So, have you composed a list of the significant events of your life that have shaped you as the person you are today? (If not, I invite you to take some time to reflect. You can read Sunday’s post for some background.) This list does not have to be assembled in chronological order, though it may help to plot these events along a timeline, as in the example that follows:
Age _#1__#3__#2__#4__…___current age
6y 8y 16y 16.5y …
This timeline simply reflects the order in which you recalled the events (#s) and your year of age when it occurred. Allow yourself to recall events forward or backwards along the timeline, gradually representing the significant shaping situations and events of your life up to now.
If you prefer to represent these shaping experiences in terms of phases (for some or all of them), then you can demarcate time frames along your timeline, as follows:
Age _#1___#2___ … _current age
{2-5 y } 10y
The important thing is to represent your life events and situations in a manner that is meaningful to you, so that when you look at the record of events plotted along this timeline it reflects the punctuating moments or phases of your Life Story.
For each event or time frame, be sure to write a brief description of the event (in a separate log) so you can reconstruct which events you recalled quickly while reading across your timeline.
If you would like, you can add computer icon images to represent meaningful factors you associate with some of your events, as follows:
Age _#1___#2__…__ current age
4 y 6y
For now it is enough just to represent a set of shaping events from early childhood up to today. This will start your process of reconstructing your life as a Story with meaningful experiences, challenges, joys and sorrows. Everyone has a Life Story to tell and reconstructing that story can help to illuminate patterns or trends that reveal your significant lessons and gifts.
I welcome your insights and questions.
Better Endings 