Show notes
Embracing Life: What If Today Was Your First or Last Day? In this episode of Personal Development Unplugged, we dig into two simple but powerful questions: What if today were your last day? What if it were your first? This is an extract from a live Q&A call I did for my son's (Joseph Clough) Mind Mastery group, and invite you to reflect, respond, and explore what really matters in your life. It's not heavy or dark—it's a spark. A chance to wake up to what you're doing with your time and how you want to live going forward. What you'll discover in this episode: The power of writing letters of love and gratitude—and who they need to be sent to. How small acts of kindness help shape the legacy you're already leaving behind. Why waiting for "someday" is a trap—and how to flip into action now. How to live with intention and awareness, instead of drifting on autopilot. A simple, powerful way to visualise your best self—and take the first steps to becoming them. You'll hear honest conversation, real moments with listeners, and practical insights that can shift your perspective in just one listen. This is the kind of reflection that leads to action—and action that changes everything. Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, pass it on. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/447-on-life-and-how-we-might-live-it Subscribe, follow the podcast, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that their time—and their life—matters. More fun than you can stand. Wallow in pleasure Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi, DreamHeaven, ccjmusic, and others from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Hey, welcome to the longer podcast. And this one's quite long because a little while ago, I did a, live call, a question and answer live call. And I do these twice a month for my son, Joseph, Joseph Clough. And it's his mind mastery. And I did this life call. And it was in some ways inspired by a previous FMQ that I did about. Is this your last day of your life or the first day? And, what would you do? But I go into it so much more deeply here, and I get interaction with the people along the way. And because it goes into, I think, some really good stuff, some deep stuff, I thought I wanted to share it with you. So I have beeped out the name, so you'll hear a beep. And you'd have to just bear with me just a little bit because of the recording, because it was done on, like, a live call and it was a video, so the microphone wasn't necessarily quite so close all the time. But I think if you come with me, you will find new stuff. New stuff that will inspire you to become the person you were meant to be and more. So if that's okay, just come along for the ride. There you go. Oh, just one very quick thing before we get into it. Nearer the end, there is part of this that we go into hypnosis. To review everything at a hypnotic level means closing your eyes. So as you all know, being hypnosis, you need to have nothing that requires your attention. If it does, please stop at that particular point. If not, really. Enjoy. I've got something I wanted to. To. Well, yeah, I've been thinking about this for a little while, and it's not the most. I don't know why. Sometimes I think of some of the. Not the most happiest things in the world. And the thing I've been thinking about lately is. And you know what it is when you start thinking about stuff, the multiverse comes and gives you more ideas about it. I've got this idea about creating something and new stuff comes along. The books, the videos, the teacher comes along. Well, on this subject is all about death. I thought it is not the best subject to think about because I'm now starting to think of more and more stuff. But at the end of the day, when we're born, we're going to die. We just don't know how long our Runway is. and one of the questions I asked myself and I did little. I've done a little five minute podcast on this, but this is just part of it. There's a question we ask ourselves, or some people ask themselves is if this was the last day of my life, what would I do? And we can give our glib answers know I'll go around and give everyone a hug, but would you? What would you do? And I'm quite happy if you put some comments in this because this is like a sort of conversation. I like it conversational. It's like what would you do if this was, and you knew it, the last day of your life? What would you do if this was the last day of your life And one of the things I thought and I've heard this a few times is on our deathbed, which again we're getting into the dark and dismal bit here. On our deathbed. No one has ever said I should have stayed more time at work, but most people do. So what would you do if this was the last day of your life? Beep says, write a letter. But what would you write and who would you write it to? What would be the content of that letter? I'm sorry you pictedure out Beep, but you're in the firing line now. What would be the content of. Beep says, realize that I actually do want to live. So regretting all those times I felt too hard to continue. Oo that that's deep. Yeah. Cause that's contemplation, isn't it? Contemplation. I guess I'm still waiting for Beep come up and say what the content of a letter is. as long as it't it too personal. But you know, maybe what type of letter would you write? If ever I've got difficulties with people, I would always write a letter to them. Beep says, yeah, that's the kind of week I've had. Hard, deep. He's always going to get better and this is going to make it better. I can't guarantee this will make you think differently, I think. Cause there's more to just this question. By the way, I've got another four or five questions to think about, but so write a letter. Maybe you'd write a letter of an expression of your love. Maybe you'd write something to somebody of how much they've meant you in your life. Maybe I could think of writing to a mentor and saying thank you so much for doing what you did. Beep says, the letter to the memorable people who shared moments in my life. Yeah, absolutely. Gratitude. So we're on the same type of wave there to express gratitude. And the thing is, when you're doing that, you're feeling it. And I think the good thing about letters is no one can get in your way. You get to write what you want to do. Beep says words of wisdom and love. That's absolutely awesome. And it would be, wouldn't it? Because you've got this last 24 hours. Seek out time in nature. and with animals. Leaving alone, Leaving. Sorry, love notes. Gratitude for those leaving behind. Yeah. You see that bit about seeking time in nature with animals, that was a thing I started to think of. If that was my last day, I might think, do. There's a richness out here in the world. How do I get in touch with it? And one of the things I thought about was things like nature with animals and just realizing the world that I'm in and try to see it through eyes that, just look for the richness of things. That's what I thought. But what else? Then I thought, well, maybe I think about acts of kindness. I've only got 24 hours left in this imaginary bit. We haven't, by the way. Let's just recap. This is not a belief we're going to take on board. Beep says, be with family, celebrating my life and contribution to love. Positivity. Absolutely. Because I thought, well, if you think about kindness, what could I be? How kind could it be in my last few breaths? Wouldn't that be a lovely way to go? Because to me, this is all about thinking, in some way leaving a legacy, celebrating your own life. Because if you think about it, and this is the other thing. Beep says, that's what I was about to say. What more could I give and contribute in those final hours? Yeah. Because you see, we are here in this world for you to be looking at me, or if you listen to the replay, to listen to me is a real freak of nature. Because if you go back to the very, very, very beginnings of everything and, all the coincidences and serendipity moments or serendipitous moments of people coming together, I can't say the word, but getting it together, doing all their stuff, making families carry on living, coming all the way through all those years to you and I at each other and thinking, now we're here. I owe kindness to the world because of all that luck for allowing me to be having breathed life. But think about this. I. Let's flip it on its head. What would you do if this was the first day of the rest of your life. And you knew that the rest of your life is going to carry on forever. Well, not ever, but you know it's going to go on for a long time. If this was the first day of the rest of your life, what would you do? And I thought about that beep which is probably procrastinate because I had a lot of time that's made me laugh. That's a chuckle. That's a chuckle. but the thing is, what maybe I would do is write a letter to express my love to people because I've got to have more time with them. What might else I do? I might go into nature and see the world right now in its richness that is going to spur me on through the rest of my life, through every breath I had. Maybe that family that. Do we always give everyone a hug? Yes. No. Not always. Not enough maybe. So maybe then I would, celebrate. This is the first day of the restaurant. This is my first breath, forever. And I'd celebrate it with people I love. Beep says to be curious of how I can keep improving and growing And then I'd think about if I've got procrastination, I'd join mind mastery again. But there go. That's just a quick side one. Then I thought, well, what else would I do? And I'd probably be thinking kindness. How can I be kind every day? Because I'm not. And that's an honest thing. this is something I do think about is trying to be, Yeah, I can be kind when I think about it, but don't. It's like when I think that s exactly what I said. When I think about it, I'LIKE to be kinder, all the time. Beep says to be curious of how I can keep improving and growing. Absolutely. But it's not only just being curious. Then it's then how can I take action on my curiosity? Now I've got this breath of life. I've got all my past, but this is the first day of the rest of my life. So there's something we can think about there. And I just think it's so interesting. And this is only the first part. I've just noticed I made a note which is really a personal note. When I said I want to be kinder, it says learn to be kind. It'like a little note to myself that I just realized I wrote down there, didn't remember doing. It was like, learn to be kind. Cause I've got. Just got something. Something in my head. Kindness is the way forward. Living in the moment means being totally mindful, but not just mindful But here's another thing we could Think about, we've got whatever Runway left. How can we enjoy it? And one of the things I thought was, is, well, it's sort of mindful because living in the moment. Because there are things that we put off in life, and they could be through all the stuff we talk about, impostor syndrome. Who am I to do this? Know? What would people think? But if this is my Runway, which it is, by the way, who gives us stuff, what anybody else was going to think? This is my Runway. Sod them. This is s my Runway. And I want toa do things in a wonderful way. I want toa learn to be better and be better because. And here's what I wrote down. I might not get to do this because I don't know how long my Runway is. So if I don't do it, when I think about it. And why am I thinking about this stuff? Is it the multiverse, the universe? Is it my unconscious mind, my old best friend saying, shit, , I'm sorry, but you ought to do something, do this. So that's another thing we could just think about in the moment. We've got this wrong way of life. If we had the thought, I might not get to do this. So bugger it, I'm going toa do it. Because it's built, on a value, you know, is it good for me? Yes. Is it good for other people? Yes. Is it good for little old planet Earth? Yes. That means it's totally ecological. I'm do it. Why? And the answer is, because I bloody can. I can physically do it, and I could learn. And the thing is, if I got to think about that more often, that's what I thought of, is what would it be like if you created that as a habit? Because we've got all, everyone's got habits. If I create a habit of thinking I, might not get to do this again, and you go, well, actually, you could put that to anything. Being kind to somebody. But if I ignore them and walk on, might not get to do that again. So I could be kind right now, or I could show affection, or I could whatever be present. Listen. Beep. It says, I wrote down bugger. I'm do it. Absolutely. Because I've got this. That's the other one. I've got this I get to do it. I'm do it. And you see, if we think about that and what I'm looking down my notes because I have to look at these sometimes when we get to think of our experiences like that. Living in the moment. Because any way can recognize not only I'm going to do it, but when I do it, I'm not just going to do it and then forget about it. I want to live it right now. So being totally mindful, but not just mindful in a way of, oh, I'm doing this experience, you know, hu be up there. I want to live it with all my, modalities. I want to see the richness of the world. I want to hear what's going on. At the same time, I want to smell and taste the whole lot. And then I want to feel it. What would it be like if we lived every moment like that? Maybe too much. Maybe too much. but if we started to go towards it, create a habit, living in the moment, realizing this could be, my last thing I ever do. It's not, but it could be. So if I think about that and go, you know, I might not get to do this. I'm do it. I want to create something. And then you put it into, like, selfless service. You never know how far the ripples of change will go What can I do to change the world? Well, I don't have to change the world. We've talked about this a long time ago. Is all you have to do is change by looking through the window. Your window from your house. There's a community outside. One person. I was thinking about this the other day and actually talked about it on one of my other podcasts. You never know how far the ripples of change will go. Not in your life. But I was thinking about my life when I was talking about this. I said, because when I became a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner, all that, I didn't know what was going to happen. I just know I wanted to do it. For some, weird reason, I wanted to do it, and I did it. So I got into that moment, I might not get to do this. And that was the type of thing. Maybe just flicked it over. So where did the ripples have change go? Don't know how far they went, but I know they did. Because when we trained people to become hypnotherapists, and I know they did. I know I, see them online now. They're doing work. How many people have they changed or help change? That's a lot of ripples that I don't know about. How many people have I, helped change? And their families got no idea. But I know I did. Luke, my middle son, his hypnotherapist and a magician. He's helped thousands of people. And they've obviously affected other people. Infected, affected, all started way back because they didn't know anything about hypnosis before I knew it. And then there's Joseph and you're seeing and, being part of the ripples of that change. And how many people has he affected with all these millions of downloads and hypnosis tracks and things like that, which when you go back 20 odd years ago, before I knew anything about this, those ripples weren't even in my head or anything. And they're going to keep happening. So you think about in the moment might not get to do this. And it's all about setting your intention, isn't it? That was my last bit. Just have the intention to live that rich life in the moment. Because it could be my first day, it could be my last day, it could be the rest of the rest of my life. And then I thought of another one. Here's something which get you to think a little bit. And I put a heading for this just so we know there's still time. Okay, we don't know how long the Runway is, but there's still time. And it's something I'd heard a long time ago. And it's go. When you look in that metaphorical mirror, are you seeing reflected back at you the person you, were meant to be that as deep asn't it? Are you seeing the person you were meant to be reflected back at you? And I know the answer is no, because there's always more. We always underestimate what we can do of all the skills we've got and how we can affect the world. But that's because there's time. We've still got time. So all we have to look is to say, well, in this reflection, what is missing? Beep says it's a work in progress. Life is a work in progress. When we intend to. I think it's so easy to say Beep. I, know where you're coming from with that, because you've got the intention. Life is a work in progress to do better things, influence people, care for people, share with people, service people. There are so many people I think, don't necessarily see it as a work in progress. They're just living moment to moment without actually living moment to moment, if that makes sense. But if we're in a position where we can look in that metaphorical mirror and go, okay, I, know who are meant to be. It's that ultimate vision of ourselves Isn't it? So what's missing? Because there'll always be something missing between who I am now and who I aspire to be. What is the one thing I can do now in this moment, on this run way of life to start doing so I can start to become the person I was meant to be. Guess what? I get to do this. And, maybe if I don't do it, I'll never get to do this. So I'm going to do it now. And it's all about, in some ways, intentionally living a rich life in every shape or form. And I think there's something maybe we don't do enough of. Beep. It says we're in autopilot if we don't stop to be more intentional. Absolutely. This's exactly what I was just about to say. You jumped in and perfectly right. I think sometimes we just go on this autopilot and sometimes it's that stopping and pausing, reviewing how many times do review how close am I to this person I was meant to be in the world? I was put on this world for a reason. We've just said if you go back to the very beginning of life, it's such a wonderful, magical coincidence that we're here breathing life, cannot waste it. And we're also here to enjoy it, to live a wonderful, rich life and experience it. Because when you experience that wonderful, rich life when you're in, I think that mindfulness of just living every moment, taking that little plunge of doing the next thing, because I might not get to do this, but I'm going to bugger it as we say, I'm do this. And if you took that little anchor of being grounded again, sorry, you'll do anything. What are the things I'm putting off doing right now And my next question then after that is, when you put them all together, you say to yourself, maybe in reflection, because these are all reflective things, aren't they? We can sit down and reflect on each one of these questions. if this was my first day, what would I do? If this is my last day in life, what would I do? Who would I write to? Who would I see? in the moment, what are the things I'm not doing that I could do? Who am I aspiring to be? What's missing? So I get that. And one of the questions could be things like, what am I putting off doing? And that's a hard one to answer, I find. Well, I ll put it this way. Personally, I find that very hard to answer. I can sit down quietly and I know the things I want toa do. And, if they're the things I want to do and I'm not doing them, I'm obviously putting them off. And that's a hard thing to admit to yourself know. Cause we've done all these, we've read lots of things weite involved with ourselves and learning and to be about person. And yet I'm putting things off. And the things I'm putting off aren't, they're good things. They're not just for me. They are good for me, good for other people, and m good for the rest of the world mainly. So what am I putting off doing right now? And you couldswer ask that question of all those other ones now there could be a why? Why am I putting off? And you might get when you do that, and sometimes we do ask the question why? Why am I putting that, off? You might get that limiting belief because when you ask the question why, you generally get a belief behind something. So what am I putting off and why am I putting it off? And you might get that thing whereas, well, what will people think of me? Maybe I'm not as good as think maybe I'll be a failure. Some people think I might even be a success. So you get the fear of failure fe of fear of success. But then you can turn it off and just say, well, those things that I want I'm putting off are maybe the things that are missing between me and my ultimate vision of myself, the person I was meant to be. And then you can go, well, bugger it, which one am I going toa do first? So it becomes, a what am I go goingna do first as opposed to which one I'm going to put off. And then you can think of maybe getting even deep in that say, well, these are the things I think about what I want to do. And I've got this maybe limiting belief about I'm not good enough and all that. And then you say, oh, sod it. It's a stupid belief to have because it's not true. Because it's only up in here, doesn't it? All those beliefs are just up in here. You've only made them true yourself. Just find other experiences that disprove it. We always find those counter examples when we look. But then you can actually sit back and go, let me just have a little think about this ultimate vision of me, why I'm on this bloody planet Earth. and if I did know, what am I putting off doing that would make the most difference in my life and others and, that's a big question. But if you don't ask questions, you haven't got a chance of finding an answer, have you? So that's something you can have. I mean, I talk about puzzle books. For those of you who know it or haven't heard, My puzzle book is basically a book of blank pages that I just throw questions down. Beep says, I love that. Going from not doing to what am I do first? Absolutely. That's just what we're do. Thank you. But here's the thing. Here's the thing. There's lots of things to think about now. I want to thank you all for your comments on this podcast And, before we just finish off, I want to thank you all because I had in my mind to talk about. I don't know why I wanted to talk about this. This only came to me this morning and I've been thinking about it for months and bits and pieces. And I said to myself, and I've been talking to Joseph for a little while or two, to get more connection with each of us in this. And I wanted you to contribute. And you've done it in such a. You've overwhelmed me basically with everything that you've done in the comments because it's been so good and, it's made me think again. And I'm going to keep thinking about this because you can't. For me, I can't stop thinking. But what I'd like to do, if it's okay, what I thought was, would it be nice? And you don't have to do it. You don't have to do. But you do. If we just in a moment, closed our eyes and Let me just put those questions to you again because sometimes when we just listen to them without the contributions now, because your contributions, wonderful as they are, they will go deeper, right? Because now you can just let things sink in and. And integrate and whatever, germinate. So if it's okay with you, I just like to talk through that again, but with a little bit of sort of hypnoish stuff in there. So if that's okay to you, what I'm do is I'm put some music on. Hopefully that's. But if it's okay with you, if you d just like to close your eyes just so we can go inside for a moment. And as you close your eyes, if you would take an in breath, nice gentle in breath, and hold it for a second or two. And as you let it out, just imagine drifting down and down. And as you do, I would Just like to go and think, of being grateful for being who you are because you're the only person who can be who you are. You know, we have this thing about, oh, you're unique. And people go, oh, yeah, where you are. As we said, you're totally unique. And I want you to begin to express life even more richer. So just for a moment, give yourself permission for you and your best friend to begin to contemplate, to think, maybe come up with the attitude of curiosity of what could I do? And if you were to think now, as you just imagine, just imagine for a moment, what would it be like to feel two times more comfortable than I'm, right now? What would it feel like if I was twice as comfortable and feeling? And then you could wonder, well, that's what that feels like. What would it feel like if I could be twice as comfortable this and feel that? As you ask that question, and as you feel this comfortable with your best friend, just wonder if this was the first day or the last day. Let's do the last day of my life. Feeling so grateful for being put on this earth and all the things I've done because I have a legacy. What would I do in these few moments to express my love to everybody? What I do. And as you just contemplate that, just notice what happens inside. Maybe it's a feeling. Maybe you get some pictures, some words. But what would happen if this was the first day of the rest of your life? What would you be thinking about doing right now to make this, this life so wonderful? What would it be like? And what would you do? What would you and your unconscious mind start to think about doing to make this life even richer, to make this wonderful legacy of being you, your contribution, of being here? What would you do if you knew you were so totally grounded and safe you could not fail? Because you'd be saying, bugger it, I'm going toa do it anyway. Because it's good, it's good for me, it's good for the people around me, and it's good for little old planet Earth, so just notice what maybe bubbles up or maybe there's an emotion that you go, where can I find this emotion in the future? Maybe because we get all these different signals from our unconscious mind, so we have to listen with all our senses, so it could be words, it could be sounds, it could be feelings, it could be the pictures we make in our mind. Could this be a symbol that gives us an emotion? And maybe we can begin to think of things that we'd love to do. And then think of, well, I might not get to do this, so bugger, bugger it, I'm do it anyway. What would that be? And when you think about that, you might just get the feeling of the effects that that would give to others. Who said the ripples of change go further and wider than you'ever imagine? So how many ripples could you begin to make right now? But more importantly, or as importantly, how can I experience those things too? How can I experience what will I see? What will I feel? What will I smell and taste? What will I hear? Because I want to live those moments. Because this is my life. How will I be able to record it so I can never forget it? Maybe I'll journal it. Maybe I'll remember it by visualization again. Maybe I'll remember this feeling and I'll anchor it so I can take it wherever I want. And then I'll add to it with every new experience. Because life is going toa be rich with experiences. Because everything I do call it selfless service, helping others, just being bloody me. It'snna be good for me, good for others. Because I'm put on this, earth to do something. All I have to do is look out the window and see the people around. So they could be the windows of your eyes. Just looking out and seeing someone, Something little old planet, Earth that needs a little help. And then you could just maybe contemplate and think. As I look in this metaphorical mirror and I see reflected back at me the vision of the person I'm meant to be. And as I see that reflection, you, in your unconscious mind can begin to notice what's missing. And here's the thing. You can add to this now. Because your unconscious mind knows what's missing, knows the richness of that. And see in that reflection, that reflected person of who you meant to be, reaching out to you from that mirror. The hands coming out to you to hold you, to share with you. See your connection with that reflection in the mirror. Maybe it's an umbilical cord. Maybe it's light shining. You're connected. You're being pulled towards being the person you are meant to be, knowing there's always more. But whatever you think you are, you're more than that. This or something better. And maybe as we begin to put this all together, we can begin to think, what am I putting up? What are the things that I know, not I should be doing? I will be doing that. I've been Putting up because buucker, I'm do it. Use your unconscious mind to help you create ripples of change Because I can. Because I'm me. And I'm make the ripples of change come from me as a center through the whole world, everybody. Like a butterfly flapping one side of the world. I'm gon toa create a storm of wonder and richness by just being me and daring, yeah, daring to be the person I was meant to be. Because I can be that now. I'm not going to put it off anymore. When I open my eyes, I'm begin in toa make a plan. I'm justnna do it. And you'd even swear and say, yeah, that's what I'm do. Because I can. And because you're the only person who gets to do it, no one else can. Because you are, unique. Some people might say special. But you can be special in many different ways. They we're just all special. Creating ripples of change. And maybe you just ask your unconscious mind with your own internal voice to find ways to intuitively inform you, to guide you to all these wonderful things. Maybe you'll be just walking along and suddenly that intuition will get you. You'll suddenly be inspired to do something. Maybe that epiphany will just come along and you can't resist doing it. And that's what I want your unconscious mind to do, is to give you the feeling of I can't not do it. I have to do it. I'm going to do it because this is what I was put on this earth, to do. And then as you do that, take a wonderful in breath and then let it out and then open your eyes. Whenever you are ready. Hey. There you go. That was it. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you enjoyed this life call and the extractor of it. If you want to know more, please have at josephclough.com and his mastery. He has millions of downloads. He has loads of hypnosis tracks and a wonderful app with probably m the biggest, portfolio as it were, of hypnosis tracks. So have a look at the hypnosis app josephlou.com and you know, maybe you want to get part of it or just take advantage of the things that he shares with you. So there you go, enjoy. And if you would share this, it would be great. If you want more information, please email me [email protected] and if there's anything that you feel inspired to do but you need a bit more help again send an email to me and, please share. Please share this and remember to subscribe and follow if you would. But that. That really sharing would be the most wonderful thing you could do. Pay it forward in such a way that would make my heart sing. Paul Clough advises you to leave personal development unplugged So until the next time, my friend. It is time to fly. Warning. You are now leaving the unplugged mind of Paul Clough. It's time to fly on your own. Be brave, my friend. Personal development unplugged. Personal development [self improvement] [self development] [NLP] [Hypnosis]