I’m feeling optimistic about blogging–inspired by Mike Bogle’s “10-minute-post” concept, by the wonderfully reflective and timely knowledge nuggets at health information specialist Mary Doug Wright’s blog, Meldinme, and by the short and insightful posts from Seth Godin. My plan is to commit to trying the 10-minute-post idea and to offer regularly occurring stories and insights (yes, I’m sure I have regularly occurring insights). Perhaps this year’s “futurestory word” will be “completion.” Stay tuned!

On the topic of stories, insights, and commitment, I highly recommend a short animated video called The 5.75 Questions You’ve Been Avoiding from Michael Bungay Stanier at Box of Crayons in Toronto. It is, as they say, awesome! A wonderful nudge to begin a new year with more self-awareness, commitment, and gratitude.

OK … ready, set …

Think of our life story as a book that we “write on the fly.” Every morning we get up and rattle off a few pages … maybe even a chapter some days. Then there are days when we feel tired or we struggle to make decisions about what to write because there are just too many options, or maybe we lack confidence to write “bigger”stories. Some days we write pages of our book in the way that other people think we should. We match the expectations of others. Too often we write pages with activities and events that match our own lowest expectations of ourselves. We are too afraid to dream and then to live into our dreams.

I was contemplating how we can “write” our life story today and tomorrow in a way that reflects our true nature, capabilities, and dreams. Then I began to think… wouldn’t it be interesting to think of our life story as a partially completed book that has gone missing from the library shelf. Or maybe you lent it to a friend and they dropped in the bath and tossed it. It’s a work in progress but the history–the history that we think the world judges us by… baggage that holds us back–is gone. All that remains is the movie version that we live one day at a time. The world sees only the day-to-day action without having expectations based on say … chapter two or five.

We know our experiences, history, dreams, and hopes. We know the events that made us strong and knowledgeable. We know the challenges that we survived and that have made us resilient. We don’t need to replay the unrealistic expectations from people in chapter one. They don’t have to play a leading role in chapter eight–or in today’s movie. Depending on the situation, this analogy has its limitations of course. Many of the experiences in our life story feel as though they are indelibly etched in our spirit. I think that the benefit of thinking about our lives in these terms is the reminder that we DO have choices, much of life is not written in stone. By drawing on parts of our story, we can reinforce our strength, courage, and commitment in order to create a “future story” that reflects who we are.

In my opinion, the benefit of the life story/movie analogy is recognizing the positives from our previous experience, combining them with the the important people and experiences of today, and recognizing our ability to shape our future. Our story gives us power.

These thoughts are on my mind because we’re beginning a new month in a new year. I’m also thinking about my goals and living my values because of the FutureStory 2008 project. Participants have been sharing their New Year’s resolution “word” and we’ve been discussing the challenges associated with “living in the moment” in a world that bombards us with information, responsibilities, and demands faster than we can blink. Sometimes, the challenge is simply “how to choose” when we have so many options. And too often we “choose” one more thing to do, commit to, engage in–when what we really need is time to think, reflect, and plan.

For many of us, our work–our career–consumes most of our time and energy. When we’re just beginning, we gladly focus on the job. As time passes and we become seasoned and competent in our field, we can relax our focus and spend more time enjoying other aspects of our lives. At least, that’s what many of us hope.

“The experts” say that we will experience between three and five major career changes in our lifetime. Some suggest between three and eleven! The point is, just when we think we’ve “got it,” and can ease up on the intensity of our work focus, it’s time to change lanes. If you’re in mid-life and experiencing either a self-initiated or an imposed career change, it can feel as if the world is crumbling around you!

“Living in the moment” can’t protect you from the upheaval of career change. But it can help you recognize and enjoy the things that bring you pleasure and contentment. The ability to filter the incessant white noise of today’s world and to appreciate the beauty of “now” may ironically be a catalyst for your career change. Whatever your career path, our lives are made of a stream “moments” and recognizing and pursuing the most rewarding way to “live in them” is, in my experience, far more satisfying that “living for the future.”

If you are anticipating or are in the midst of mid-life career change and are willing to share your story, please contact me. I am developing a profile of survival tips and techniques and would love to hear about your experience.

As I was walking my dogs this morning I was contemplating the new year and the notion of New Year’s resolutions. I usually don’t “do” resolutions… having experienced too many years of not quite achieving my goal. But it occurred to me that I might like to try a “word” for 2008. I’ve heard that one of the tricks for achieving your resolution is to have just one. After thinking a bit longer, I decided that my word would be “courage.” At the end of each year, I feel like I could have achieved more if I’d had more courage–less fear of failing or of appearing foolish in the eyes of my peers.

A bit further along the dog walk, it occurred to me that other people might do New Year’s “words” (or “phrases”) too. Wouldn’t it be interesting to share ideas for implementing our “words?” People would commit to sharing their successful “word” experience at least once each week and hopefully more often. As they say in Appreciative Inquiry, the thing you focus on is the thing that grows. It’s true.

The FutureStory 2008 group would share ideas and stories … and, in fact, by collecting insights, achievements and surprises that unfold while focusing on our word/phrase over the next year, each of us could compile an anthology of stories relating to our “word of the year.” Our “word” would become a part of our lives in a way that it might not without such focus.

So … are you interested in choosing a “word” (or a phrase) and through mutual support and focused attention, making it one of your strengths by the end of 2008? If you’re interested in participating, email me at shelley[at]shourstonandassociates.com and I’ll send you instructions for signing up. I’ll set up an online community to facilitate discussion among people with the same “word” as well as the group at large. I’m also thinking that it would be interesting to have “success mentors”–people who have achieved success in some area of their life–to join us periodically to share their secrets for achieving their goals.

The cost? It’s free! [And it's an experiment.]

Let me know soon as I will probably have to close the group at a certain size. And please forward this invitation to people you think would be interested. I’m looking forward to hearing about how your New Year’s “word” appears in your daily life once you (and your FutureStory team) focus on it.

Happy New Year!