Writing your own eulogy while you’re still alive might seem a little morbid—but in truth, the earlier you write it, the better.

What do you want people to say about you when you're gone? And if, heaven forbid, tomorrow was your last day—what would they say now? Let’s go with the assumption that you’ve got a long, rich life ahead—say, at least 80 more years—and look ahead to the kind of person you could become in that time.

What kind of legacy could you leave behind? How many lives could you impact? Whatever you’ve gone through, you’ve already learned a lot—lessons that others will eventually need. And thank goodness for the people willing to turn their hardships into someone else’s blessing by sharing what they’ve learned.

Whatever you hope people will say or remember about you—there’s no better time than now to steer your life in that direction. Take a moment and write down three things you’d love to be remembered for. Most people won’t take the time, but if you do, you’ve just taken a powerful step toward building a life worth admiring.

You’ll start to notice that decisions become clearer. The path forward feels more aligned. And the right support tends to show up right when you’re ready for it.

Think of those three things you want said about you. Whether you write them out in a list or as full sentences doesn’t matter.

Say, for example, you wrote: “He was a man of integrity.” (And no—it doesn’t have to be a trait you already live by.)

With that intention in place, you now have a simple way to evaluate what belongs in your life. Try this:

_________ makes it easier for me to have integrity. True / False

Start plugging in names—friends, colleagues, even activities. If the statement is true, that person or thing supports your values. If it’s false, you may want to rethink the role they play in your life.

Surround yourself with as many people and influences as possible that lift you toward the person you want to become.

Try it with hobbies, too. Does your favorite pastime help you live with integrity? What about the books you read or the shows you watch? Choose things that help you embody the traits you value.

Now, let’s say you wrote: “She was a woman of courage.” Use the same filter:

_________ makes it easier for me to have courage. True / False

Some things may be irrelevant—like “grocery shopping on Tuesdays makes it easier for me to have courage.” Probably not. But what about “listening to a motivational podcast” or “avoiding a tough conversation”? One helps, the other hinders.

Once you’ve identified your top values, daily decisions get simpler. Each choice becomes a vote for the life you want. And over time, your eulogy—the one you wrote in hope—becomes your truth.

So what do you value most in a person? Honesty? Strength? Optimism? Wisdom? Kindness? Pick your qualities like you’re shopping at the store—put them in your cart, even if they’re not yours yet. You don’t have to own them today—you just have to choose them.

Then go write that eulogy. It might be one of the hardest things you ever do—but it could also be one of the most life-changing.

Think of the happiest, most fulfilled people you know. What traits do they live by? Can you name them? They don’t have to be true about you—yet.

What do you aspire to be?

How do you want to feel on your last day—looking back on the life you lived, and the person you became?

To learn more about how putting your vision into words can shape your future, visit www.schooloflifemastery.com/mindset-mastery.

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