What is Truly Important in Your Life?
Are we looking far enough down the road? In today's fast paced society, whereby mail is now exchanged instantaneously and your every question is answered by Google in less than a second, we've grown accustomed to expect things to come immediately. However, this also means that we've started to consider our goals and aspirations on a month to month or day to day basis versus years and decades down the line. As a result, we may end up spending time on worthless pastimes or pursing possessions that don't necessarily mean much in the long-run.
"Years go by fast that it's hard not to think about the future. You live for the moment, of course, but you've also got to prepare for the future. That's life. That's everybody. Being in the situation you're in now you definitely think about it, but you do live for the moment." - Lebron James
It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of the day to day. That is why it is important to take a step back and look at the longer term. The below meditation exercise will help you temporarily change your perspective and help you see life in the light of a longer time period. Hopefully, this exercise will help you figure or reinforce what truly matters most in your life.
With your eyes closed and after you've allowed yourself to deepen your sense of relaxation, whereby your muscles are relaxed and your breathing has slowed, begin by thinking of a long time. Consider a span of many years (5-10 years). After that idea has settled in your mind, extend that time to an even longer time period. You may be at 10, 20, or 30 years. When you are ready, double that time. Then double that time again.
From this viewpoint, you are now centuries away from when you initial started the exercise. Look back at your life and ponder the below questions. Simply allow your intuitive instincts guide your answers into awareness.
1) What are the most important things in your life?
2) At the end of it all, what really matters?
3) What would you be better off doing more of?
4) What would you be better off doing less of?
2) At the end of it all, what really matters?
3) What would you be better off doing more of?
4) What would you be better off doing less of?
Take a moment to write down your insights and reflect on them. You may discover that from a longer term perspective, your focus needs to be elsewhere or you could be right where you need to be. In addition, all the worries and difficulties you have from a day to day point of view will start to look small in the grand scheme of things. Now it's your job to ensure that you are on the right path and simplify your life by focusing on what really matters in life.
"Consider what you are doing and ponder whether it is worthy that you devote your life to it." - Rabbi Nachman