Monday, July 15, 2024

ACTIVITY: The 15-Minute, Alternative Autobiography

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ACTIVITY: The 15-Minute, Alternative Autobiography

Write a short autobiography, focusing on key moments where you felt intense emotions.

Chris Guillebeau

Jul 15

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Every so often, I’ll suggest a short activity to help you feel less overwhelmed and more purposeful. You should be able to complete it in less than 15 minutes.

If you had to tell your life story in 15 minutes, what would you say?

Most likely you’d follow a chronological formula, starting at birth, proceeding swiftly through childhood and adolescence, and on to a few key moments of adulthood. Perhaps you’d end at present day—since your life isn’t over yet!—and offer a preview of where you think you’re headed next.

Nothing wrong with that—but here’s another way to think of it.

Write a short autobiography focused on key emotional experiences. Instead of starting with "I was born on...", begin with an emotion. For example: “One time I felt truly proud was..."

Thinking about a time you felt proud (for example) enables you to be more in touch with a deeper part of yourself, as opposed to a mere chronology of life events.

The questions below might help.

5 Prompts for Your Alternative Autobiography

"The moment I felt most alive was..."
"I never felt as scared as when..."
"My heart was fullest when..."
“A time when I really felt seen was…”
“I felt rejected when…”

Of course, you could create prompts or questions around other emotions as well: joy, sadness, love, wonder, disappointment, and so on. Don’t be afraid of the “harder” emotions like fear and hurt—they can teach us something, too.

Whatever you come up with, focus on the core feelings associated with each memory. How did you experience the emotion physically? How did it change your perspective?

By reconnecting with these emotional milestones, you may find yourself more grounded in the present moment, with a deeper appreciation for the richness of your lived experience.

What’s a memory that comes up as you explore your life through key emotions?