Learning From Scrooge: How The Ebenezer Effect Can Change Your Life

The ghost of Christmas-Yet-To-Come transported Scrooge to a scene after his own funeral where he had to endure the painful, unvarnished truth of what people really thought of him. It was an alarming but valuable wake up call. "The Spirit was immovable as ever. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge."

(PRWEB) December 16, 2005 -- In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge came face-to-face with the effects of his lifetime of negative habits and attitudes when a series of ghosts showed him the past, present and potential future. Scrooge’s deceased business partner, Jacob Marley told him, "I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."

The ghost of Christmas-Yet-To-Come transported Scrooge to a scene after his own funeral where he had to endure the painful, unvarnished truth of what people really thought of him. It was an alarming but valuable wake up call. "The Spirit was immovable as ever. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge."

Taking a lesson from Scrooge, we all have the ability to write our own eulogy and harness what Matthew Cossolotto, author of HabitForce!, calls "The Ebenezer Effect". He urges those who want to jumpstart and sustain positive change in their lives to begin by establishing a clear blueprint for what they want to accomplish in their lives, what kind of person they aspire to be, and how they want people to remember them.

Cossolotto says, “Writing your own eulogy might strike some people as a bit morbid. But this exercise helps to focus the mind on long-term goals and on big questions about your life’s purpose. The sooner you write your eulogy, the better. Scrooge waited until it was almost too late. But he managed to transform himself overnight. That’s the power of the Ebenezer Effect.”

The write-your-own-eulogy recommendation is contained in Cossolotto’s book, HabitForce! He also includes the exercise in his Harness Your HabitForce! workshops.

“Remember. The eulogy you write today isn't etched in stone like Scrooge’s name on that tombstone,” Cossolotto says. “You can always go back to the document periodically and make some edits, add new goals or even remove things that no longer apply. The key is to get something on paper that reflects your long-term goals, heartfelt values, and deepest principles. Those things shouldn't change very much over time. Basically, the written eulogy is a mission statement for your life designed intentionally to get and keep your attention over time. It’s a great motivator. It reminds you about what’s most important to you and sets your life’s course in the direction you want it to take…before it’s too late!”

Harness Your HabitForce! workshops and presentations are designed for schools, community groups, and business and professional organizations.

For a review copy of HabitForce! or to set up an interview with Matthew Cossolotto for a story, please contact Jay Wilke at 727-443-7115, ext. 223

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