Let’s try a little exercise! Before we begin, do yourself a small favour. Give yourself some peace and quiet. This means no music should be playing on your computer. Exit from your MSN or Facebook, turn your mobile phone to silent mode, and close the door to your room. Oh. And keep an open mind. Ready?

Have you seen the movie, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"? Remember the scene where Connor, played by Matthew McConaughey, was brought to the scene of his own funeral? His brother, Paul, was the only mourner. It was a sad and quiet event. This exercise is a visualisation experience similar to what Connor experienced. Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve watched the movie before.

Life’s Like a Movie…
Imagine that you are seated in a movie theater. You have no idea what you’ll be watching but you get yourself comfortable anyway. As you munch away on the popcorns, the film starts running. The title of the story flashes, "A Week of My Life". In the movie, it’s a Monday morning. The lead has appeared. And that’s you on the big screen! The movie continues to run, as you watch in detail how you run your everyday life. Every single detail is being covered, including how you’ll secretly dig your nose when nobody is watching. Okay, maybe you don’t. Soon, the day is over. Night falls. You turn in. It’s a brand new day again. And the cycle repeats for an entire week. The movie ends.

Take some time to think about the movie you’ve just watched. How would you describe it? Fun? Or boring? Was it the kind of life you wanted to lead? What if your life is to run in a similar fashion for an entire lifetime? Describe your feelings. Be specific.

The next thing I’m going to suggest might be uncomfortable for some. But let’s try it out anyway. Supposed you were to die suddenly. You are at the scene of the funeral home. Think of yourself as an ethereal presence.

You see your family members seated in the front row, weeping softly. A soft instrumental music plays in the background. And a weird, ‘antiseptic’ smell lingers in the room. As you walk around, you hear your friends talking about you in hushed voices. You hear them describe the kind of person you were to them. The funeral begins. A family member steps up and makes a speech about you. The speech ends.

Soon, the event is over and the crowd is gone. Your family is allowed another moment with you before the casket is closed and locked. Taking a glimpse at the casket, you think about what life has really meant to you. You think about the funeral speech made about you. Was it a short or long one? How much of a difference did you make in his or her life? You think about what your friends have said about you. Was it something you will have liked to hear?

What are your greatest regrets?

What Do You Actually Want in Your Life?
Maybe you wanted to be a better son or daughter. Maybe you wanted to be the proud CEO of a multinational company. Maybe you would like to start your own business and become a successful entrepreneur. Maybe you would quit your current job and pursue your passion in an entirely different field. Maybe you would choose to work from home so that you can spend more time with the family.

The good news is – you are still alive! You can still choose to change the way you want to live. Don’t live your life with maybes. Don’t lead a life filled with regrets. Make your choice now.

A Side Note…
I first came across this death experience exercise in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. It’s part of the chapter on the habit, "Begin with the End in Mind". An excellent book with over millions of copies sold worldwide. I highly recommend that you read it. I still apply the habits that Stephen taught in his book in my everyday life!

Did this exercise take you more than ten minutes?