Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh
Choose with no regret
Continue to learn
Appreciate your friends
Do what you love
Live as if this is all there is.
~Mary Anne Radmacher
Living life to the fullest seems so daunting at times. But we can also ask ourselves why that is. Why do we let the endless chores and tasks dominate our lives to the extent that all we do is go from one day to another, checking off the items on our lists, hurrying and scurrying, and not taking the time to slow down and ponder–what are we doing all this for?
When was the last time you stopped and really thought about what you want out of your life? Are you living the ideal life for you? Have you found that deeper meaning and purpose that fuels you to live the best version of yourself? Do you know what living life to the fullest would mean for you?
I know the realities of life can certainly get in the way. We all have chores that have to get done, kids that need to get to school and to extra-curricular activities, jobs that are demanding and time consuming. What’s left after that? Who has the time to actually live life to the fullest, let alone think about it?
Do you want more out of your life? I know I do! I know I spend time regularly asking myself, am I living the highest quality of life I can? Am I living up to my potential?
Making your life happen the way you want it to takes commitment. It also requires a clear vision of what you want. So let me ask you this: Suppose when you go to bed tonight and fall asleep, something really amazing happens. It’s like a miracle! The miracle is that you’ve got your quality life, you’re living life to the fullest, immersing yourself completely in experiences that are enjoyable and make your life really meaningful to you.
The thing is because you’re sleeping, you don’t know this has happened. When you wake up in the morning, what would you be doing that would be signs that this amazing life was yours?
Who in your life would notice that you had learned how to live life to the fullest? What would your partner and/or best friend(s) notice? What would s/he see you doing that would tell her or him that you were living a passionate life, were discovering and using your gifts, and were living up to your fullest potential?
Be specific!
What else would s/he notice? Imagine all the things you would be doing that would make you feel the happiest, the most challenged, and the most fulfilled you’ve ever felt. What would s/he see you doing that would tell him or her that the way you were living your life really mattered?
Now I want you to think-is there anything that’s happening in your day-to-day life now that’s a part of this miracle-even in the smallest of ways? If so, what? Has there ever been a time when you’ve lived a part or parts of this miracle? If so, when? What were you doing?
Let me ask you, on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the miracle has happened-you’re absolutely living life to the fullest, and 0 is the opposite, where are you now in terms of living your ideal life? What are you doing that puts you at that number? How is it that you’re at that number instead of lower?
Suppose you made a commitment today, right now to continue travelling on the pathway of life in the direction of your fullest potential, what’s one small thing you could do over the next week that would tell you that you were on the right path-that you were moving in the right direction? How committed and/or confident are you that you can do this one small thing? What puts you at this commitment and/or confidence level?
When you go to bed each night ask yourself, where will I be at tomorrow in terms of living my life to the fullest on that scale of 0-10? Write it down.
At the end of the following day ask yourself, was I where I thought I would be on the scale? What did I do that put me at the number I was actually at? List all the things you did. Then do it again. Predict what kind of day you’re going to have the next day and evaluate again at bedtime. See what difference this makes in creating your ideal life.
I’d love to hear your comments!
