Getting Ready For A Life Audit
The questions we ask ourselves shape the lives we end up living.
For me, these five questions have become a daily reset. These act like a break in my thoughts, so I don’t continue on patterns that haven’t served me in the past. And they anchor me in the present moment to savor the good things I have set out to accomplish.
If you’re looking to live with more purpose, start asking yourself these questions too. Maybe, even create your own. Yes, it’s impossible to live a life with no regrets, but we can live one that feels deeply intentional.
My hope is that by asking yourself these questions every day, when you eventually pause to do a life audit, you’ll feel content with the way you chose to live.
Because in the end, our legacy isn’t built in a single defining moment. It’s cemented by the questions we ask ourselves and the choices we make every single day.
Question I:
Am I Living Today as If My Time Here Is Finite and Precious?
This is the question from which everything else flows.
I once read that people who don’t know what to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon want to live forever. And that it feels like years fly by but days drag on. Both are so true. Knowing our time here is finite changes everything. It makes every commitment, every distraction, and every opportunity worth re-examining. It also gives me the courage to say no, and the permission to say yes wholeheartedly to things that make me feel alive.
For anything negative, it makes me question if my overthinking is worth it. Will this matter 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years from now?
I hardly remember what I ate for dinner last night without having to think hard about it, so I guess the answer to something that feels terrible now, might just be a blip in the big scheme of life.
Question II:
What Does Success Mean to Me Right Now?
Success should evolve because we do.
Success and ambition now don’t look like how I had defined them in my 20’s and 30’s. Today, success for me is the time freedom to do what I really want to. I want the freedom of the quiet time in my home and to never take my mobility for granted.
The definition of luxury has definitely moved away from material things. Of course, I still need money and resources to live a comfortable life, a decent working car to go places, but there’s a limit to now how much I want to acquire. All I gather now is great friends and experiences. I’ve become a life long learner and am greedy only when it comes to my curiosity about finding out about new topics, ideas and understanding how others make sense of the world.
I also ask myself, What would I do differently if money stopped being the excuse? More often than not, I realize I don’t have to wait. I can start small today and scale as I gather the resources.
What if I lost everything tomorrow, what could no one take away from me? Well, no one can take away my curiosity. No one can take away the lessons I’ve learned, the memories I’ve made, or the way I’ve chosen to see the world.
Those are the things I now consider true wealth.
Question III:
What Went Well Today and Why?
Because we spend far too much time auditing our failures.
This question anchors me in the most fundamental question I want to ask any “half glass full” type of person. Subtract everything you have in your life right now and tell me how you feel. I mean, all those ordinary things we take for granted like our health, our living parents, and the resources at our disposal.
This gratitude exercise that I usually do at the end of the day gives me a sharper vision on all the systems in my life that are quietly working. And those things that are truly essential and cannot be taken away. Its a truly grounding experience, try it!
Question IV:
What Do I Need To Unlearn Today?
Growth isn’t only about compounding.
Sometimes, it’s about deleting old thoughts and beliefs that aren’t relevant in the world we’re living in.
Unlearning is an exercise in self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating a tragedy, celebrating a milestone, or standing at any meaningful turning point, this question helps you process change through reflection instead of reaction.
Ask yourself: What would this look like if I approached it from first principles?
That simple shift strips away inherited assumptions, outdated narratives, and habits you’ve never questioned. It helps you keep what is timeless and makes room for high value outcomes.
Question V:
How Do I Love People When Words Aren’t Enough?
Character is demonstrated more than declared.
As a writer, I instinctively reach for words. To cope, to connect and to declare my ideas.
But the older I get, the more I realize that love isn’t measured by what we just say. Because words can be empty, if they’re not followed by our attention and service. Our words and actions must celebrate people for how hard we’re all trying to survive this grind called the daily life.
At their best, words must connect us through our shared experiences. So we can all live by our values and love with compassion. At the end of the day, we are all raising children, building communities and trying to make a better life for ourselves and others around us.
Here’s the final question you can ask yourself.
Am I proud of this current chapter in my autobiography?
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About The Article Author:
Hi, I’m Rachana. Its been my dream for years to do something to consciously create a better future where every one of us is excited about our own potential. My challenge to everyone is that they aspire for their personal best and leave a legacy of their work through their contributions to mankind.
One more thing. In December of 2044, I hope to win the Nobel.
Will you join me on this journey of growth and transformation?
Namasté.
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“Words can be empty!”
How true…
Thanks amma :-)