Living life for the moment is what everyone says you are supposed to do. Living today to make tomorrow better is probably a good idea too. However, living like there is no tomorrow is the ideal.
Pursuing the moment is important. Despite what people say, you just simply cannot multitask effectively. You can certainly multitask, you will just reduce your effectiveness. So when you have dedicated a block of time to an activity, focus on that activity and do a really good job at it. Get the most out of your time. If you have decided to rest, then rest really well. If you decided to spend time with family, then do that really well. If you decided to take an hour to exercise, then go for it with everything you have. Focus on the task at hand. Maximize the time in a given activity.
By living in the moment like this, you are achieving the plan for tomorrow that you created by prioritizing these activities in the first place. However, that is the rub right there. If you are engaged in unplanned activities, other people’s priorities or just handling things in a reactionary manner then living in the moment is actually not a good idea. Living in a purposeful moment seems to be an important distinction.
Life has purpose when you have actually made a decision on what to spend your time on. When you are in control, you made the call, then is when you can and should pour your effort into that moment. Run as if it was a race. Lift those weights as if someone you wanted to impress was always watching. Attend every meeting as if it was your first.
When you have decided to lead a purposeful life and the moments actually count toward your progress then the higher ideal of living like there is tomorrow kicks in. You are not ever going to be like Phil. You are not going to get to repeat the same day a million times until you get it perfect. However, you are going to repeat a similar day many many many times in row. You are never going to be perfect, but if today was your last, and you were engaged in these activities, how would you want to be remembered in your final moments?
Desperate? Calm and in control? Passionate? Kind? Spiteful and petty? I would like it to be known that at least I was giving it my all to the best activities designed to lead a purposeful life. We should be deliberate. We should be mindful. We should live every moment with passion and purpose. We should give everything we have when no one is watching.
Guy Reams
28 Days to 1st Marathon
