Every day is a gift. There will never be another opportunity to live this day again; therefore, it is important to get the most out of it. Things will not happen to us by accident. We ought to be deliberate about living every day as if it were our last and make the most of everything life affords us. We cannot guarantee the outcome of everything, but we can take steps to ensure we live every day to the fullest. Life is not as complicated as we make it out to be. Simplicity is the best remedy for purposeful living and we will not be disappointed when we live actively taking part in the things that make life worth living. Here are 6 steps to get the most out of every day.
Take time to gather your thoughts. In this fast pace world, we are tempted to begin our days at breakneck speed. Everything seems to be a matter of urgency and requires our immediate attention. Begin your days by spending time with your inner thoughts. Stop, breathe, smell, and listen intently to what life is saying to you. If you are a Christian like me, never begin a day without making time to commune with God. It is in these silent moments of the early morning we often find the answers to life’s questions. We are waking up to a world that is rushing out of control, but it doesn’t mean we have to rush into its chaos. Meditate, embrace life and take control of the day before stepping into the unknown.
Identify your triggers before they trigger you. We all know the things that will set us off and disrupt our flow. Pay attention to them! We know the situation and people we must avoid maintaining our peace. We may not have the choice of not interacting with them, but we can control our response to them. A soldier does not go to war without a plan to defeat the enemy. Our triggers are not our friends and we ought to have a plan of action for them. Identify the things that push your button and keep the button where you can see it. We will not the battle over triggers all the time, but knowing what they are will keep us on our toes.
Be prepared to embrace the unexpected. One of the amazing things about life is that it is unpredictable. Even with the best-laid plans, life has a way of throwing a wrench in the wheel of things. Don’t become so rigid in your routine when the unexpected happens, it cripples your progress. When the unexpected occurs, find the quickest route to a solution and waste time stewing in the things you can’t control. We save ourselves a lot of anxiety when we accept that change is inevitable.
Remember to always give thanks. The words of Philippians 4: 6-7 are my mantra I swear by them. Even on the worst day, we can find something about life to be thankful for. A life of thanksgiving is not driven by circumstances but by the knowledge of a God who is in control of everything. Don’t practice giving thanks because of what you have. Give thanks because you know with certainty God can deliver on all His promises even in difficult times. People will not always understand your praise, but when we have tasted God’s goodness, we have no other option but to live giving thanks. Make thanksgiving your mission and see how much more you will enjoy living.
Spend time with people. On tough days, a conversation with another human being is undeniably satisfying. Actual conversations are a powerful way to tap into our humanity. We are losing the art of conversation to the distraction of social media and gadgets, but people still need people. Try each day to have at least one conversation and tell me if it does not make a difference in your life. People need us as much as we need them and it will never change. Get out of your own head and seek meaningful conversation. It is good for your health.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. One of the greatest obstacles to joy and happiness is the inability to laugh at yourself. Don’t be so wrapped up in your head that you forget a laugh or a smile still makes a brighter. With all the ugliness and evil in the world, there are still some moments of unexplained beauty. Be serious about achieving your dreams, but don’t lose yourself along the way. Give yourself the freedom to make mistakes, laugh when you make crazy decisions, and beat yourself over the head when you have a hard time figuring out life.
We can live the life we deserve if we learn how to live it on our terms. Stop trying to live the perfect existence and take life in strides. Time will not wait for us to catch up to living life. Be deliberate about making each day count and don’t hold back. Spend time with your thoughts, know what triggers negative emotions, be prepared for the unexpected, give thanks for all things, have conversations with real people, and remember not to take yourself so seriously.
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