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How To Live Your Eulogy | Melanie Newton | TEDxUWA


what is it about some moments in our

what is it about some moments in our lives that caused us to call everything

lives that caused us to call everything

lives that caused us to call everything into question about two years ago I

into question about two years ago I

into question about two years ago I thought I had the perfect job I thought

thought I had the perfect job I thought

thought I had the perfect job I thought I had the perfect life I was working

I had the perfect life I was working

I had the perfect life I was working hard to establish my career so that my

hard to establish my career so that my

hard to establish my career so that my family would be taken care of I was

family would be taken care of I was

family would be taken care of I was doing what a lot of a story I was going

doing what a lot of a story I was going

doing what a lot of a story I was going into work early leaving late and then

into work early leaving late and then

into work early leaving late and then rushing home for some quick family time

rushing home for some quick family time

rushing home for some quick family time before sitting in front of the computer

before sitting in front of the computer

before sitting in front of the computer and working hard into the night i was

and working hard into the night i was

and working hard into the night i was working working weekends because well i

working working weekends because well i

working working weekends because well i had to to get all of the job done i had

had to to get all of the job done i had

had to to get all of the job done i had convinced myself that I wasn’t a

convinced myself that I wasn’t a

convinced myself that I wasn’t a workaholic I was a Superman the new

workaholic I was a Superman the new

workaholic I was a Superman the new breed of 24 hour remember I was thinking

breed of 24 hour remember I was thinking

breed of 24 hour remember I was thinking so hard that at first study won’t notice

so hard that at first study won’t notice

so hard that at first study won’t notice it I didn’t notice the lump that had

it I didn’t notice the lump that had

it I didn’t notice the lump that had started making a home for itself in my

started making a home for itself in my

started making a home for itself in my mouth maybe I did notice that I just

mouth maybe I did notice that I just

mouth maybe I did notice that I just chose to ignore it wasn’t until I had

chose to ignore it wasn’t until I had

chose to ignore it wasn’t until I had somewhat of a pronounced at least that I

somewhat of a pronounced at least that I

somewhat of a pronounced at least that I decided it was probably time I had a

decided it was probably time I had a

decided it was probably time I had a chat now as I SAT back in the dentist

chat now as I SAT back in the dentist

chat now as I SAT back in the dentist chair I realized that my life had

chair I realized that my life had

chair I realized that my life had probably changed when I had the dentist

probably changed when I had the dentist

probably changed when I had the dentist gasp now you know when a medical

gasp now you know when a medical

gasp now you know when a medical professional gasps that their next thing

professional gasps that their next thing

professional gasps that their next thing out of their mouth is probably not going

out of their mouth is probably not going

out of their mouth is probably not going to be good news now I remember every

to be good news now I remember every

to be good news now I remember every moment of walking

moment of walking

moment of walking the dentist office that morning but

the dentist office that morning but

the dentist office that morning but particularly I noticed the thoughts of a

particularly I noticed the thoughts of a

particularly I noticed the thoughts of a streaming through my head once of my

streaming through my head once of my

streaming through my head once of my family and my friends there was no one

family and my friends there was no one

family and my friends there was no one thought about work now within the month

thought about work now within the month

thought about work now within the month I had quit my job I’d made the radical

I had quit my job I’d made the radical

I had quit my job I’d made the radical decision to take extended time off work

decision to take extended time off work

decision to take extended time off work I have decided to focus on myself my

I have decided to focus on myself my

I have decided to focus on myself my health my family and to try and

health my family and to try and

health my family and to try and understand where my life had gone wrong

understand where my life had gone wrong

understand where my life had gone wrong now it was not long after this that I

now it was not long after this that I

now it was not long after this that I can cross my journey in my home it was

can cross my journey in my home it was

can cross my journey in my home it was one that I’d written in late nineteen

one that I’d written in late nineteen

one that I’d written in late nineteen ninety nine as part of a backpacking

ninety nine as part of a backpacking

ninety nine as part of a backpacking trip through Europe it was one of those

trip through Europe it was one of those

trip through Europe it was one of those trips you take as a twenty something

trips you take as a twenty something

trips you take as a twenty something year old to find yourself

now I noticed that I posed myself some

now I noticed that I posed myself some questions before going on the trip ones

questions before going on the trip ones

questions before going on the trip ones that i was going to answer along the way

that i was going to answer along the way

that i was going to answer along the way things like what do I want to do with my

things like what do I want to do with my

things like what do I want to do with my life what’s been my greatest mistake and

life what’s been my greatest mistake and

life what’s been my greatest mistake and if I were to die tomorrow how would I

if I were to die tomorrow how would I

if I were to die tomorrow how would I want to be remembered now at the time I

want to be remembered now at the time I

want to be remembered now at the time I thought I was being very deep and

thought I was being very deep and

thought I was being very deep and meaningful I look back on that serious

meaningful I look back on that serious

meaningful I look back on that serious young woman who thought she was going to

young woman who thought she was going to

young woman who thought she was going to find herself from the meaning of life

find herself from the meaning of life

find herself from the meaning of life that didn’t happen but as I SAT there

that didn’t happen but as I SAT there

that didn’t happen but as I SAT there leafing through the journal I found an

leafing through the journal I found an

leafing through the journal I found an entry about halfway through where I’d

entry about halfway through where I’d

entry about halfway through where I’d actually sat down during the tree and

actually sat down during the tree and

actually sat down during the tree and taking time to answer those questions

taking time to answer those questions

taking time to answer those questions and reading it some what 15 years later

and reading it some what 15 years later

and reading it some what 15 years later resonated with me I realized that as a

resonated with me I realized that as a

resonated with me I realized that as a 20 something year old I had set myself a

20 something year old I had set myself a

20 something year old I had set myself a life path so what did I like I wrote

life path so what did I like I wrote

life path so what did I like I wrote that I wanted to be remembered by loved

that I wanted to be remembered by loved

that I wanted to be remembered by loved ones as living a full life someone who

ones as living a full life someone who

ones as living a full life someone who had spent time building the connections

had spent time building the connections

had spent time building the connections with the people in my life my family and

with the people in my life my family and

with the people in my life my family and friends and that has been my priority I

friends and that has been my priority I

friends and that has been my priority I wanted to practice kindness gentleness

wanted to practice kindness gentleness

wanted to practice kindness gentleness and compassion not only with myself but

and compassion not only with myself but

and compassion not only with myself but also with the people in my life now as I

also with the people in my life now as I

also with the people in my life now as I SAT there reading the century I realized

SAT there reading the century I realized

SAT there reading the century I realized the LifePath except for myself some 15

the LifePath except for myself some 15

the LifePath except for myself some 15 years previous I’d straight off

years previous I’d straight off

years previous I’d straight off I realized I’ve been living my CV not my

I realized I’ve been living my CV not my

I realized I’ve been living my CV not my eulogy now in taking time away from work

eulogy now in taking time away from work

eulogy now in taking time away from work it’s allowed me an opportunity to

it’s allowed me an opportunity to

it’s allowed me an opportunity to reflect on the work I do as a clinical

reflect on the work I do as a clinical

reflect on the work I do as a clinical psychologist and the people I see now as

psychologist and the people I see now as

psychologist and the people I see now as a psychologist my job is primarily a

a psychologist my job is primarily a

a psychologist my job is primarily a change agent for people I hope people

change agent for people I hope people

change agent for people I hope people make the required changes in their life

make the required changes in their life

make the required changes in their life for the better I see people every day in

for the better I see people every day in

for the better I see people every day in a great deal of psychological emotional

a great deal of psychological emotional

a great deal of psychological emotional pain regardless of whether they come in

pain regardless of whether they come in

pain regardless of whether they come in to see me for depression anxiety couples

to see me for depression anxiety couples

to see me for depression anxiety couples therapy the underlying motivator tends

therapy the underlying motivator tends

therapy the underlying motivator tends to be paid now as a psychologist I have

to be paid now as a psychologist I have

to be paid now as a psychologist I have an ethical obligation I need to use

an ethical obligation I need to use

an ethical obligation I need to use those treatments from an evidence base

those treatments from an evidence base

those treatments from an evidence base and for most of the difficulties I see

and for most of the difficulties I see

and for most of the difficulties I see from Western people i see that treatment

from Western people i see that treatment

from Western people i see that treatment is cognitive behavior therapy or semi

is cognitive behavior therapy or semi

is cognitive behavior therapy or semi teens now the aim of CBT is to help a

teens now the aim of CBT is to help a

teens now the aim of CBT is to help a person change the behaviors and thoughts

person change the behaviors and thoughts

person change the behaviors and thoughts underline their difficulties so they can

underline their difficulties so they can

underline their difficulties so they can feel better and let’s face it everyone

feel better and let’s face it everyone

feel better and let’s face it everyone who comes to see somebody like me what’s

who comes to see somebody like me what’s

who comes to see somebody like me what’s to feel better but I’m sad to say that

to feel better but I’m sad to say that

to feel better but I’m sad to say that not everyone has helped

let’s take an example one study that

let’s take an example one study that looked at a hundred studies of CBT found

looked at a hundred studies of CBT found

looked at a hundred studies of CBT found that sixteen percent of people who are

that sixteen percent of people who are

that sixteen percent of people who are offered treatment don’t even take it up

offered treatment don’t even take it up

offered treatment don’t even take it up and off those who do start treatment

and off those who do start treatment

and off those who do start treatment over a corner then drop out before the

over a corner then drop out before the

over a corner then drop out before the treatments had a chance to be effective

treatments had a chance to be effective

treatments had a chance to be effective also cbt only has about a medium effect

also cbt only has about a medium effect

also cbt only has about a medium effect size when implemented properly now there

size when implemented properly now there

size when implemented properly now there may be any number of underlying reasons

may be any number of underlying reasons

may be any number of underlying reasons for this but invariably the one I’ve

for this but invariably the one I’ve

for this but invariably the one I’ve seen my practice is a person’s

seen my practice is a person’s

seen my practice is a person’s motivation to change now I may have the

motivation to change now I may have the

motivation to change now I may have the best evidence-based therapies to help

best evidence-based therapies to help

best evidence-based therapies to help someone with an anxiety disorder and

someone with an anxiety disorder and

someone with an anxiety disorder and addiction or to help a cup will save

addiction or to help a cup will save

addiction or to help a cup will save their marriage but unless the person is

their marriage but unless the person is

their marriage but unless the person is motivated to try my suggestions and

motivated to try my suggestions and

motivated to try my suggestions and stick to them I’ve done the middle

stick to them I’ve done the middle

stick to them I’ve done the middle lasting good now as a psychologist I

lasting good now as a psychologist I

lasting good now as a psychologist I understand that I ask people to do

understand that I ask people to do

understand that I ask people to do difficult things I ask them to change

difficult things I ask them to change

difficult things I ask them to change and I know how it changes difficult it’s

and I know how it changes difficult it’s

and I know how it changes difficult it’s confronting it’s uncomfortable if change

confronting it’s uncomfortable if change

confronting it’s uncomfortable if change were easy there below found diets we’d

were easy there below found diets we’d

were easy there below found diets we’d all sleep better unuse resolutions and

all sleep better unuse resolutions and

all sleep better unuse resolutions and stick so sometimes maybe it’s just

stick so sometimes maybe it’s just

stick so sometimes maybe it’s just easier to stay the same to remain with

easier to stay the same to remain with

easier to stay the same to remain with that status quo to not face that unknown

that status quo to not face that unknown

that status quo to not face that unknown Tony Robbins puts it this way change

Tony Robbins puts it this way change

Tony Robbins puts it this way change happens when the pain is staying save is

happens when the pain is staying save is

happens when the pain is staying save is greater than

greater than

greater than change so it seems that we know how to

change so it seems that we know how to

change so it seems that we know how to change what seems to be missing from the

change what seems to be missing from the

change what seems to be missing from the equation is why why should a person

equation is why why should a person

equation is why why should a person change now often when I ask my clients

change now often when I ask my clients

change now often when I ask my clients why they feel changes necessary they’ll

why they feel changes necessary they’ll

why they feel changes necessary they’ll tell me that it’s to avoid something I

tell me that it’s to avoid something I

tell me that it’s to avoid something I don’t want to feel depressed anymore I

don’t want to feel depressed anymore I

don’t want to feel depressed anymore I want to stop procrastinating I want to

want to stop procrastinating I want to

want to stop procrastinating I want to stop fighting with my partner now

stop fighting with my partner now

stop fighting with my partner now perhaps this is part of the problem that

perhaps this is part of the problem that

perhaps this is part of the problem that too often we’re motivated by sense of

too often we’re motivated by sense of

too often we’re motivated by sense of fear regret or guilt a meta-analysis

fear regret or guilt a meta-analysis

fear regret or guilt a meta-analysis that actually looked at 129 different

that actually looked at 129 different

that actually looked at 129 different studies of behavior change strategies

studies of behavior change strategies

studies of behavior change strategies found that the least effective

found that the least effective

found that the least effective strategies were those that averaged a

strategies were those that averaged a

strategies were those that averaged a sense of fear or regret in a person

sense of fear or regret in a person

sense of fear or regret in a person attempting to make the behavior change

attempting to make the behavior change

attempting to make the behavior change so in effect it seems as though not only

so in effect it seems as though not only

so in effect it seems as though not only are we on clear about why we need to

are we on clear about why we need to

are we on clear about why we need to change we may be motivated by the wrong

change we may be motivated by the wrong

change we may be motivated by the wrong things long time ago Mark Twain said

things long time ago Mark Twain said

things long time ago Mark Twain said this I can teach anybody how to get what

this I can teach anybody how to get what

this I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life the problem is I

they want out of life the problem is I

they want out of life the problem is I can’t find anybody you can tell me what

can’t find anybody you can tell me what

can’t find anybody you can tell me what they want

sorry do we have to wait around for our

sorry do we have to wait around for our own aha moment to effect a change in our

own aha moment to effect a change in our

own aha moment to effect a change in our lives absolutely not that’s not what I’m

lives absolutely not that’s not what I’m

lives absolutely not that’s not what I’m suggesting but we do need to develop a

suggesting but we do need to develop a

suggesting but we do need to develop a deeper understanding of who we are and

deeper understanding of who we are and

deeper understanding of who we are and what we want out of life I guess we need

what we want out of life I guess we need

what we want out of life I guess we need an understanding of what our values are

an understanding of what our values are

an understanding of what our values are now our values are our hearts deepest

now our values are our hearts deepest

now our values are our hearts deepest desires about how we want to relate to

desires about how we want to relate to

desires about how we want to relate to ourselves other people the world around

ourselves other people the world around

ourselves other people the world around us they’re leading principles that can

us they’re leading principles that can

us they’re leading principles that can help guide and motivate us as we move

help guide and motivate us as we move

help guide and motivate us as we move through life values are about not only

through life values are about not only

through life values are about not only what we want to do in life but how you

what we want to do in life but how you

what we want to do in life but how you want to go about achieving it now in a

want to go about achieving it now in a

want to go about achieving it now in a sense value sounds somewhat like goals

sense value sounds somewhat like goals

sense value sounds somewhat like goals but varies are not the same as God’s

but varies are not the same as God’s

but varies are not the same as God’s values require ongoing action they’re

values require ongoing action they’re

values require ongoing action they’re like a direction we keep moving in let

like a direction we keep moving in let

like a direction we keep moving in let me give an example a value is like

me give an example a value is like

me give an example a value is like traveling north whereas a goal is like

traveling north whereas a goal is like

traveling north whereas a goal is like the river or the bridge you wanna cross

the river or the bridge you wanna cross

the river or the bridge you wanna cross while traveling in that direction let’s

while traveling in that direction let’s

while traveling in that direction let’s take a more personal example recently I

take a more personal example recently I

take a more personal example recently I had someone come into my practice and

had someone come into my practice and

had someone come into my practice and they told me that they wanted

they told me that they wanted

they told me that they wanted caring loving relationships in their

caring loving relationships in their

caring loving relationships in their life now that’s the value that’s going

life now that’s the value that’s going

life now that’s the value that’s going to require ongoing action from them now

to require ongoing action from them now

to require ongoing action from them now they also mentioned the one day they’d

they also mentioned the one day they’d

they also mentioned the one day they’d like to get married that’s a goal it can

like to get married that’s a goal it can

like to get married that’s a goal it can be tipped off once it’s achieved so the

be tipped off once it’s achieved so the

be tipped off once it’s achieved so the first step in living your eulogy is to

first step in living your eulogy is to

first step in living your eulogy is to get an understanding of what your values

get an understanding of what your values

get an understanding of what your values are now there’s some key questions that

are now there’s some key questions that

are now there’s some key questions that you can ask yourself to start this

you can ask yourself to start this

you can ask yourself to start this process deep down what’s important to

process deep down what’s important to

process deep down what’s important to you what qualities would you like to

you what qualities would you like to

you what qualities would you like to embody as a person how do you want to

embody as a person how do you want to

embody as a person how do you want to relate to people in your life now on

relate to people in your life now on

relate to people in your life now on reflection you might decide that your

reflection you might decide that your

reflection you might decide that your values are being honest having loving

values are being honest having loving

values are being honest having loving relationships abdomen courage now as you

relationships abdomen courage now as you

relationships abdomen courage now as you can see values don’t have to be

can see values don’t have to be

can see values don’t have to be complicated in fact in my opinion that’s

complicated in fact in my opinion that’s

complicated in fact in my opinion that’s more simple they are the better because

more simple they are the better because

more simple they are the better because it’s easier then to incorporate them in

it’s easier then to incorporate them in

it’s easier then to incorporate them in your everyday life and that’s the next

your everyday life and that’s the next

your everyday life and that’s the next step of living your eulogy incorporating

step of living your eulogy incorporating

step of living your eulogy incorporating these values in practical ways in your

these values in practical ways in your

these values in practical ways in your everyday life now you do this by

everyday life now you do this by

everyday life now you do this by developing a set of goals based on your

developing a set of goals based on your

developing a set of goals based on your values and then engaging in behaviors to

values and then engaging in behaviors to

values and then engaging in behaviors to help you reach those goals so I’ll

help you reach those goals so I’ll

help you reach those goals so I’ll affect your behaviors becoming values in

affect your behaviors becoming values in

affect your behaviors becoming values in action now for some behaviors this will

action now for some behaviors this will

action now for some behaviors this will be reasonably easy to implement the

be reasonably easy to implement the

be reasonably easy to implement the difficulty arises when your value

difficulty arises when your value

difficulty arises when your value congruent behaviors are inconsistent

congruent behaviors are inconsistent

congruent behaviors are inconsistent with ingrain into ritual behaviors that

with ingrain into ritual behaviors that

with ingrain into ritual behaviors that you already have now neuroscience tells

you already have now neuroscience tells

you already have now neuroscience tells us that behaviors particularly habitual

us that behaviors particularly habitual

us that behaviors particularly habitual behaviors are incredibly difficult to

behaviors are incredibly difficult to

behaviors are incredibly difficult to change so how do you break about have it

change so how do you break about have it

change so how do you break about have it when it’s interfering with the new

when it’s interfering with the new

when it’s interfering with the new behavior neuroscience provides a Swede

behavior neuroscience provides a Swede

behavior neuroscience provides a Swede two clues the first is that habits are

two clues the first is that habits are

two clues the first is that habits are triggered they’re triggered by cues

triggered they’re triggered by cues

triggered they’re triggered by cues situations and events the second is

situations and events the second is

situations and events the second is habits of persistent so how do we break

habits of persistent so how do we break

habits of persistent so how do we break a bad habit if it is interfering with

a bad habit if it is interfering with

a bad habit if it is interfering with our very immoral behavior research shows

our very immoral behavior research shows

our very immoral behavior research shows us that one of the most effective ways

us that one of the most effective ways

us that one of the most effective ways of doing this comes from a centuries-old

of doing this comes from a centuries-old

of doing this comes from a centuries-old practice found in a range of Eastern

practice found in a range of Eastern

practice found in a range of Eastern philosophies is called mindfulness

philosophies is called mindfulness

philosophies is called mindfulness mindfulness is about paying attention in

mindfulness is about paying attention in

mindfulness is about paying attention in the present

the present

the present with openness flexibility and curiosity

with openness flexibility and curiosity

with openness flexibility and curiosity is what Jon kabat-zinn calls the art of

is what Jon kabat-zinn calls the art of

is what Jon kabat-zinn calls the art of conscious living a simple definition of

conscious living a simple definition of

conscious living a simple definition of mindfulness is paying attention in a

mindfulness is paying attention in a

mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way on purpose in the present

particular way on purpose in the present

particular way on purpose in the present moment and non-judgmentally research on

moment and non-judgmentally research on

moment and non-judgmentally research on mindfulness is finding that we focused

mindfulness is finding that we focused

mindfulness is finding that we focused attention and mind for action you can

attention and mind for action you can

attention and mind for action you can push through resistance and start to

push through resistance and start to

push through resistance and start to rewire some of these habitual behaviors

so the next step is starting to pay

so the next step is starting to pay attention carefully to win what where

attention carefully to win what where

attention carefully to win what where why have it might be triggered once

why have it might be triggered once

why have it might be triggered once you’re aware of the trigger the trick is

you’re aware of the trigger the trick is

you’re aware of the trigger the trick is to consciously and mindful II replace

to consciously and mindful II replace

to consciously and mindful II replace that habit with the new value control

that habit with the new value control

that habit with the new value control behavior now mindfulness can also help

behavior now mindfulness can also help

behavior now mindfulness can also help you to stay on track with your eulogy

you to stay on track with your eulogy

you to stay on track with your eulogy you can ask yourself some questions like

you can ask yourself some questions like

you can ask yourself some questions like is this behavior helpful this is thought

is this behavior helpful this is thought

is this behavior helpful this is thought helpful in this moment am i living my

helpful in this moment am i living my

helpful in this moment am i living my eulogy overall am i leading a valued

eulogy overall am i leading a valued

eulogy overall am i leading a valued de life now with all this talk about a

de life now with all this talk about a

de life now with all this talk about a meaningful life I’m sure at least some

meaningful life I’m sure at least some

meaningful life I’m sure at least some of you are reminded of the iconic Monte

of you are reminded of the iconic Monte

of you are reminded of the iconic Monte python movie the meaning of life the

python movie the meaning of life the

python movie the meaning of life the final message of the movie is very

final message of the movie is very

final message of the movie is very relevant to the torque I’ve been giving

relevant to the torque I’ve been giving

relevant to the torque I’ve been giving today and the message itself is

today and the message itself is

today and the message itself is beautiful in its simplicity it goes like

beautiful in its simplicity it goes like

beautiful in its simplicity it goes like this try and be nice to people avoiding

this try and be nice to people avoiding

this try and be nice to people avoiding in fact really good book every now and

in fact really good book every now and

in fact really good book every now and then try and get some more care and

then try and get some more care and

then try and get some more care and importantly try and live in peace and

importantly try and live in peace and

importantly try and live in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and

harmony with people of all creeds and

harmony with people of all creeds and nations it sounds so simple doesn’t so

nations it sounds so simple doesn’t so

nations it sounds so simple doesn’t so my challenge to you all today is this

my challenge to you all today is this

my challenge to you all today is this whatever your meaning of life whatever

whatever your meaning of life whatever

whatever your meaning of life whatever you want to be remembered for embrace it

you want to be remembered for embrace it

you want to be remembered for embrace it now live it now because really if not

now live it now because really if not

now live it now because really if not now when how are you give your eulogy

now when how are you give your eulogy

now when how are you give your eulogy thank you

”

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