Online Therapy Las Vegas: Values & The Tombstone Exercise

We are used to being strategic with our time so we can achieve all the goals that we create. However, it's very easy to fall into the trap of autopilot. It’s important to recognize that our goals can change over time and so do our priorities. 

Many of us are pursuing goals we set years ago. In some cases, we are so focused on fulfilling these goals that we don’t realize these goals don’t align with our values anymore. This is where the Tombstone Exercise helps us in our journey of self-discovery and realignment. 

Living on Autopilot

We are often caught up in the momentum of our own success. We are constantly grinding away at our goals, day after day. This is our formula to success and achievement. After all, we’ve been doing this for years and it has certainly helped us come this far too. We’ve achieved so much so why change the formula?

What we don’t realize is that life is dynamic. What seemed important to us at 21 may not hold the same value at 40. Despite this, we continue to chase these outdated goals as we are unaware that these goals no longer align with our values that are constantly changing. 

This disconnection with our goals can make us feel a sense of dissatisfaction even after achieving them. We may feel like we have hit a dead end and that our hard work to achieve these goals is useless. It is important that we feel this dissatisfaction even when outward success is apparent. I have clients who hit goal after goal but still find themselves feeling empty. They wonder where they went wrong.

The Tombstone Exercise

The tombstone exercise is a powerful tool that is designed to help individuals reassess and realign their goals with their current values. The way this works is you imagine what you would like written on your tombstone after you die. What words would you want to define your legacy? 

This exercise encourages people to deeply reflect on what truly matters to them. It pushes beyond the superficial goals that might currently drive your day-to-day actions. The tombstone exercise makes you look past your short-term goals and understand what you want to do in the long run. I haven’t met a single client who says that they want their tombstone to say they were a millionaire, missed important family milestones and events, or drove a lambo. We are looking for deep values and what matters most to you. 

To use this exercise effectively, you have to take a moment. Write down what you would like your epitaph to say. Then, reflect on whether these words are focused on your career achievements, do they emphasize personal relationships, or contributions to the community. It can be anything you want, as long as it is true to your authentic self. 

Realigning Your Goals with Online Therapy in Las Vegas

Once you've completed the Tombstone Exercise, compare your current goals and values to your previous priorities.  Are they the same as previously or are they different? If there’s a gap, it’s time to realign your goals with what truly matters to you today, not what mattered in the past. 

This means setting new goals or adjusting existing ones to reflect your current life situation. It is important to realize that it can be hard for us to realign our goals on our own. You can always reach out for online therapy to help you align your goals. 

For high achievers, this realignment can be both liberating and empowering. It allows us to step off the autopilot and take control of our life’s direction once more. You might even discover that while your career success is important, so are your family, personal growth, and well-being. 

In conclusion, life changes, and it’s perfectly okay for your goals to change with it. If you’re looking to realign your life goals and find greater fulfillment, consider seeking guidance through online therapy, where you can explore these exercises and more with professional support.

Get Online Therapy in Las Vegas

When you’re ready to invest in therapy and make a change in your life, get online therapy in Las Vegas with Chris Rabanera. Get started with a free 15-minute consultation today. Offering online therapy in California, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah, I specialize in addressing physician burnout, grief counseling, anxiety, depression and providing tailored mental health treatment for men. Let’s get to work to make lasting positive changes.