This is taken from a well-known 12 Step Recovery book "A Gentle Path through the Twelve Steps" by Patrick Carnes, pages 126 to 127.
FANTASY
Imagine that you are in your physician's office. What does it look, smell, and feel like? Your doctor comes in and tells you that results from the tests are in. You have a terminal illness. All the other doctors consulted agree. They think you will maintain your physical ability for about a year - but at the end of the year you will die. [pause]
Imagine your first reactions as you walk out of the office. What do you do? [pause] How do you spend those first few hours and days? [pause] Do you tell anyone? [pause]
Maybe you want to do something different. Perhaps you wish to travel. Where would you go? Picture yourself traveling. Whom would you bring with you? [pause]
Perhaps you might want to do things you have never done before. Activities like skydiving, scuba diving, race car driving seemed too dangerous before, but now it doesn't make any difference. What have you always wanted to do but been afraid to do? [pause] Picture yourself doing this. Who is with you? [pause]
Almost all of us have "unfinished" parts of our lives: a book we are writing, a family room to finish, a family project like getting the family album in order for the kids. What unfinished projects would be important enough to finish before you die? [pause] Imagine yourself doing them. [pause]
For some of us, the unfinished parts include things not said to others - like "I'm sorry" or "I love you." Picture yourself saying the things you would need to say before you die. [pause]
It's now about three months before you die. You can start to feel your health fail. While you can still function, you decide to try one last thing. What would that be? [pause] What would be one of the last things you would want to do before you die? [pause] Who is with you? [pause]
It's now a matter of weeks before you die. Where do you go to die? [pause] Your home? A family farm? A lake? The mountains? The city? [pause] How do you spend those last days? [pause] Who is with you? [pause]
As you think over the events of this last year of your life, what were the most significant ones for you? [pause] In fact, think of these and all the events of your life. Which stand out now as the things that made life worthwhile? [pause]
As you reflect on these events, be aware that you are working on this workbook. And you are very much alive. Be aware of your current surroundings. Wiggle your fingers and toes to bring yourself all the way back to the present, and become ready to move on to your next activity.
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The book itself has detailed intro as well as relevant questions to the exercise and some place to jot down your thoughts, but I am trying to avoid any copyright issues so I will share ONLY the guided meditation part, so that you can have a taste of this valuable exercise! :-) If you have access though, DO follow up with the book's questions part! It is totally worth it!
Thank you Mr. Carnes!
This was the first time I really got to think about my death!
FANTASY
Imagine that you are in your physician's office. What does it look, smell, and feel like? Your doctor comes in and tells you that results from the tests are in. You have a terminal illness. All the other doctors consulted agree. They think you will maintain your physical ability for about a year - but at the end of the year you will die. [pause]
Imagine your first reactions as you walk out of the office. What do you do? [pause] How do you spend those first few hours and days? [pause] Do you tell anyone? [pause]
Maybe you want to do something different. Perhaps you wish to travel. Where would you go? Picture yourself traveling. Whom would you bring with you? [pause]
Perhaps you might want to do things you have never done before. Activities like skydiving, scuba diving, race car driving seemed too dangerous before, but now it doesn't make any difference. What have you always wanted to do but been afraid to do? [pause] Picture yourself doing this. Who is with you? [pause]
Almost all of us have "unfinished" parts of our lives: a book we are writing, a family room to finish, a family project like getting the family album in order for the kids. What unfinished projects would be important enough to finish before you die? [pause] Imagine yourself doing them. [pause]
For some of us, the unfinished parts include things not said to others - like "I'm sorry" or "I love you." Picture yourself saying the things you would need to say before you die. [pause]
It's now about three months before you die. You can start to feel your health fail. While you can still function, you decide to try one last thing. What would that be? [pause] What would be one of the last things you would want to do before you die? [pause] Who is with you? [pause]
It's now a matter of weeks before you die. Where do you go to die? [pause] Your home? A family farm? A lake? The mountains? The city? [pause] How do you spend those last days? [pause] Who is with you? [pause]
As you think over the events of this last year of your life, what were the most significant ones for you? [pause] In fact, think of these and all the events of your life. Which stand out now as the things that made life worthwhile? [pause]
As you reflect on these events, be aware that you are working on this workbook. And you are very much alive. Be aware of your current surroundings. Wiggle your fingers and toes to bring yourself all the way back to the present, and become ready to move on to your next activity.
---
The book itself has detailed intro as well as relevant questions to the exercise and some place to jot down your thoughts, but I am trying to avoid any copyright issues so I will share ONLY the guided meditation part, so that you can have a taste of this valuable exercise! :-) If you have access though, DO follow up with the book's questions part! It is totally worth it!
Thank you Mr. Carnes!
This was the first time I really got to think about my death!
