers or maybe a whole page or a few pages. Of this. Picture of this life that you want. When you have reached financial freedom. I want you to also reflect. On how will you know, when you've reached financial freedom? Well, you know, because of a number on a spreadsheet. Is it a number? How will you calculate that number? Is it a feeling? Is it a feeling of security, a feeling of confidence? And when you do reach financial freedom, Does that radically change your life? Of the things that you put on your list, how many are doable? Because you're financially free. And how many are doable now? Take as much time as you need for question one, because it's really meant to be a fun question. So enjoy the moment as you imagine that life of financial question number two. This time you visit your doctor who tells you that you only have five to 10 years left to live. The good part is that you won't ever feel sick. The bad news is that you will have no notice of the moment of your death. What will you do in the time you have remaining to live? Will you change your life? And how will you do it? Wow. So question number two becomes much heavier. Now you are being confronted with your own mortality, you I have five to 10 years to live. Fortunately, you will be in good health in that time period. But you won't know when the day of death will come. So, what will you do in the time that you have remaining to live? What will you do in that five to 10 years? Will you change your life? And if so, how. Many people. Want to get this clarification for this question. question one and question two are actually separate. So In question one, you have financial freedom. In question two. It does not assume that you have financial freedom, you can answer with your current financial situation. But just adding on the. New information that your mortality is now limited to the next five to 10 years. So I like you now to pause this podcast and either reflect or write down your answers. It doesn't have to be a complete list. Just start reflecting and start writing. And when you're done writing. Right. A little bit more. You don't have to judge what you're writing. Just write. Go ahead and write your list and come back when you're welcome back. I really like question two because it gets heavier. If you are like most people, including myself. You probably don't feel very comfortable confronting your mortality. And you may not really want to do so. But by giving yourself that space to confront your mortality. I hope that there were certain feelings that came up certain insights that you gained, what will you do with the precious time? That you have left in life. And how will you do that? Assuming you don't have unlimited financial resources. How will you do it question number three is my favorite. This time. Your doctor shocks you. With the news that you have only one day. Left to live. Notice what feelings arise? As you confront. You're a very real mortality. Ask yourself. What did I miss? Who did I not get to be? What did I not get to do? Wow. I want you to really feel this question. It is really meant to be answered at the heart level. And I want to clarify too, that in this question, we're not talking about the affairs that you want to take care of. When you learn that you have 24 hours left to live, this isn't about calling your loved ones and saying goodbye to them or getting your papers and documents in order. This is just about reflecting. Reflecting about the life that you've lived and what you missed and who did you not get to be? And what did you not get to do? I want also let you know that. Question number May trigger negative feelings for many people, and that is perfectly normal. Do your best to answer it. Start writing. Start making a list. Don't judge your answers. Keep writing. Your list and when you think you're done. Try to write a little bit more. Try to see if there's anything else So you may pause this podcast now and either reflect or write down your answers. And when you feel ready, Come Welcome back. Question number three, like I was saying before. Is meant to be uncomfortable. It very likely to trigger negative feelings, unpleasant feelings And in my last episode, I talked about my own experience. Getting life planned. and the observation that I've had at other times in my life where I've met people. Who've lived through events where their mortality. Was threatened such as surviving cancer or surviving a terrible car accident. And I can't help notice that many times. When the same people are gifted with a chance to live again. They have this zest for life that is captivating for others to witness. I want you to approach question number three. As deeply as you can feel in your heart. Yes. Even with those uncomfortable emotions. Because as you make the space to answer, and as you observe your own reactions, your own feelings that come up. As you look at your answers and as you contemplate your answers, You will be able to learn so much about yourself. In the life planning process, we try to keep the energy moving forward with the clients. And yes, while it can be painful to face one's mortality as we moved to the other side of that pain. It can also be translated into energy for creating and living that dream life. Having the courage to answer question number three, to face your own discomfort. In the life planning process, this is also where the life planner would dive deeper with you on the answers. Without judgment and with full compassion. I know that in that process, as you work through. The discomfort of facing your own mortality you will find a beautiful vision on the other side. That is authentically yours. So thank you for engaging in these three questions. These questions are one of the reflective exercises we do in the life planning process. And it's one of my favorites, both as a client and as a life planner. It is a privilege to be able to witness, to listen and to feel a person's answers. I hope that you got something out of the exercise. And as always, if you want to experience life planning firsthand through one-on-one sessions, if you want to experience the space, the compassion, the process of examining your life and dreaming your life. If you want to get energized. To live that dream life. To take that next step in your journey as a dare to dream physician. I urge you to consider life planning. I had no knowledge of what life planning was and certainly had no intentions of becoming a life planner. But when I attended a workshop and almost as an accident received life planning for myself in a very short period of time, as a result of the life planning, I was able to find the things that are most important to me, craft those into goals and into a plan. And then an incredible amount of energy. From within surface that helped me to be inspired, to be courageous, to live my dreams every day. Live the things that are most important to me every day, I knew that I had to bring life planning. Two physicians. So it would be a true honor and privilege for me to go through this process with you.