[Ask the Reader] How Can You Make the Most of Your Time on Earth?

Our world seems to move faster and faster. With this, people are jumping from one thing to another. This is probably just the natural thing to do. Nevertheless, I don’t think we experience life as fully this way. In order to truly see and understand what is going on around you, you need to take the time to really look carefully and contemplate.
Glynis Jolly´s last [type] ..The Relationship Between Confidence and Physical Health – Guest Post

What a wonderful question! My answer is getting to know the true nature of mind, seeing thoughts and emotions for what they really are – just clouds passing by in the sky – being in the present moment and extending love, kindness, and compassion to myself and others.
Sandra / Always Well Within´s last [type] ..Release Yourself from The Tyranny of Thoughts & Emotions

Whatever your passions and dreams do them now! Live the life of your dreams starting now.

I think the key to making the most out of our life is always learning and living every moment like its your last. Take risk and chances because later in life you’ll look back and know that you lived your life like you wanted to and that it was all worth it.

I love this question! Thank you for opening up time to reflect. I think there are many ways we can make the most of our time – and for me the trick is – don’t lose focus on just that sentence. Often we start off with great intentions but then Life takes over and you look at what you did (meaningfully) in the past 3,6 etc months – and it can easily have slipped into “more of the same”. So have a plan and actively work it ito how you can make the most of your time.

As a young child, studying catechism in a parochial school, I could have answered this one easily, by rote. God created us to love, serve and honor him. We would make the most of our time on earth by being good Catholics. That would involve marrying other good Catholics, and producing lots of good Catholic children. Unless we were among the chosen few that God called to a religious vocation. At that time, the 1950s, Catholic girls only had to concern themselves about whether they were called to be nuns or mothers. The boys, on the other hand really needed to make it a point to pray frequently to the Holy Ghost for guidance on what vocation God wanted them to follow. Apart from being called to a religious vocation, they would have to do something to earn a living in order to support a good Catholic wife and many good Catholic children. Whatever their choice of lay vocation might be, if that opportunity came to them in response to sincere prayer, they would know that it was the right one–assuming of course that it wasn’t something sinful.

I admit that I’m making this sound awfully simplistic, but I fear that for far too many human beings, this question is answered for them by their elders, in a similar simplistic way, long before they are old enough to formulate the question for themselves, let alone ask it. So many of us, as adults, would not be fixating on this question now, if we had not been sent off on some sort of wild goose chase early in life–by well meaning mentors who themselves had their life options similarly outlined for them.

Some of us will sooner or later reach a point in life where we will question the prefabricated wisdom of our elders, and find ourselves trying to answer this question by more or less haphazard means. Honestly, I think that this is the essence of the story of Gautama Buddha. The overwhelming majority of us will simply live and die believing what we were told, and sharing that received wisdom with our children and grand children.

I am one of the ones who took the hard path–questioned everything that I was ever taught. As my paternal grandmother put it, I was born “contrary”. Through the years, I repeatedly thought that I had the answer to this question nailed. When I think back on some of my more youthful theories, I feel an actual physical twinge of embarrassment–even though I intellectually know now that they were necessary steps on the road I’ve traveled. I’m well into my sixties now, and this is what it has come to for me. I am human. Clearly my life will be most fulfilling if I am the best human being that I can be.

All of the living creatures in the world, are what they are. Their lives are fulfilled by being fully what they are. All of them have more limited choices about this than do humans. Being what they are is more about instinct, and less about choice, than is being human. Wolves do what wolves do. There are alpha wolves, and there are those of less status within the pack. Some are more proficient hunters, mothers, etc. than others. But no wolf can choose to live like a rabbit. Humans however can choose to live like wolves, or rabbits, if they are somehow driven to it.

There is actually nothing that humans do that no other being does, in some rudimentary form. Its that there are two things that our species does more of, in much more sophisticated ways than any other being. First and foremost we build culture. Culture is a huge thing for us. It subsumes our use of language, including writing, all of our technology, all of our art and learning, and all of our customs and rituals. Zen is a cultural artifact. The other thing that we do better than any other living being is compassion. This is the root of love, and true love is impossible without it.

So based on these realizations, I have concluded that the key to making the most of my time on earth is to realistically assess my talents and abilities, and look for opportunities to apply them in ways that will grow human culture into the future. And its always a good idea to stretch oneself now and then. You may have more resources than you know. Every day, we all make many choices that either improve the civilization that we will pass on to the future, or undermine it. Some do both, and its really tough to say which element outweighs the other. I say, when in doubt, go with that other great human strength–the most compassionate choice. We all have to do something to earn our daily bread. Even those of us who were born into great wealth usually have social responsibilities, related to networking, that are necessary to maintaining and/or expanding our fortunes. Although I am retired now, I have worked at a number of occupations by way of earning a living. Early on, I did whatever I could find that paid the best, and didn’t make me feel like I was harming other people. Compassion fit into my value system from an early age. When I started seriously thinking about what my efforts contributed to the future of human culture, I got more selective. I even went through that phase where I actively looked for the vocation wherein I would do what I loved, and the money would follow. There really is such a thing. I’ve known a few of the fortunate people for whom it has happened. But I think that the authors who have peddled this as an option for us all, have done millions of people a cruel disservice. Its like what the nuns told us about the religious calling. It is only extended it to a select few. Most of us should find that for which our talents are well suited, and which we can derive fulfillment from on the basis of what we are contributing to our culture. Our culture needs people who will pick up and dispose of our garbage, and keep our sewage systems in good order. Our culture needs people who will care for the sick, injured, and infirm. I’m not so sure just how much our culture really needs investment bankers. Whatever we do for a living should be secondary to our relationships with all of the other people (and other sentient beings) in our lives, and even those we don’t know, and will never meet, but who are affected by our actions.

I have come to believe that there is a very intimate relationship between compassion and gratitude. Our time on earth is a gift. We didn’t ask for it, and in fact, we never know when it will be taken from us. If we have enough to sustain life, we have something for which to be grateful. If we don’t, then our time on earth is over. The gift has been withdrawn. Everything we have–every experience we have, above and beyond only what we need to sustain life, is gravy. We all know what it is to experience wonder and awe–what it is to love , and be loved–even the simple satisfaction of having done something well. These are the gifts that we will treasure all of our lives. The experience of interacting with other beings, and the world at large, from the launch point of compassion, is the best gravy of all.

What a great question to raise. I’m filled with encouragement and hope for the human race to when I read the positive thoughts of others on this subject.

On some level everyone is looking for how best to spend their time on this planet. It’s so easy to get caught up in the routines of work, money and materialistic goals that you can loose sight of the reasons you do what you do with your life.

Everyone has thier own unique talents, skills and insights which can be put to use by helping others. Even a small thing like giving some friendly advice or sharing some knowledge to help someone along their path can make a world of difference.

This isn’t a question that can be answered definitivly for everyone, but if you can make the most of your unique talents you bring something special to the world that only you can do.

I think this is at least an ingredient in a fulfulling life.
Andrew Van Duivenbode´s last [type] ..Clearing the Decks

Many of your readers have proposed great responses to how we as individuals can live fulfilled; treat each other with kindness, spread love and stay healthy in mind and spirit. Wonderful comments.

I was also thinking of this question from the view point of the world as a collective “we”. One of the ways, we as a society can use our time wisely is to take good care of our earth. We have used it as our personal trash dump to the detriment of the other living beings. We must be gentler, kinder and more respectful of our planet if we want it to sustain life for the future. We owe it to the planet and animals, our forests and our oceans to restore the health it once held.

It was a magnificent gift, we have used and abused. We must make this right before we go. To leave behind a once again beautiful planet would be truly fulfilling.

To do what you love to do, love the people you love, and grow in spirit and know yourself. Live with passion and purpose, stay true to yourself and your core loves even against societies pressures to conform. Enjoy life.

Always try to do more for others than what you do for yourself.

I think helping others can begin very simply. Something as simple as opening a door for someone else, letting someone go ahead of you in a queue, saying good morning to someone who is on their own can create good karma. Help someone carry their shopping bags, reach something down from a high place (if you are tall lol) for someone who cannot reach, pick something up for someone if they drop it. These are very simple acts but they show basic compassion for other humans. It’s amazing how few people do any of the above things to help other people.

From here you can go on to do volunteer work, working in a charity shop, doing sponsored events, running activities for people who can’t afford to pay for them etc. But start simply but doing everyday good deeds for your fellow humans. That’s how you can make the most of your time on earth
Rene@gold coast personal trainers´s last [type] ..Personal Training Gold Coast

I like this post very much. I think we need to be able to face and accept pain and hurt and to act in spite of fear.

Everything that we might do to help others, to make a difference, to fulfill our potential, means that we have to be ready to face pain, rejection, and failure in order to achieve success. I don’t pretend this is easy, but I think it is the key to everything else. Don’t be afraid to hurt yourself!

Work towards Love always – to only give and receive love. If, on my death bed, I can say I’ve made others feel loved… that’s it.
jared akers´s last [type] ..015: 5 Keys to a Healthy Relationship

Its all about the choices you make. How you deal with it and what makes you happy and at peace. Life is too short to always ask about the what ifs, so better do the what ifs and turn it to something that’s worth the risk you take.

Never be afraid to follow your heart it might not always be right but I’m sure you will be at peace when you follow it.
Wilton Chu´s last [type] ..How to Generate More Loyal Clients for Recruitment Agency

Surrender to life and the higher force that always brings me to where my true place is on Earth at the moment by surrendering my mind to my higher Self which comes to TRUST.

Just breathe, love everyone no matter how you think you see things- and remember you are the greatest thing every created and with that treat all things like you wish to be treated and breathe

Maybe we need to relax and actually enjoy our lives before they are over. Maybe we need to really spend some time thinking about what truly brings us joy and satisfaction and figure out how to have those things or experiences in our lives. Maybe we need to appreciate that life is finite and will end for all of us some day.