The secret to designing your life

Some people might find this a little morbid but I practice dying while I'm still alive. I'm not alone in this practice. Buddhists including many people living out their passions practice this mental exercise.

Question your life, question what you're doing and ask yourself this question today... if I had 1 day, 1 week, 1 month to live, "what would I do?"  Would I be watching TV, reading magazines, reading the paper, gossiping? Get clear and be honest with yourself. It's one of my secrets to designing my life with intention and clarity and I do have to re-visit those questions often. It's a lesson I am always learning more from.

Dying while still alive is the best way I can think of to put a laser sharp focus on how I choose to spend my time. Get that mental note in your mind that some day (like everyone else) you will leave this physical world. What will be your contribution?

Randy Pausch has created a huge buzz because of his book The Last Lecture and his determination to live his life with great intention knowing his life will be cut short of cancer. If you haven't seen the lecture do a search and watch the lecture he gave at Carnegie Melon to his students on utube.