By Phil Coleman and Tom Wilbur
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity once answered, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present—the result being that he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies never having really lived.”
Wow. Nailed that one, eh?
The one universal truth humanity faces is that each of us eventually expires. Attending yet another funeral recently of a friend who passed away at too young of an age— brings it into focus quickly. Do we have another day here? One more month? One more year? When we pass on— what will be said about us? That we lived life to its fullest, and were of service to others? Or will folks say– it’s just too bad more people didn’t really know you—and isn’t that a pity, now what’s for lunch?
So, what are the keys to encountering this day, making a difference, and being that person who experienced and positively lived life with purpose and joy?
We think it’s this: Live fully — ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Living today– right now, right here, living rightly in this moment.
Yesterday was interesting. We learned and shared stuff, laughed and cried a while, worked and prayed sometimes. We gained experiences—some positive and some negative— experiences that have shaped us into who we are. We’ve grown from these events, and have matured—and we should be grateful. But yesterday is simply a memory. Yesterday has passed forever. All the money in the world cannot bring back days gone by. We cannot undo a single act we performed, or erase a single word we said. And for that reason, we must LET YESTERDAY GO. And as Dr. Suess once remarked, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!”
Tomorrow is full of possibilities, but it’s not here yet. Tomorrow could bring burdens or sorrows, or conversely, exciting new opportunities and great joy. But tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. We can plan for it, take actions to help shape it, and attempt to prepare for it. But we can’t allow ourselves to be troubled about the future, because the future has not yet come. Tomorrow’s sun will rise with splendor or hide behind a mass of clouds. And make no mistake, it will rise. But once it rises, we will face a new day– this day – TODAY!
Focusing too much on yesterday and worrying too much about tomorrow are exercises in futility. Let us, therefore, resolve to take this journey together, no more than one day at a time.
In closing, here are five thoughts you can put into action, TODAY:
1. Embrace the moment, and use each moment to make a strong impact upon the world– your world—and each person you meet.
2. Each day is a separate life—allow it to be born and to die, but in the middle– experience it to the fullest.
3. Happiness depends on us. We can define and shape today by our attitude toward it, and make the day more special by bringing a whole feedbag of positive attitude into each of our encounters.
4. Humble yourself before others, and before God. Practice servant leadership.
5. Take time to let someone know how much you love them, right now. It will do you no harm.
Albert Einstein, a much smarter guy than us, wrote: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
So let’s keep this quest going, shall we? We’re on a journey, together, full of a series of todays. Nothing is certain. But let’s not live with the regrets of days past, or be overly concerned about things that may never happen.
May this “today” be eventful— filled with positive energy and abundant blessings, and shared with people you love. You can do it.
Until next time,
Phil and Tom
Winning Strategies is a series created by Phil Coleman and Tom Wilbur to provide inspiration and motivation, based upon their personal experiences and fundamental ideas for success. Phil Coleman is the owner of Champion Seminars, in Salina, Kansas. A popular public and corporate speaker, Phil is an entrepreneur, and has made presentations on successful life strategies to thousands of people over his career with his firm. Tom Wilbur is a regular editorial contributor to newspapers, magazines, and motivational newsletters, and is President/CEO of BANK VI in Salina. Phil and Tom are both long term residents of Salina, and Kansas, and have a common vested interest in helping others. You can contact them at thinkplanwin@hotmail.com