“Begin each day with the blueprint of your deepest values FIRMLY in mind then when challenges come, make decisions BASED on those values.” – Steven Covey
In recent years, shocks have jolted me wide awake. In those unsettled moments, days, and weeks, a raw clarity permeated my being, exposing what really counts.
You too have probably been shaken by dramatic events: the death of a loved one, an unexpected separation from a spouse or close friend, a natural disaster, the termination of your work.
After lightning personally strikes us, we often promise to never forget, to never be the same or fall into our old ways.
But isn’t the dilemma staying awake?
As strongly as these events may have touched us, time seems to own the power to gradually wash their intense yet essential impressions away. Delusion - confusing our projections for reality - ambles along diluted by not entirely dissolved.
So how do we remember what really counts in this fast-paced world dominated by material distraction and the illusion of getting ahead? How do we resist the lure of our own tumble of habitual thoughts and emotions that brings us suffering again and again?
10 Ways to Remember What Really Counts
1. When a flash of clarity strikes, write down your insights in a special journal. Then read them again and again.
2. Live your new found insight by making a life change. Tammy Strobel discovered that material possessions didn’t bring her happiness so she radically simplified her life and wrote a guidebook to help others find happiness too.
3. Listen to uplifting audios or watch inspiring videos regularly. Doing so will help you to sustain a wider perspective and not get caught up in your own miscellaneous woes. Create your own collection of inspiring talks that you can return to again and again.
4. Write a personal mission statement or manifesto. Then post it prominently where you will see it each day.
5. Explore the power of making a personal vow. It sounds old fashioned, but taking a vow constitutes a clear way to make a strong commitment to yourself.
6. Schedule regular periods of silence, stillness, and solitude. Use the quiet to tune into yourself and see if you are on track.
7. Reflect on impermanence. What if you only had six months to live? Your priorities might be quite different. The silliness of our obsessions tends to melt away when we remember the fragility of this existence. Let the remembrance of impermanence help you stay focused on what really matters.
8. Make a public commitment on your blog. After spending eight months in South America, Satya Colombo returned to America with a different perspective from a different world. To maintain the clarity of his fresh perspective, he made a strong resolution to fight for what really matters and published it on his blog.
9. Learn to meditate. Mindfulness is the key to remembering what really counts and making the right choice in every moment. Meditation has been shown to reduce blood pressure, boost immunity, reduce anxiety and make for more ease, happiness and joy. But more important than any of these personal and practical benefits, meditation will shift the entire way you perceive the world.
Read: 21 Meditation Tips You Need to Know As a Beginner
10. Surround yourself with like-minded friends. Actively associate with people who will encourage, inspire, and support you to live life on purpose.
It's easy to get caught in the flow of mundane life. Staying awake and making deliberate choices requires fierce determination, a clear-headed plan, and a tool box of reminders.
How do you remember to stay awake?
Thank you for your presence, I know your time is precious! Don’t forget to sign up for my e-letter and get access to all the free self-development resources (e-books, mini-guides + worksheets) in the Always Well Within Library. May you be happy, well, and safe – always. With love, Sandra