When I eventually shuffle from this mortal coil, I’m not sure I would want people at my funeral describing me as ‘a real go-getter’, who was a ‘great team player’.
‘Dave was a motivated and results-driven guy who often delivered results on-time and within budget.’
No, thank you.
And yet, from a very early age we are encouraged to cultivate the kinds of character traits that look good on a CV. We praise our kids for being good-listeners and team-players and self-motivated, which are all good things, but is there nothing more to aspire to?
The question is, do you want to rely on external validation and live by a set of values that might impress people externally when written down on paper, or do you want to live by a set of values that make you a good, kind man of integrity?
Do you want to find validation inside yourself that comes from staying true to a deeply held set of personal values that define your character, rather than relying on others for your self-worth?
Do you want people to say that you were impressive in an interview, or that you improved the lives of those around you?
Today’s journal prompt is:
Do you want to be remembered for résumé values or eulogy values?
Happy journaling.
Dave Bawden is the founder of This Journaling Journey, where he helps people (especially men) use journaling to rewrite their personal myths, reconnect with meaning, and define success on their own terms. He writes at the intersection of self-authorship, narrative identity, and everyday philosophy.
