Today’s exercise appears in A Year of Living Consciously, and is spelled out in greater detail in Five Wishes: How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True. (I recommend these books because I got something out of them. I don’t receive any kickbacks for linking to them.) I also completed this exercise for myself on New Year’s Eve, looking forward to 2023.

Imagine that it’s your last day alive. Looking backwards, would you say that your life was a complete success? I hope the answer for all of us is “Yes!” But regardless of your current feelings about it, pretend the answer is indeed affirmative.

Now consider: What did you experience or accomplish that made your life a complete success?

To connect this to your writing, consider what accomplishments would make your creative life a complete success. What would you do or not do that would completely fulfill you creatively and allow you to look back on your life with pride.

Here were mine:

  • My writing life is a complete success because I work on projects that are personally meaningful and allow me to explore my big questions about life. I write fearlessly, dig deep for emotional truth, and share my observations, without worrying about anyone’s judgment.
  • My writing life is a complete success because I’m committed to continuous learning and development, I’m unafraid to challenge myself, and I’m excited about trying new forms, genre, strategies, and other elements of writing.
  • My writing life is a complete success because I finish the projects I start and share my work with others.
  • My writing life is a complete success because I’m not competitive with other writers. I share my knowledge, offer encouragement, and celebrate their successes.
  • My writing life is a complete success because I engage with other writers, foster community, and seek out creative collaborations.