Consider that we all have a “box of unlived life,” almost like a time capsule from the future that we’re meant to open later in life. Perhaps that unlived life got stunted earlier in your life, or maybe you had a better sense of your purpose younger in life than you do today.
The question to ask yourself is this: How can you help yourself explore that box of unlived or unloved life waiting to be opened? And once you grasp whatever it is that feels “unlived” or “unloved,” ask yourself how you might invest in this so it can feel more loved and central to your life?
How can you turn a potential future regret into an opportunity by shifting your mindset by focusing on that which hasn’t been given proper attention?
For me, these questions are part of the reason I’m investing more time in my two sons, who are 14 and 11, because I have a lot of father energy that deserves to be uncorked and, during their adolescence, the boys may need me more than other times in their life.
You might be 55 years old, but based upon your long history as an entrepreneurial leader, you have the wisdom of a 75 year old in that part of your life. Yet, you’ve struggled with romantic relationships and know that it’s time to invest in that box of chocolates.
It’s easy to get stuck focusing on what you already know, but you also can get bored this way. As this image shows, when the challenge of something starts to dissipate, you move out of your flow zone and into a place of boredom. And, trying something new, for which you may have little historical experience, could send you into the anxiety zone which is a place that most of us don’t enjoy. But, it is in that intentional willingness to explore what’s unlived that we may find ourselves in the Flow Zone which is a beautiful place to be.
What’s unlived in your life that you can start investing in?
-Chip