I woke up with this question recently: who am I really living for? Are we living it for the neighbor with whom we’ve been compared to always? Or is it closer home, a sibling who has outdone themselves since childhood? Are we living for the frenemy we have since college, the fire to be one-up them keeps us going? Or for that work colleague of yours? Are you living to validate or invalidate who you were in the past?
Lives can’t be lived in the past, or too much in the future, for it never was within our grips. Lives can’t be lived with greed, jealousy, envy, hatred. Give these emotions the control, and they’ll run your life to the ground. Who do we live for then? I’m sure you already know the answer but it doesn’t hurt to hear it from someone else too – YOURSELVES.
I read this online and it resonated with me so much, “There’s only one success; to live your life in your own way.” Think about it, how many times in our lives have we stopped to ask ourselves what we really want? And, I mean really aspire for. Now, think about how much time you actually spent working towards those things you really want in that last week? The chances are negligible to nil.
I was shocked when I found mine. I thought ever since I walked the entrepreneurship path, I’m living that life my way. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Turns out now I live for everybody. My past ambitions, future aspirations, family, clients, ex-colleagues, employees, bankers, accountants, Government, partners, and whatnot.
You need them all in life no doubt, but what do you have to show for that inner spark within you? At what cost is putting yourself last justifiable? Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here. But think about things that will truly matter to you at the end of your days. If you feel like you need to give more time to certain things to make your days more meaningful for you, do that. But, do that now, and not someday.
Life is too short. Make sure to indulge in things that spark joy and give you fulfilment in this short span. Because, if not now, then when?
Tune in to our podcast episode where I speak about Dealing with Social Media, and finding the balance while staying up to date with the latest technologies.
To help you reduce your screen time and live life with more intention, I have also curated an Ebook on ‘Digital Detox.’ The e-book comes with several actionable experiments to limit your exposure to distractions and focus on what’s really important.
