1. Read through journals, notes, letters, and emails. Review photos. These can provide an abundance of material that can be used to uncover your memoir's theme.

2. Interview family and friends about their memories of you. They may be able to provide insights or stories that can help you discover your memoir's theme.

3. Brainstorm what your life has been about.  Brainstorm using short sentences. Then consider the list.  Then identify the key moments that have defined who you are and where you are today.

4. Reflect on your most significant accomplishments, failures, triumphs, and challenges in  life. Journal and make lists.  Use these experiences to develop a sense of the common thread among them that could be your memoir's theme.

5. Consider the values and beliefs that have guided your choices in life.  Write about your values without thought of finding your memoirs theme. Afterwards, think about how they could be articulated as a theme for your memoir.

6. Take some time to observe yourself in various contexts. List your jobs, partners, pets, places you've lived.  Make lists of specific times you've been happy, stressed, satisfied. and afraid.   Reflect on how they may have made a difference in your journey and shaped who you are now.

7. Ask yourself questions such as "What is my story really about?" and "What is the main lesson I want to share with others?"

8. Make a list of the words and phrases that come to mind when thinking about your memoir's theme . See what patterns emerge.

9. Use remembrance writing exercises and journaling to find the themes that keep appearing in your life stories.

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