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lost God, loving Dad, proud program developer, divorce, low times but
writing, new life-new hope. Focus more on your subjective experiences
which have meaning rather than on a chronology of events. As you
read your steps to yourself, how do you feel? Record that too.
It is obvious that different steppingstones would occur to you each
time you did it. So, now or a few days from now, imagine two, three or
more such lists. They each disclose threads woven into your life. Put
several lists side by side and absorb them--get a feel for the
steppingstones of your life. These spontaneously created lists of
"markings," reflecting facets of the inner flow of your life, may reveal
unseen directions of movement and provide guidance for your next
phase of life.
Exploring phases of your life. Work with only one phase at a time.
Look over the steppingstone periods you have just listed and select the
most significant and meaningful period, a time of many possibilities
and decisions. If it is still affecting your life, all the better. Relax, sit
quietly, close your eyes, drift back to this time in your life. Don't try to
recall events, don't try to organize your memories in order, just re-
live, re-experience some of those times. "It was a time when..." What
kind of person were you? How did you feel? Your attitudes? Your
relationships? Your work? Your health? Relationships with groups
(family, religion, peers)? Major events? Remember any dreams or
twilight imagery or inner wisdom gained? What major decisions were
made or not made? Record your recollections without pride or shame
in the Life History Log, and cross reference them to other sections of
the journal. Explore as many phases as you like.
Roads not taken. Looking at the last two steps, it is possible to
recall and describe the intersections--the major decision points--in
certain phases of your life. Those choices shaped your life. Why review
those choices now? Because at every fork, one road wasn't taken.
Some opportunities were open to you, perhaps very appealing ones,
but they weren't taken. The idea here is not to worry about "what
might have been" or to do "Monday-morning quarterbacking;" the
purpose is to recognize the unlived possibilities rather than "forget
about it." Besides, the untaken roads may not be washed out--the
opportunities may still be there, the ideas might even be more
practical now than before, if you would only consider them again. In
other instances, with hindsight you can see that the road not taken
would have been a disaster and you can count your blessings. Or the
road might have been wonderful--but there is no going back. Record in
your journal the choice points and see what might have happened on
the untraveled roads. If the outcome looks appealing, ask if the option
is still open. Your future is for you to make.
Continue reconsideration of past and future. Continue attending to
a certain Steppingstone period, letting experiences float into your mind
and unfold. Record each image in the Life History Log. Repeat this
experiencing and recording over and over again. They can be brief
recollections or long, detailed ones. In the process, as you re-live
