“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be ‘happy.’ I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is above all, to matter; to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”
Leo Calvin Rosten
I’ve Been Thinking. . . about the ideal Life. I must admit my perspective on the ‘ideal life’ has gone through some alteration over the years.
In my early years, happiness was certainly a pursuit. Then, I realized happiness was a fleeting emotion and frankly I was responsible for my level of happiness. Comfort. That was another priority for awhile. Boring! The desire for security slowly evolved into a willingness to explore new ideas, adventures and approaches. You get the idea.
Rosten’s quote speaks directly to my heart. I want to live in a way that counts; that stands for something, that makes some difference. I’ll admit I haven’t figured it all out but I know it will require a daily reigniting of commitment and energy to live above the daily grind, the ordinary.
What would your ideal life look like? What does your current life look like? How does it compare to the ideal? What are the gaps? How far apart is the ideal from the real?
Think about this – our life will become exactly what we decide it to be and we will experience what we want most. You might say, “Wait a minute. My life is nothing like I want it to be. In fact, I’m experiencing far from what I want and even farther from the ideal.”
I understand. And, I would respond, “If that is true, what action are you taking to close the gap between the real and the ideal? What is your vision for the future?” You show me your vision, and I can predict your future.
Listen (or read) carefully. There are people who are chained to their past and therefore never create a fresh outlook for the future. Other people are so caught up thinking about the future; they fail to take care of the present.
I’ve learned the past is a marvelous and sometimes painful teacher, the present is filled with opportunity and the future is not something to be feared but enthusiastically pursued.
Without a vision for the future, you will be trapped by the ensnarling enemy called “average” or “good enough.” Without a solid purpose, it is difficult to wrap your arms around a vision that makes sense. When you establish a purpose for your life, it will shape your vision for the future, give you a desire to make significant things happen in your life and instill a desire to change the way things are.
The ideal life is a life that evolves around a purpose. God is pleased when you are doing what He designed you to do. Take it from Bertrice Berry who said, “When you walk with purpose, you collide with destiny.”
Are you striving to just make it through each day? Are you dreaming about a different kind of life but don’t really have any direction? Are you unclear about the difference you can make in other people’s lives? Is there a reason for you to get up in the morning beyond the need to make a living?
If you want your life to be something different than it is, then you are going to have to do something different than you’ve ever done. It has been said that, “unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.” The truth is, unhappy people don’t know what they want and so they don’t have a focus… a purpose that drives their life. Unfortunately, so many of these people desperately try to make sense out of life and wear themselves out without ever finding happiness or satisfaction.
Simply, their lives are purposeless.
My simple purpose in life is “to positively impact the lives of people.” I shutter to think of the number of times I’ve fallen short of this lofty ideal. But one thing I know, the more I fulfill that simple purpose, the closer my life gets to experiencing the ideal.
“You are here for a purpose. There is not a duplicate of you in the whole wide world; there never has been there never will be. You were brought here now to fill a certain need. Take time to think that over.”
Lou Austin
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Get It Right The First Time
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
- Oprah Winfrey
I’ve Been Thinking . . . about how many things in life I take for granted. I fear the list of precious, promising, positive, pertinent overlooked good things in my life would be embarrassing. I would have to begin with a renewed thankfulness for the breath of life.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, 47-year-old Randy Pausch returned to Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught computer science, to deliver a final lecture to colleagues. The professor hoped 150 people might show up. Instead, the 400 seat lecture auditorium was filled.
Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” was delivered in September 2007. The lecture began with him standing before a screen beaming down chilling CT images of tumors in his liver, under the title. . . The Elephant in the Room. He then stunned the audience with this announcement: “I have about six months to live. I’m in really good shape, probably better shape than most of you.” He then dropped to the floor to do push-ups.
Randy opened his heart to the audience in a humorous, insightful, and emotion packed farewell that was more focused on living than on his imminent death. He told his colleagues and students, “I’m dying and I’m having fun, and I’m going to keep having fun every day I have left.”
Within weeks, his videotaped lecture was seen by millions on the Internet and later became the material for a bestselling book. Randy Pausch was a dying man who taught those who listened how to live. Hi died on July 25, 2008 but his legacy, wisdom, wonderful outlook on life and passion remain a living inspiration to us all.
Isn’t it amazing how those facing death have an unusually clear perspective on what is truly important in life?
What about us?
What’s going right in your life today? What are you thankful for? What are you celebrating? What have you done to make this day the best one you’ve had in a long time? What relationships are blessing your life? Do you enjoy your work? Your coworkers (have you told them?)
You might have to look around – search a bit to find all of your blessings. I’m convinced there will be some you’ve overlooked since we have countless things in our lives to be thankful for. Here’s a practical example from my life.
In January 2009 and few couples traveled to New York City for our first time. We had a delightful long weekend celebrating the 60th birthday of a friend while seeing the sights and enjoying the sounds of the city. We boarded a flight at LaGuardia late Sunday afternoon and returned to Omaha with only minor glitches and delays in our travel.
A few weeks later, 155 people on US Airways Flight 1549 thought they were going to die. During takeoff from LaGuardia, their plane struck geese, disabling both engines. In a powerless glide, the captain miraculously maneuvered over the densely populated areas and then announced: “Brace yourself for impact.”
Less than 90 seconds later the disabled jet made a water landing in the frigid Hudson River. Boats and ferries quickly arrived to rescue the passengers and crew. Everyone survived. People appropriately named it the “miracle on the Hudson” and praised the pilot and crew.
During an interview, one passenger simply said, “We have a second chance in life.”
I was much more thankful in retrospect for our uneventful takeoff, flight and landing just a few weeks earlier. I normally take those safe flights for granted. Not anymore. I too was given a ‘second chance’ in life . . . without the drama of a landing in the Hudson River.
Several years ago actor Bill Murray starred in a movie called Ground Hog Day. In this comedy he had to keep re-living a particular day all over again until things came out right.
I’ve never been given the chance to relive a day in my life. If I had to do a day over again, I ‘m certain I wouldn’t take for granted everything I had the day before – or least I think I have enough common sense not to mess it up two days in a row – or maybe not.
Here’s an exercise for you. For the next three days keep a written list of everything you have the freedom to enjoy, every potential blessing in the day, every accomplishment, and every relationship that is enriching your life. That intense three day focus might just jumpstart a renewed appreciation for your life.
Get it right the first time. We don’t get a chance to do it over again.
“It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”
- Bruce Springstein
- Oprah Winfrey
I’ve Been Thinking . . . about how many things in life I take for granted. I fear the list of precious, promising, positive, pertinent overlooked good things in my life would be embarrassing. I would have to begin with a renewed thankfulness for the breath of life.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, 47-year-old Randy Pausch returned to Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught computer science, to deliver a final lecture to colleagues. The professor hoped 150 people might show up. Instead, the 400 seat lecture auditorium was filled.
Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” was delivered in September 2007. The lecture began with him standing before a screen beaming down chilling CT images of tumors in his liver, under the title. . . The Elephant in the Room. He then stunned the audience with this announcement: “I have about six months to live. I’m in really good shape, probably better shape than most of you.” He then dropped to the floor to do push-ups.
Randy opened his heart to the audience in a humorous, insightful, and emotion packed farewell that was more focused on living than on his imminent death. He told his colleagues and students, “I’m dying and I’m having fun, and I’m going to keep having fun every day I have left.”
Within weeks, his videotaped lecture was seen by millions on the Internet and later became the material for a bestselling book. Randy Pausch was a dying man who taught those who listened how to live. Hi died on July 25, 2008 but his legacy, wisdom, wonderful outlook on life and passion remain a living inspiration to us all.
Isn’t it amazing how those facing death have an unusually clear perspective on what is truly important in life?
What about us?
What’s going right in your life today? What are you thankful for? What are you celebrating? What have you done to make this day the best one you’ve had in a long time? What relationships are blessing your life? Do you enjoy your work? Your coworkers (have you told them?)
You might have to look around – search a bit to find all of your blessings. I’m convinced there will be some you’ve overlooked since we have countless things in our lives to be thankful for. Here’s a practical example from my life.
In January 2009 and few couples traveled to New York City for our first time. We had a delightful long weekend celebrating the 60th birthday of a friend while seeing the sights and enjoying the sounds of the city. We boarded a flight at LaGuardia late Sunday afternoon and returned to Omaha with only minor glitches and delays in our travel.
A few weeks later, 155 people on US Airways Flight 1549 thought they were going to die. During takeoff from LaGuardia, their plane struck geese, disabling both engines. In a powerless glide, the captain miraculously maneuvered over the densely populated areas and then announced: “Brace yourself for impact.”
Less than 90 seconds later the disabled jet made a water landing in the frigid Hudson River. Boats and ferries quickly arrived to rescue the passengers and crew. Everyone survived. People appropriately named it the “miracle on the Hudson” and praised the pilot and crew.
During an interview, one passenger simply said, “We have a second chance in life.”
I was much more thankful in retrospect for our uneventful takeoff, flight and landing just a few weeks earlier. I normally take those safe flights for granted. Not anymore. I too was given a ‘second chance’ in life . . . without the drama of a landing in the Hudson River.
Several years ago actor Bill Murray starred in a movie called Ground Hog Day. In this comedy he had to keep re-living a particular day all over again until things came out right.
I’ve never been given the chance to relive a day in my life. If I had to do a day over again, I ‘m certain I wouldn’t take for granted everything I had the day before – or least I think I have enough common sense not to mess it up two days in a row – or maybe not.
Here’s an exercise for you. For the next three days keep a written list of everything you have the freedom to enjoy, every potential blessing in the day, every accomplishment, and every relationship that is enriching your life. That intense three day focus might just jumpstart a renewed appreciation for your life.
Get it right the first time. We don’t get a chance to do it over again.
“It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”
- Bruce Springstein
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