Next year, 5 years, 10 years – How will your life be different from today? Will it be different? How do you feel about that? Are you truly living a life fulfilled; personally, spiritually, financially? Have you ever thought about such things or are you just “workin for a livin” and getting ready for the weekend? If this is you, and you are happy and content with that – great! (Really!) I am envious because you have found your calling and you are living your dream. Two things that I feel really are the heart of the matter when it comes to leading a life fulfilled.
On the other hand, for many, your purpose and vision for leading a life fulfilled is quite different. I find that spending time doing the things that I need to do vs. the time I spend doing the things I want to do are directly related to the amount of self-fulfillment I experience. I don’t mean this on a day to day basis, I mean this more in the “grand scheme” of things. By this I mean what happens today, happens today and only slightly affects the long-term goal (what I call my “slight edge” mentality – after the book The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen). What that means is I have spent time to define how I would like my life to look, but still have not conquered the “need to” bits so my purpose and vision have not yet been fully realized but I know I am on the right path.
I speak with people about whom they are & what they see in themselves and most tell me that they do have goals and dreams, but they don't actively pursue them or feel they have reached a point where they are not going to acheive them due to any number of restrictions or beliefs they may have. Whether real or imagined, many (if not most) use words like happy, content, or doing OK to describe their life, yet as we talk, these very people will then tell me that they although they want to see new places, they “don’t like to travel”; or they wish they could help their children with school, but they “don’t have the time”; or would like to have a bigger house, but they “can’t afford it”, or whatever – you get the point. Whether it’s money, time off from work, or some sort of limiting belief in their own ability – I regularly meet good, honest, hard working people whom I know are the proverbial “ship without a rudder”. I know, because I was one of them, and I can spot you a mile away.
I’m here to tell you that if you want more out of your life, you can have whatever you choose to create. I believe that a person creates his own destiny through belief, desire, and knowledge. Do you have a clear picture of where you are headed – are you looking at it daily and measuring your progress? Can you commit to it? Your future does matter – YOU matter. My Dad always said, "Do something that matters". I have tried to do just that by participating in businesses that are of benefit to other people; but I never felt I was accomplishing anything. I now know that lack of success was because I really didn’t have a plan for me.
We all influence others. The internal satisfaction that what I was contributing actually did matter was just not there. It is very refreshing to have found something. Being a part of the TEAM matters! Your children learn by watching you; your coworkers assimilate with your behavior; your “significant other” will adopt learned behaviors based on what they see in you. If you have no plan, you become complacent and frustrated, these breed discontentment, and that breeds negative thoughts and actions. Would the world be a better place if we all understood that we have a purpose and we are earnest and positive in the pursuit of that which we feel will make us complete? I think yes it would – tremendously so.
I’m not saying that any of this is easy, it’s actually a bit difficult - but the results are priceless. I have seen it in others in my community that have acheived great success and am convinced that dream, struggle, and victory bring the best rewards in life. Life isn’t/shouldn't be just making money, it’s about the experience, caring and sharing, loving, and in my community, making a difference. I’ll cover that in another post. For now consider, just what does your future look like? Will you choose “more of the same” or will you choose to step up and create something extraordinary? I’d like to help you take action if you are ready. Information is free, what you choose to do with it is another thing.
Live well – Be Well
Stephen
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