What Gives Your Life Meaning? This is one of the first questions I ask most of my clients in geriatric care management and in counseling. The reason for this question is to know what is important to you as an individual – what gives your life meaning, value and purpose. If I know this before the issue, it always helps me to redirect, coach, and counsel you or your entire family keeping that value in all decisions, options and outcomes.
Taking inventory to that which gives your life meaning is important in drafting legal tools and financial planning goals. I say this not as an attorney or a financial planner, but as an advocate for you to have “life your way” no matter what your unforeseen needs may be.
For example, if “family” (children and grandchildren) is your primary focus for meaning, as well as for a relationship, then you will want to live near them or have arrangements made for frequent visits if at a distance. Likewise, in your legal tools, you might want to leave all of your assets for the education and well being of your grandchildren.
If your passion for your faith and God is a primary place of meaning and value, you might want to indicate in legal tools that you would want to live in a religious run or managed care facility should you ever need assisted care. Likewise you might want to give the majority of your estate to the religious institution you are affiliated with. If you are leaving assets for a religious group you might want to indicate how you want them to spend your donation – such as children’s or music ministry or mission outreach. It can be a general donation, but if you have been on many mission trips and want to ensure missions will continue, you want to be specific in your directions.
An inventory of what gives your life purpose is also important in delegating time and energy during ones life. If animal protection is your passion, you might want to volunteer at a shelter. If adult literacy is a concern of yours, you might want to assist those who didn’t learn to read as a child– what a wonderful gift.
What we do with our lives is up to us – take inventory of your passions and make them part of your life today, as well as your legacy forever.
firstSTREET says
September 22, 2010 at 6:54 pmHey Linda, I think it is a great strategy to narrow down what is most important to us in life, especially for elders. As you mentioned, having thought these things through can help distribute the time we spend doing them. Fulfillment is the ultimate goal at the end of ones life, and I think you make a great point to bring up this sentimental, yet important question.
firstSTREET says
September 22, 2010 at 6:54 pmHey Linda, I think it is a great strategy to narrow down what is most important to us in life, especially for elders. As you mentioned, having thought these things through can help distribute the time we spend doing them. Fulfillment is the ultimate goal at the end of ones life, and I think you make a great point to bring up this sentimental, yet important question.