How to Define the Difference Only You Can Make

Hey, and thanks for signing up for the Art of Encore Living simple 3-step process to dial in the difference only you can make in the second half of life. Before I pull up the van and walk you through the 3 steps, let's quickly set the table. If you've signed up to watch this video, you're probably already winning the game of life based on the rules and roadmap you learned in school and on the job. But not feeling the thrill of victory. Many of us have followed the rules and roadmap established by society, yet start to feel lost and empty in midlife. But of course, you can recognize the false promise of the traditional version of the pursuit of happiness at any age. So, what's going on? Well, it turns out you can't win your game if you're playing someone else's. And you definitely can't win a game you don't wanna play. It's time to play your game. You can find fulfillment, forge meaning, and make a difference in the second half of life by mastering the art of encore living. What's the second half of life? It's the life you live whenever you're ready to let go of searching for external instruction and validation for how to see, step into, and stay in your power to develop your potential and deliver on your promise.

What's Encore Living?

It's a journey of defining, developing, and delivering the difference only you can make. It's a life that leverages who you really are, what you're really good at, and where you really belong. Instead of a legacy of money and monuments left behind after you die, Encore Living is when you begin to live your legacy. In short, mastering the art of Encore Living is about playing your game all in and full out. If you're trying to figure out your game, The Art of Encore Living's 3-step process will help you dial it in. If you have an idea of what your game is but seek greater clarity and confidence, in navigating your way forward? The Art of Encore Living Venn Diagram will provide a compass to expedite your wayfinding. Don't die with the difference only you can make still inside. Let's pull up the Art of Encore Living Venn Diagram and I'll show you the 3 steps and a few quick exercises you can complete to begin to dial in the difference only you can make in the second half of life so you can start living your legacy. Ready? Let's go.

So here we are, and let's start where we are. Most of us follow the rules and roadmap we learned in school and on the job, telling us that happiness comes from pursuing and acquiring prestige and prosperity. It can happen anytime, but for many of us, midlife, with or without a crisis, is when we wake up to the fact that seeking and even succeeding in a quest for fame and fortune doesn't provide with a sense of flourishing. We may feel broken by the sense of loss or emptiness when we discover the false promise inherent in the traditional view of the pursuit of happiness, but this is also an opportunity to be broken open to possibility and a better way forward. You can't win your game by playing someone else's, and you definitely can't win a game you don't want to play. It's time to play Your Game. Now, as we explore ways to play our game and find fulfillment, forge meaning, and build identity, we may hear some advising us to find our purpose or passion. Some say purpose or passion is out there for you to discover and exploit. Others say they're inside and need to be excavated and employed. We take a both-and approach at The Art of Encore Living. Rather than treating purpose and passion as ends in and of themselves, We see them as side effects of doing the work of defining your vocation and developing and delivering the difference only you can make. How do you get started dialing in your life's true calling? I'll walk you through one of the approaches we use at The Art of Encore Living and share a few simple exercises. You can go further with this process with The Art of Encore Living Quick Start Guide. Learn more about that by clicking the button below this video. If you want to take a bolder step into possibility and close the gap more effectively and efficiently, consider clicking the button below to book a free 15-minute Catalyst Call. But for now, let's start working through this Venn diagram and a simple 3-step process that will help you get going. The first step is to reconnect with who you really are. What are your core values and guiding principles? What's your vision of a better world that you're ready to work toward? At The Art of Encore Living, we use various tools to dial in your values, including a survey created by positive psychologists. Still, a simple way to get started is to reflect on experiences that elicit strong emotions. For instance, if you're angered when you see people mistreated, justice is an essential value for you. Or maybe you get frustrated when people lie or cheat. Then honesty is one of your core values. Finally, if your heart is really warmed by random acts of kindness, then generosity and compassion might be values you hold dear. The second step is to define your talents. These aren't necessarily the hard skills you learned in school or on the job, or the soft skills of human-to-human connection, communication, collaboration, and creativity you've been honing ever since you exited the womb. Your talents are the perspectives, activities, and innate understandings you naturally resonate with and find joy in. At The Art of Encore Living, we use several tools to dial in your talents, including a time-tested and scientifically vetted survey. However, a simple way to get started is to reflect on your childhood. What are the ideas, activities, and moments where you experience the most joy, Awe and flow. Maybe you were fond of telling stories, painting, building things, role-playing, athletics, or being in nature. This is not to say that you should take up any of these again as your encore life endeavor, but they provide hints about or point the way to the things you're naturally good at and find fulfillment in. At the intersection of your values and talents is your promise. The potential that remains in you to be explored and employed. Third, where do you belong?

What's your scene?

Humans are inherently social creatures. Encore Living is about finding those people who share your values and need your talents to enhance their lives through your unique gift. That gift lies at the intersection of your talents and scene. And those most receptive to it are those within your closer circle of connection. With your values, talents, and scene defined and your promise, gift, and circle determined, you can begin to dial in the difference only you can make by taking small steps, exploring and experimenting with possibilities. Fulfillment, meaning, joy, and legacy are the fruits of an Art of Encore Living journey. The integrity and intention of your pursuit becomes its own reward.

You'll find additional insight and inspiration for continuing the journey in the Art of Encore Living blog and broadcast. If you're ready to go further now, the Art of Encore Living Quick Start Guide provides additional resources, including the surveys mentioned in this video. And if you're ready to take a bolder step The Art of Encore Living provides courses, community, and coaching to expedite your adventures in mastering the art of encore living. To learn more, click the button to schedule a free, no-obligation 15-minute Catalyst Call. However you decide to move forward playing your game, do it all in and full out. Be well. Do good. Have fun.