Define Your Endgame

Endgame is defined as the very last part of a strategic game. And if we look at the definition of a game, it’s a form of play or sport that’s decided by skill, strength or luck. Hmm. That sounds a bit like life, right?

Our skills are our abilities, knowledge and competencies to perform a task or a job. These are the things we do each day to earn a living and to make our worlds go ‘round. Strength includes the quality of being physically strong, but also our capacity to withstand great force or pressure. I like to think of that capacity as the strength of our mindset, attitudes and beliefs. And luck? Well, luck is just when good or bad things happen by chance. It’s the roll of the dice resulting in our good or bad fortunes in life.

Death as the ultimate endgame.

I think it’s a safe assumption that our personal endgame is when we come to the conclusion of our skills, strengths and luck. And that would mean death is THE ultimate endgame. For everyone.

Most people have no idea when their endgame will occur, but, to some extent, we do have control over how our endgame looks and feels. Usually, death isn’t on our radar when we’re young and just starting careers, relationships and life in general. But whether you’re 80 years old or have been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, you certainly have more life behind you than you do in front of you. Perhaps, if you haven’t already, it’s time to start sharing precious heirlooms or special memories or photos with your family. Or letting a close friend or family member know your final wishes from a legal or medical standpoint. You have control over these things. How and where you want to live your final days (maybe it’s on a Caribbean island or in your most beloved recliner!) and who you want, or don’t want, near you are important considerations.

The endgame mindset.

Besides the physical attributes of your last days, have you considered how you might want to feel or think as you reflect on your life during those days? I haven’t worked with any clients who say they choose to be sad, regretful, miserable and cranky at the end of their lives. Sadly, I imagine there are some people who leave this earth in that manner, but if you want to have your final days be filled with gratitude, appreciation, peace and love, you may have some work to do on your outlook.

Your mindset is a big contributor in how you respond and interpret situations. And, in this case, that situation is your death. By working on your beliefs and attitudes, it can be incredibly powerful in how you view the world – your own world and the greater world around you. Even by making small adjustments, you can shift your mindset to find more peace in each day, forgiveness and love for yourself and others, and a sense of gratitude for the life you lived.

Our skills fade.

As we age, almost all of our skills diminish or come to an end. You may have been a trained athlete early in life, but you won’t always be able to compete at the level you once did when you were younger. You may have had mad skills as a teacher or an electrician or an engineer, but you may not keep up with new advances or discoveries or you might lose interest altogether in your chosen career.

Your skills fade over time. You still know how to drive a car, but you often drive much slower as you get older. Your eyesight fades. Your hearing fades. Even your sense of taste fades. But if you work on your mindset, and barring any brain disorders or dementia, it won’t fade. You can keep that for the entirety of your life. And while a disease may affect your brain, there’s not a single person who can take your mindset away from you. No one has that much power.

Is how you live your life how you want to live your death?

Give yourself the time and space to think about how you want to spend your final days. Your death may be looming closely or it could be decades away. It’s never too late (or too early!) to define your endgame. Make your life matter until the very end. And while your skills and physical strength decline over the years, your mindset is resilient if you invest in it.

With Grace,

Leah

P.S. And if this resonated with you in any way, please share it with others. The more compassion and understanding that’s out there in the world, the better.