In a previous story, I talked about a wonderful and most helpful game called “The What If?” game. For one or more players and requiring no pieces, boards, cards or timers, this game challenges players to consider what they will do if something unexpected happens during their senior experience – for example, what if you can’t drive or live independently, what will you do to mitigate this?
It’s a game that rewards honest answers and realistic mitigation strategies. If you are an aging adult and you have not yet played this game, I encourage you to put your game face on and get started!
But there’s another game that’s equally as important. It’s called “Ask Yourself Honestly.” Like “The What If?” game, “Ask Yourself Honestly” requires no hardware and favors players who know themselves well and plan accordingly.
The Ask Yourself Honestly Game
Being self-aware and honest about your proclivities, interests and strengths can change the playing field when it comes to planning for your senior experience and making informed choices. According to a blog post in Life Coach Training and Certification, self-awareness is “a powerful tool that empowers individuals to take control of their lives and make positive changes. By gaining insight into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, you can overcome obstacles, achieve personal growth, and live a more fulfilling life.”
The site includes several benefits of self-awareness including improved emotional intelligence, enhanced self-confidence, better decision-making, increased resilience, improved Interpersonal relationships and creating community. In short, we make better choices and smarter decisions when we know ourselves well and can articulate it!
Challenging yourself to a little “Ask Yourself Honestly,” is a great tool for honing these strengths!
An Example
Here’s a short example on the topic of where I would be most happy aging in place:
Question: Do you like having a yard and gardening?
Answer: No, I do not like keeping up with a yard at all.
Question: Do you like having the adult kids over for a visit?
Answer: Yes, I always want to have space to offer them and their family for overnight visits.
Question: Do you like a big house?
Answer: I do, but I’ve grown weary of it and all the stuff inside. I’m ready for cleaner, simpler, smaller living.
Question: What exterior attributes do you want your house to have?
Answer: I want a view of the river and to feel the wind in my hair, I also want a pool someone else takes care of and landscaping that I didn’t manage or have to weed.
Question: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Answer: I am an introvert, but enjoy seeing and interacting with people on my path.
Question: Do you want to live with a dog?
Answer: Not right now, but I may want the option to have one later.
In this example, the answer to where I would be most happy aging in place is: in a three-bedroom condominium tower on the river that has a flexible pet policy.
Knowing yourself intimately and being honest about the answers can help you design a senior living experience that checks all of your boxes, even as the situation changes.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
How do you stay honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses? How do you see your answers affecting your decision-making and outcomes? What advice do you have for others going through this process?
