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Hey everyone, I'd like to begin my weekly newsletter with something that has been a guiding force in my life for the past few years: the concept of the hundred-year-old me. This idea originally came from "Someday Is Today," a book by Matthew Dicks. Matthew Dicks has a remarkable story where he was robbed at gunpoint in a McDonalds. In his words: Head on the floor of a restaurant, gun to my head, a man counting back from three and telling me when he hit zero, he's going to shoot me in the head. I was sure that I was going to die that day. In that moment, I did not feel fear, or sadness, or anger: the only feeling I was consumed with was regret. I was 22 years old, and I had failed to do anything with my life that I had wanted to do. Pretty much, based on this horrifying experience, he has a "fear of regret - of not accomplishing enough, not making something of my life, not making something of every day". Based on this, he has a way of thinking about life and making decisions that I find really insightful and of great value. He calls it the One-Hundred-Year-Old Plan. I like to call it the 100-year-old man (because the man is me), but here it is. Whenever I need to make a decision - monumental or miniscule - I no longer rely upon the current version of myself to make that decision. I have discovered that I am an unreliable, ineffective decision maker in the moment, because I often base my decision upon feelings, thoughts, and desires in that moment. I do the thing that makes me happy now - which is sometimes perfectly acceptable and advisable - but is oftentimes shortsighted and counterproductive. Instead, when I need to make a decision, I try to look to the future. I look to the 100-year-old version of myself. The version of myself near the end of his life. The person who understands what it's like to be on the doorstep of death. I look to the Matthew Dicks who is still lying on that greasy tile floor in a Brockton restaurant, and I ask that version of myself to make the decision for me. What would the version of me on the doorstep of death want me to do? I rely on the perspective of that person rather than the person standing here in the now. If I want to live a productive, fulfilling, meaningful life, I cannot simply base my decision in the moment. Rather, I need to look ahead and ask that version of myself - the one who understands the importance and preciousness of time - how I should spend this hour, this day, or this week. He is my trustworthy narrator. He is the one who knows what is best for me. While he doesn't call it a decision framework, it's pretty much a decision framework. The concept of the hundred-year-old you is someone to consider every time you make a decision. Imagine yourself on your deathbed, old and wrinkly, surrounded by family and loved ones, contemplating your life. Ask yourself: What advice would my hundred-year-old self give to me right now? This is a powerful perspective to consider, especially when daily life gets busy, and we often overlook the long-term implications of our choices. We tend to focus on immediate benefits rather than consider how our decisions will affect us ten, twenty, or even a hundred years down the line. So how does this apply to your life? A common example I often reflect on is spending time with friends. If I'm out late, I know I should go home to get some sleep (which can also let you live a more productive and fulfilled life - check out The Deep Sleep Blueprint), but at that moment, I think about what my hundred-year-old self would say. When I envision myself at that age, I ask: What will I regret more - not spending enough time with friends or not getting enough sleep? This thought process helps me weigh the consequences and benefits of my choices from a long-term perspective. Spending time with people is one of the most important aspects of life because I believe true happiness is found through others. However, the hundred-year-old self concept applies to other areas as well. For instance, if I know I should be exercising but feel tired or unmotivated, I can again consider my 100-year-old self. What will my hundred-year-old self regret more: not exercising enough or skipping it for a day? I've also never heard anyone say on their deathbed that they regretted exercising too much. In the end, this way of thinking ultimately aims to help us live more fulfilled lives. At the end of the day, we all want to live our best lives, and considering what our future selves will think about our current actions can guide us in making better decisions. I know it may seem a little morbid to consider what we will regret when we are dying, but this perspective is crucial. It allows us to make better choices and ultimately leads to a more fulfilled and happier life. This concept is also particularly powerful when applied to work. Everything I have seen and heard about the regrets of people on death's door often revolve around wishing they had not worked as much and had spent more time with their families. We never reach the end of our lives and think, "I wish I had worked more." No one thinks that. It can be beneficial to consider this perspective when faced with choices. For example, if you have to choose between going out with friends or completing a uni assignment due tomorrow, most people will (logically) prioritise the assignment. But by using the 100-year-old me philosophy, in that situation, I would think, "I can do both." I don't mind sacrificing a few hours of sleep to spend time with friends and then completing the assignment. Even if the assignment isn't perfect, or if I just pass, it doesn't matter in the long run. What truly matters in the long run is that when you are about to die, you are not going to say, "damn, I wish I had scored 5% higher on that university assignment", but more likely "I wish I had spent more time with my friends." This philosophy can be applied to all aspects of life, whether that's work, health, or relationships. The lesson here is to strive to create a more balanced and fulfilling life through your decisions. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this is valuable or downright insane? Hit reply and let me know. Have a good one, Riki Things I'm loving this week
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Riki Lethbridge
Hey, I'm Riki. Welcome to my corner of the internet. Here you can find all my writing about life, work, productivity, fulfilment, and anything in between. If you want to hear from me each week, you can sign up to Riki's Reflections below.