In life, we all want to do good things for the people closest to us, and, commonly, that will involve thinking about the things we leave behind for our families or loved ones down the line.
Just as a parent would likely want to spare their children from having to get estate lawyers involved in the process of obtaining their material inheritance, so too do most of us want to ensure that we have good stories to leave behind, so that our lives have the broadest overall positive impact.
Here are just a few tips for curating good stories to pass on.
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Take intentional steps to catalog things, such as by journaling
First things first, the best way to gather a good record of interesting stories from your life is to proactively set about cataloging things, as they unfold over the course of your day-to-day routines and experiences.
Journalling, in particular, is a very old and well-established tradition that seems to be making something of a comeback in recent times. And, journaling not only helps you to create an excellent log of the highlights of your life – but it also serves as an excellent way for you to practice a bit of productive introspection, and to create a record of your everyday experiences, for your own benefit.
Many people have found it to be a very powerful experience to go through their ancestors’ journals, and it’s only really through journals that some of the greatest historical events are known about in detail.
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Focus on spending quality time with the people that matter to you the most, and be present in those moments
It’s tempting to think – or hope – that everyone you ever interact with will carry around profound and deep memories of you for the rest of their lives.
In reality, though, you will tend to create powerful and uplifting memories primarily with the people who are closest to you, and in those moments you spend together, enjoying each other’s company.
For this reason, and for many others, you should prioritize quality time with the people who matter to you the most, and you should also make a point of being present in those moments. In other words, don’t get distracted by your phone, or get lost in distraction. Actually savor those moments, make the most of them, and experience them directly and fully.
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Take some chances, and pursue your passions and the things you find meaningful in life
You are going to miss out on a lot of the deepest and most profound experiences of life, as well as many of the most potent stories and memories if you don’t pursue your passions and the things you find genuinely meaningful.
So, despite the potential risks, setbacks, and the daunting nature of the task at hand (whatever it may be), dare to pursue your dreams and to arrange your life in line with things that really inspire and motivate you.
That might mean retraining and planning for an ambitious career change, or it might simply mean adjusting how you spend your free time, so that you dedicate more attention to a particular hobby that you’ve been neglecting, whether that’s a particular sport, or just reading more books.
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