Start With The End, Then Build The Plan

When you think about your future, are you focused on the next week, year, or decade? Have you ever considered your 50-year plan?

One of the tactics that has helped me remain positive through a lengthy period of chronic illness was focusing on the long-term, the very long-term.

I imagined my ideal life at 80-years-old:

• Healthy mind and body
• Relaxing on a sunny porch
• Smiling husband at my side
• Children chatting with us
• Grandchildren playing in yard
• Friends walking over for dinner
• Enjoying my favorite hobbies

That’s my definition of success. All I need is good health, to be surrounding be people I hold dear, and activities to keep my mind and body engaged.

Imagine your ideal life at 80-years-old.
What are you doing?
Who are you with?
Where are you?
How do you feel?
Then take actions today in order to build that future.

Whenever I’m stressing over the latest challenge, I return to my list:

• Healthy mind and body
• Relaxing on a porch in the sun
• Smiling wife at my side
• Children chatting with us
• Grandchildren playing in the yard
• Friends walking over for dinner
• Enjoying my favorite hobbies

It centers me. Even if I have very little, I have enough. I am on the path to achieving my 50-year plan. I have time to achieve these goals.

Some are enabled by money (the porch and the yard), but most of them are enabled by consistent behaviors and actions.

Want a smiling partner at your side at 80? Be a loving spouse daily.

Want kids who want to be around you? Be a supportive and caring parent daily.

Want to keep your mind sharp as you age? Keep busy learning and trying new things.

Genuine success is about more than just career achievements or financial wealth. It’s about living a life filled with love, family, and friendship. And it benefits from some long-term thinking.

Draft out of dream life. Then plan your days, months, and years accordingly.