Today I read again in one of the most inspiring books I ever read, it’s: “Sum – Tales from the afterlives”. It consists of small little stories about options of afterlives – how it could be, what will happen to us, what will we experience after we have left this world – all done in a very fun way and very inspiring in regard to possible models how this world works, ideas about god, ourselves and concepts about humankind – very broadening views. One of those stories starts like this:

“In the afterlife you are judged not against other people, but against yourself. Specifically, you are judged against what you could have been.”
[David Eagleman, Sum Tales from the afterlives]

Boah, I was reading this while having a good cup of Earl Grey sitting in the sun. Oh, should I sit here? Don’t I have to do  something else? Oh gosh: Who and what could I have been? Booooh, heavy. I actually felt a bit guilty instantly, but on the other hand I was grateful for that hint. Further in the book:

“… the afterworld is much like the present world, but it now includes all the yous that could have been. In an elevator you might meet more successful versions of yourself, perhaps the you that chose to leave your hometown three years earlier … These yous are not really you, they are better than you. They made smarter choices, worked harder, invested the extra effort … They played your cards better.”
[David Eagleman, Sum Tales from the afterlives]

Puuuh, heavy stuff. Did I play my cards best? What >>is<< best? Would it have been better if I would have stayed in the corporate world as an employee? Was would better mean? Was it really best for me to become self employed? Until now, I did not have had any doubts on this, but sometimes it might make sense to question things, which seemed to be (too) obvious – once.

Of course, we cannot change past, but what was best yesterday does not need to be best today. Yes, I could have used certain chances better, for sure, but today is today. I take this hint as a chance to really think how to play my “remaining cards” best. Of course, this will be today’s view and I feel reminded to do that from time to time in very general and do not take any situation including my own creations as given.

Self growth and personal development are high interest topics of mine for years, but sometimes it is so good to get reminded to implement and live in full what the self growth masters I learned from like Anthon Robbins, Brian Tracy and all the other gurus teach.

Take the chance and let it sink in and ask yourself: ‘What could I have been?’ (it’s OK to have a little ‘Grrrh’ in your breast while doing that) and then ‘What can I (still) be? What do I want to be?’
The rocking chair exercise is a good way to ponder on this and set priorities, make decisions and to go on with faith and inner stability.

Happy creations and take care …

Kath Rising
Multipreneur and Co-Founder of isemboo.com

PS: The named book is fun to read anyway :-), it’s actually written by a neuroscientist and too good not to include the amazon links