Ten years From Right Now

Where do you want to be? What do you want to do?

My son suggested we listen to a podcast on our drive to a weekend get-away house, we rented for the weekend. My son picked the podcast. It was one with veteran hostage negotiator and FBI specialist in negotiations, Chris Voss.

We drove through heavy traffic and the podcast didn’t help. Intense. Dark. But I was really inspired!

At first, I was hoping for something inspiring and uplifting. But as I listened, I felt myself drawn in. I felt hooked after 15 minutes and after 90 minutes we arrived at our weekend rental but I felt fueled; inspired and motivated.

All his stories of negotiations with terrorists and kidnappings were one thing. But I felt the whole podcast was really about soul care!

Voss suggested that a principle in life he uses about life planning is this:

Pick a point in life you want to be ten years from today. Now, work yourself back. Work yourself back each year until this very day.

That got me thinking. That got me talking with my son. I think it can get us all off being stuck.

Think forward ten years— where do you want to live and what do you want to be doing?

Then, think it through in gradual and sequential steps. Perhaps annual steps at first; then quarterly steps you could take to move the ball down the field!

What incremental steps can you take that will add up to you entering the life you’re aspiring to live?

What do I need to do to move me forward towards what I really want?

Voss’s question, was for me the deep dive into Ignatian spirituality when  Ignatius suggests we excavate out of our hearts, the deepest longing we have— then move towards it.

When I turned 60, I did the Ignatian excercises. I spent every Wednesday for one year meeting with a Catholic priest who mined my heart for the gold within. Together, I was able to put words to desires and action steps which propelled me forward to the life I’m now living.

But Voss’s question is one which any of us can work on right now!

-Where do you want to live in ten years?

-What do you want to be doing?

-What are a few obstacles preventing your moving forward? (Limit this to 5 for now, then adjust quarterly)

-What blessing or permission do you need to begin your steps and from whom? Write it out— write out the blessing you need to give YOURSELF, first. Then ask 1-2 of your closest friends who believe in you?

-What single step can I take today to move out of inertia and move into the flow that will move me forward?

From a perspective and framework as a follower of Jesus, I believe we have abundant resources to utilize: the Spirit’s help and encouragement; the soul friends we have developed who believe in us; the inner awakening that there is more to life than the life I’ve been living; the promise of a life now that is marked by “abundance” (John 10:10) to list a few.

What hinged this exercise together is our desire. Mine that out, and you’re 70% there.

I think this is an important exercise that could be about your health; your work; your vocation; your faith journey and more.

Try it and let me hear how this strikes you!

Did this ignite you to take an action step?

Chime in… what do you think?

Ten years from today, I will be knocking on the door of being 80. I plan on doing what I’ve asked you to do! When I look at it this way, every day feels important and every day I want to live— even more!

(I took this picture of Gwen talking with our granddaughter this morning on the beach in Greece in-front of the Airbnb we are staying at now.)