"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, act frankly...to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely...This is to be my symphony. -William Henry Channing (1810-1884)
Life is not always easy. There are responsibilities, disappointments, jobs,tasks, special events, families, friends, activities and more all competing for our attention. It's how we accept and prioritize these that can make a difference in the way we live our lives, our achievements, and our state of mind. It determines whether we feel satisfied or lost.
Think about the people you know who are constantly on the go, rushing around, leading busy lives, but are not in touch with their feelings, their families and the world around them. They have filled their "to do" lists to overflowing. I often wonder if they are fulfilling their lives or merely filling their lives. Living one's life fully, however, does not mean packing every moment, rushing to accomplish this and that in a helter skelter frenzy. Having a full life, in fact, requires direction, mindfulness, and knowledge of priorities.
I suggest the following steps:
- Reflect on all the good things--the pluses, the blessings, and the accomplishments you took pride in the last year both professionally and personally. Make the list as long as you possibly can, including new milestones at work and all the personal activities that made your life fuller, such as things you did with friends, family, and organizations.
- Write a list of professional and personal goals that you would like to accomplish in the future. Don't worry if they seem impossible now--they don't have to be done today, or even this year. You only need to write what is truly important for you, knowing this is something you wish to strive for. Prioritize the top 8-10 items, including those that you consider to be a personal or professional stretch
- Rewrite the goals on three small index cards as affirmations, pretending they have already happened. Do not write, "I want to earn $100,000." Instead write, "My annual income is $100,000." Change "I want my family to get together for the holidays" to "My family and I enjoyed time together." Put one list in your wallet, one in you dresser drawer, and the other in an easily accessible place--your car, briefcase, desk drawer, etc.
- Refer to the cards frequently. letting your mind accept these as truly important to you, as your goals, as what you strive to be. This is not a "to do" list--it's a "to be" list. Rather than a list of activities, it's your personal goal statement of where you wish to end up in the future. You can check the items off as they are accomplished. You may want to adjust some items, and you will want to slowly add new ones.
While you may want to develop a plan of action for certain goals, for now simply write the list and refer to it regularly. Allow the goals to be accepted in your heart, and mind so that commitment follows.
"Until one is committed, there is some hesitance, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is an elementary truth, the ignorance of which calls countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would have never occurred. A whole stream of events, issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dreamyou can, begin it. Boldness hs genius, power and magic in it." Goethe
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