What’s coming in your future?

Back in June I was re-reading “Ready for Anything” by David Allen and on the first page of the first chapter he writes:

“Something is coming - probably within a few days - that’s going to change your world. You don’t see it yet. You don’t know what it’s about. But it’s there, rolling inexorably forward, destined to throw you a curve that you do not expect. It could show up sooner or later - but it will show up. Trust me.”

He goes on and encourages readers to write in their calendar: “David Allen said a month ago that something was coming I couldn’t foresee that would affect me significantly.”

That’s a pretty powerful statement - it really resonated with me. So on June 28th I wrote it down on a 3×5 index card and stuck it in a file to review on July 28th.

And I promptly lost the folder!

Today I found it. It’s ironic - and a bit spooky - that I found the lost folder exactly on the day I filed the note away three months ago. So what happened to me that I didn’t see coming, and that changed my life significantly?

I’ve been reflecting on that question all afternoon since I found the card. Honestly, nothing has completely blindsided me, but there have been significant positive changes in my life in the last three month.

I’ve settled some debt which has been great. My wife finally had a medical procedure which will greatly improve her quality of life - and she came through with flying colors and is doing great. Things are going great all around, I’ve not had any conflicts in my personal or professional life, my friends and family are all healthy and happy.

But at the same time I feel like there was a reason I misplaced that card for the last three months (to the day too!) and when I reflect back and see the positive changes I’ve experienced in the last 90 days it makes me feel that much better about how things are going. It really gave me a “psychic boost”.

So I made a quick note on the back of the card - the date and major changes -and I filed it back into my tickler file, where I won’t lose it, to check back in on it next month.

I think this is a powerful tool you can add to your arsenal to build and shape your life. How many of us spent scheduled time reflecting back on what’s happened in the last month? I know I don’t. I try to do it quarterly, and it always happens at the end of the year when every media outlet around is hammering you about New Year Resolutions. But how powerful would it be if you were setting a reminder for yourself each month and really looking back?

I think it would be pretty darn powerful. It’s easy to spent a lot of time looking forward and planning, but if we never look back to see how our plans are actually playing out in our lives what good is all the planning in the first place?

I know my priorities and concerns change over time. What is important to me today may not be in a month, or two, or three. But when I don’t look back to see the progress I’ve made I may keep going towards a goal or working to solve a pain that’s not important to me anymore.

So I’ve resolved to look back each month. I’ve added the card to my tickler file to remind me, and for added security I’ve set a calendar reminder to boot. I challenge you to do the same, and see if you don’t discover something interesting about yourself - even if that “something interesting” is that nothing particularly interesting happened!

* * * * * If you enjoyed this article, will you please consider bookmarking it on del.icio.us?

Here are some related articles you might also enjoy!

• What’s coming in your future? Part 2
• What’s your dharma?
• On being reactive.
• Keep a journal to chart your progress.
• Will you share your queue with me?

September 28th, 2007

Entry Filed under: Improvement, Tools, Creativity, Motivation