Remember, everyone dies. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when.
The illusion is that we have all the time in the world when in reality we are limited by the fact there is no time just the binary conclusion of alive or dead…
The great illusion
We are not the person we were 10 years ago let alone 10 days ago. Neither will we live forever. We wander from opportunity to opportunity going “There is always tomorrow.” or “I have no time”
The illusion is that we have all the time in the world when in reality we are limited by the fact there is no time just the binary conclusion of alive or dead.
We do mental gymnastics to prevent ourselves from doing ‘risky’ things. At some point we were tricked into believing that we shouldn’t be bumping up against things. To take the ‘sure’ thing. To wander along the known path.
If you’re happy with your ‘sure’ thing and the known path. Then I’m not talking to you. You can skip over the rest of this.
I’m talking to the rest of you who are unsettled, unhappy and disturbed with your life outcome so far.
The path to a peaceful mind
You’ve taken the advice of everyone else. Now take a chance and listen to some suggestions that will change the way you live and breathe.
Have 2 gears.
I have two gears in life. 100% forward and oh shit that’s a cliff put it in reverse.
Stop dawdling with your personal development, experiences and relationships. Live life fully and deeply.
That means the good and the bad. The day you lose someone you care deeply about. They are gone completely. Experience that emotion fully.
In this world there are so many willing to discount the negative simply because it’s negative. I’ve become more of a full person from these experiences.
Give and receive compassion and empathy
The dysfunction of American politics and a reflection of our world view is the assessment that empathy and understanding is a form of weakness.
Compassion is something that is effortless and there are always someone in a worse situation than you are. Give time, energy, knowledge or another resource.
Even if you have little to give.
To change the world you must change yourself
To be something different then you are today means that you must change yourself. To change the world means you must change yourself.
This is the pinnacle of lead by example. Emotions are contagious. Being a beacon for others is the easiest way to inspire others. Represent a real you by being the best manifestation of you every day and every chance you can. It bleeds through.
This paradigm in your thinking will be an inspiration for many but you will see little of the results. I’ve heard dozens of accounts for myself but they are sprinkled throughout the years of doing this. Which means my impact is ten-fold easilly.
Do not expect to see results from this, except in yourself.
All things change
Recognize that all things change. The objective reality to this world is that all things are transient.
This is not to encourage denial or existential despair. Instead it’s a way to recognize that all things rise and all things fall. Knowing this one can embrace the beauty of life easier.
The negative and positive feelings will pass and recognizing these are singular moments can allow you to live fuller and deeper.
Embrace Death
There is a certain kind of liberty and peace from recognizing one’s own death.
We tend to shy away from acknowledging and appreciating death. We shy from it. Feel uncomfortable. Yet there is a certain kind of liberty and peace from recognizing one’s own death.
Everything that you thought was important disappears in that moment. Realizing you will die provides a way to make life simple.
Things that are important are top of mind. Things that are not are no longer hovering in your mind. To know you could die this very day, frees you from the concerns of failing, losing, looking foolish or seeming too naive.
acknowledging my death gave me a strange form of liberty on the battlefield. The resignation of everything outside of my control providing me a means to focus and act decisively that I carry with me to this day.
I recognized the embracing of death at a young age. Not many have been in war zones. I understood in a very visceral sense that acknowledging my death gave me a strange form of liberty on the battlefield. The resignation of everything outside of my control providing me a means to focus and act decisively that I carry with me to this day.
What are you waiting to die for?
Who is writing your story? Who is driving you to do what you’re doing? If you lived life being more compassionate and aware of the moment what would you do?
Embrace death, negative and positive events and emotions, care more for others even when it hurts. Be willing to fail. Be willing to thrive and not just sustain. Remember…everyone dies.