How six books changed my life
- Five wishes – Gay Hendricks
- Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield
- Ikigai – Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
- Four thousand weeks – Oliver Burkeman
- Act 3 – Judy and Adrian Reith
- From strength to strength – Arthur C Brooks
On laying on your deathbed, tonight or fifty years from now and you reflected… Was my life a complete success? If not, then what would be the things you’d wished had happened that would have made it a success?
These are the big questions that Gay Hendricks explores in his book, Five Wishes. And, they are questions I asked myself that led me to set five life goals that I regularly review, update and always hold myself account to. My goals relate to my relationship, home, health, family & friends, and career. Also, I learnt an important lesson from the book – to let go of things that do not serve me. I have life goals that give me direction, purpose and help me prioritise shorter term actions.
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield shares nine insights through a compelling story. The interpersonal ethic (insight 8) tells us we can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. In short, the energy we give off affects others and helps create the reality we seek. Sounds a bit off-the-wall, but when I became really conscious of this fact and how freely sharing my positive energy impacted others it was life changing. I also became aware how others can sometimes take our energy, so I learnt that I must control the amount of time spent with energy takers. I am generous with my energy and build in time to regenerate after sharing it.
The Japanese secret to a long and happy life is shared in Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. Ikigai is our reason for being, why we get up in the morning, our purpose, and a good reason never to fully ‘retire’! Why do people live so long in five blue zones around the world – the right diet, exercise, companionship, nature connection and above all purpose. From a career perspective, and not always an easy balance to achieve, I always aim to find work that I love (is interesting), I am good at, I can get paid for and it makes a difference in the world. The work I do keeps me in flow, is reward in itself, and aligns with my purpose (Ikigai).
Did you know that the average life span of a human is just 4000 weeks. Oliver Burkeman, in his book, makes a good case that time management, broadly defined, should be everyone’s chief concern. In the long run we are all dead so make the most of every single day that you can, and don’t spend valuable time doing the wrong things. Live in the moment – be present. My life now is not all about To-Do lists, its just as important to have ‘Just-Completed’ lists – it makes me feel good! I think we spend too much of our lives as ‘Human doings’ rather than ‘Human beings’. I spend time just ‘being’: reading a book, climbing a mountain, walking the dogs in the woods, or eating a meal with friends and family.
Act 3, The art of growing older by Judy and Adrian Reith is all about the third life stage – Vanaprastha. If we think of each act being approximately 25 years, with the first growing up as a dependent, the second being independent, building one’s own life, family, home, career etc. and act 4 being what we might call traditional ‘retirement’. Act 3 is the exciting stage of re-evaluation, freedom, and ensuring we live a life without regrets. Spending the right amount of time being with the people we love doing the most important things with meaning and purpose. After 43 years in the corporate world, I have learnt so much about getting the best out of people, change leadership and business transformation. My aim now is to pass on my stock of knowledge and experience to help others maximise their potential, achieve their goals and effectively manage change.
And finally, From strength to strength by Arthur C. Brooks helps with finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life and how to deal with liminality (uncomfortable life transition). Exploring the transition from fluid intelligence (thinking flexibility, solving novel problems and being innovative) to crystallised intelligence (using all ones learning from the past to teach and pass on knowledge). Moving from ‘CV virtues’ to ‘eulogy virtues’, kicking the success addiction and focusing on service, wisdom, and counsel. This has shaped my fifth life goal. I am proud of what I have achieved so far in life (family, career, and adventures), but want to be defined by what is still to come.
Andy MacAskill
November 2023
