Future Affirmations

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1drummergirl

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I notice a lot that I think about how I want to be when I am older. So I thought maybe I should write these thoughts down and toss them on to my calendar (PDA) so that they show up for review in future years. These thoughts range from something funny that happened to "When I get to be ____ age, I want to remember never to say/be/do...

I have these thoughts a lot when I see older folks who have given up on life or become cynical and I make mental notes to myself that I don't want to be that way. I think little tickler notes to myself several years in the future might be useful.
 
I find the "90 Day / 1 Year / 3 Year" goal-setting best for me. 5-7 things in each category. Keep my eyes on the prize while I'm busy in the moment.
 
Do it now.

1drummergirl said:
I notice a lot that I think about how I want to be when I am older. So I thought maybe I should write these thoughts down and toss them on to my calendar (PDA) so that they show up for review in future years. These thoughts range from something funny that happened to "When I get to be ____ age, I want to remember never to say/be/do...

I have these thoughts a lot when I see older folks who have given up on life or become cynical and I make mental notes to myself that I don't want to be that way. I think little tickler notes to myself several years in the future might be useful.
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I totally disagree with this way of thinking.

Why do you think that you will be older?

Accidents happen...

If you want to prepare yourself for the future start changes now. Do not delay implementation of your thoughts. When you will be older it may be too late. For example it will be difficult to improve your physical fitness in the future when you are doing nothing in this area now.

Write your thoughts down and think what you can do now to not
give up your life or become cynical
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TesTeq
 
It's more the type of person you are

I think that younger cynical people become older cynical people (provided they get older, TesTeq!) and younger optimistic people become older optimistic people etc. etc. So don't worry too much, Drummer Girl.

We change and evolve as we grow older (I'm sure those 'laugh lines' round my eyes weren't there yesterday...) but I think our underlying personality characteristics remain broadly the same. Sometimes our project lists may need to include deliberately working on change and evolution in the right way, through therapy, coaching or whatever.

Having said that, I think it sounds like good fun to "post" yourself reminders into the future. At the moment I use diaries in kind of that way, and re-read my old journals once a year or so, but I might try this idea.
 
I think that you have a good idea, but you're only halfway there. Reminding yourself to review something years in the future is great. But between now and years down the road when that review comes back up, what have you done to meet that goal?

"Avoid becoming cynical" isn't really a project to me (I'm sure there will be those that disagree), but nor is it a Someday/Maybe, which is what you're essentially turning it into. It may not have a concrete outcome, but there are things you can do to work towards that end. Why wait 1, 2, or even 10 years...put a next action on your list today.

You want to be a nicer person? Make yourself a reminder in the form of a next action of something you can do to make a step in that direction. Make a note to help an older person with their groceries, or to help someone pick up a bunch of papers they've dropped. Just make a list of a handful of things you can think of what would inch you closer to your desired outcome. You problably won't ever be in a situation to do most of them, but merely thinking about it should help you begin to think in those terms and you will find yourself doing other things not on the list. Don't go out actively looking for these things, but make a note somewhere you'll see it so that if you are somewhere and actually can do it, you'll be more likely to.

Changing yourself is one of the hardest things to do, but by waiting, you accomplish nothing.
 
Maybe I am wrong, but I thought affirmations could only work in the affirmative; and only in the present tense. Even "hope I die before I get old" is a more technically affirmative statement than those along the lines of "boy, I sure hope I don't get to be a jaded downer when I get old."

Cynicism isn't borne of age, it's largely attitude, response to life events. The fact that you're associating it with aging suggests that you may have a lot of jaded old downers in your life, and you may not be reading the same attribute accurately in your contemporaries. What may seem pessimism or cynicism to an outsider might be read as "being realistic" in members of the same peer group. It all depends on your point of view.

A friend of mine once heard his elderly father commiserating with former coworkers, all retired. They were going over their life's triumphs and failings, and on the latter, they all agreed on one thing: If they had to do it all over again, they'd risk more, do more. They expressed regret at having devoted so much of their lives to the service of fear.

I've thought of that story many times since hearing it, and find it highly instructive. Want to avoid becoming cynical, which is all about bitterness, disappointment, anger? Live more, do more, be more. And not in the future, which is just an concept. Do it NOW. All your fears will be foolish fancies, and maybe you'll understand those sad old codgers better. And you won't have to worry about losing your tickler file for 20 years hence.
 
I just finished my first, broad reading of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, in which its author states his belief that affirmations alone don't raise self-esteem. Simply repeating a statement may temporarily change a person's feelings about something and/or raise their awareness about it, but it does not necessarily affect that person's actions. Heck, addicts are always telling themselves, "I'll never do that again."

So, how do we respond to a belief that we should, for example, never take our spouse for granted? Self-inspection followed by present action. First, I'd ask myself why I have this belief, and what it means to me specifically. Then, I'll translate this into concrete actions or immediate reminders that will change my behavior.
 
Still Rocking in the free World

I'm an old dude that forgets that I am old. I've been rocking in the free world (drumming) for over 20 years. The kicker is at 46, (four years ago) I decided to rock harder by learining some new stick throws and a lot of double kick drum techniques. In my younger days played the top clubs in my area and played on the road. Now marrage, morgauge and the daily grind takes most of my energy, thus not much time for gigging. I think the toll of time and responsabilities may change one's attitude, but in my case, I find it more of an education in life's lessons. My belief is learning a musical instrument has been like a youth pill. I keep planning for my next gig, and visualizing what I will be doing on the kit as far as performing and sounding. I guess my point is attitude can be what you want it to be, regardless of difficulities life hits you with. I have a wife that had a accident, taking her out of the work force, business that is barely holding on, health isn't the best, but it doesn't sour me. I think people are what they want to be, and the biggest sickness society is the excuse virus. Musically speaking, I think it enriches one's life, but not the pocket book. Business enriches the pocket book but not necessarly life. Drummers are in the time management business, musically speaking. GTD is like an art form of a type, conceptual thinking with practical thinking, thus one can be creative and productive with time. Forums like this make me look at work/time differently, and starting to appreciate the day more. I see other guys/gals like me, pushing to make the next day better by applying techniques. I guess we are cheering each other on. I think your idea of a diary is a good one. I found a old tape of me talking into a tape recorder 15 years ago, and listening to that, I know realize how little I knew back then compaired to now. Now I got it a lot harder but feel more in control. As far as cynical goes, I've been ripped off a lot in the last 2 years, but appreciate people more (especially the honest ones). I am really off topic, but thought I'd vent for once. I enjoy this forum, the ideals of goals, positive thinking, appreciating time, and the values of what good time management bring, such as the ability to take care of one's family better. Plus, getting time to play the odd gig. Drumming wise, practice hard, learn good technique, show off on the drums as people hear with their eyes, and put the drums out front where they belong. Play true to the music, be solid. That forces the band to play and work harder, as drummers must take the lead in supplying intensity and motivation for the rest of the group.
 
drumsonly2002 said:
Drumming wise, practice hard, learn good technique, show off on the drums as people hear with their eyes, and put the drums out front where they belong. Play true to the music, be solid. That forces the band to play and work harder, as drummers must take the lead in supplying intensity and motivation for the rest of the group.
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How can I NOT respond to that! :D Rock on DrumsOnly2002!

What I was trying to convey with my first post is that I don't want to lose the way I feel about a situation or a character trait from the way I perceive it now. I know things can change and we see things differently as we grow older. I don't think like I did when I was 16 and I make wiser decisions and make better choices now than I did last year at age 31. What I want to do is capture these thoughts and put them somewhere where I will see them at a point in the future where I think I will need them the most. Perhaps the calendar isn't the best spot - maybe make a few topical memos in my palm that I review once a year. I already do that with quotes - I list quotes by topic in separate memos on my palm that I review as needed for motivation/insipration.

Just like Arduinna's example of the retired gentleman commenting that they would take more risks. I want to capture little stories and quotes that reflect who I want to be or that inspire me to press on. As for striving to meet these goals on a daily basis - I think I already work towards that with my various goals and activities in my calendar and on my projects list. For instance, serving my friends, family and community is important to me and I am involved in activities with my church, school and community that reflect that. I won't blabber on about it but my point is I want to capture my thoughts and put them in place where I can see them when I need to see them. That's all.

PS - DrumsOnly2002 - what kind of kit do you have?
 
DrumsOnly2002 --

What a terrific post!!! Being an old dude myself and not feeling that old (will be 66 in June), I can really relate to what you say.

Carolyn, who is still rockin' on despite some knocks here and there
 
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