In past ages in human history a lot of the concern and effort in life was literally just trying to stay alive by maintaining adequate safety, food, and shelter. Abraham Maslow dedicated his life’s work to understanding the human hierarchy of needs.
Today, we live at an unprecedented time when the basic need for safety, food, and shelter is not nearly as doubtful in our everyday lives, at least not for most people in the United States. I’m not attempting to ignore we still have major issues in America. But for the most part, we’ve been given a tremendous gift, the gift of time and freedom to choose what to do with our time. I would guess that if you are reading this, you probably don’t fall into the category of not having your basic needs met on a regular basis. So we can move on to thinking about the fulfillment of higher needs, which could include assisting those who have challenges getting their basic needs met.
I was listening to a song by Amy Grant called “After the Fire” recently, and the chorus got me thinking. Here is the chorus to “After the Fire”:
Slowly, slowly
We turn the pages of life
Growing, knowing
It comes at quite a price
Do we really live in such a way that we feel like we slowly turn the pages of life?
I believe one of our greatest challenges is really to learn to slow down and do the things that matter most. Choosing the highest priorities that bring out our unique purpose(s) in life.
Because of our extreme access to all kinds of forms of media, we could spend all our waking moments immersed in some form of virtual reality that is not our own reality. We can watch movies about someone else’s life. We can play games that turn us into some extension of a virtual character. We can endlessly watch the lives of others in their reality shows and never really create something exceptional of our own lives.
Why obsessively follow everyone else’s Tweets instead of doing something yourself that’s “Tweetable?”
We can even have music playing so often that our minds become distracted to the point where we never really have an original thought or creation of our own.
On the other hand, because of the tremendous gift of freedom we have, we can prioritize differently and become a creator of a reality full of abundance and joy. Real joy that we feel deep inside our souls.
This doesn’t mean abandoning all forms of media completely. This writing is a result of listening to a song and thinking about the lyrics. The phrase “moderation in all things” would be appropriate for our use of media in our daily lives.
We can also fill our lives with other forms of activities that limit our ability to be uniquely creative and discover our unique purpose. Perhaps it’s filling our schedule with the activities of others that leave no time for our own purposes. Perhaps feeling that our “sacrifice” for them is noble.
The parent who fills the day racing from one child’s activity to another without a moment to stop and think about anything else. Or the parent who works endless hours to make a living so they can pay for all the toys that they don’t use because they are too busy trying to pay the bills for the toys they bought on credit that they don’t have time to enjoy. No wonder Robert Kiyosaki described it in “Rich Dad Poor Dad” as the “Rat Race!” This “rat race” looks a lot more like “quickly, quickly, we turn the pages of life.”
I believe that to create a lifestyle where we “slowly turn the pages of life” is done by simplifying and by devoting more time to quiet reflection and focusing on our own unique contributions and potential. The focus on our own unique talents and growth is not selfish, though it may feel like a selfish choice at first. When we discover our unique talents and express them well, we give all those around us our greatest gifts. And our lives become filled with meaning, and our abilities to create joyful and abundant lives increases.
So sit back in quiet reflection and imagine what it would be like for you if you were to design a life where you are able to “slowly, slowly, turn the pages of life.” It’s all about designing a life of joy and abundance instead of a life full of hollow results. Why not design your own life full of meaning and contribution that’s real.
© DTE Consulting 2012 “Helping You Do The Extraordinary!”
After The Fire by Amy Grant
After the fire is over
After the ashes cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be here for you
After the stillness finds you
After the winds of change
All that is good and true between us
This will remain the same
Slowly, slowly
We turn the pages of life
Growing, knowing
It comes at quite a price
After the fire is over
After the ashes cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be here for you
After your time of wandering
Along this lonely road
There will be many voices calling
Mine will say welcome home
Slowly, slowly
We turn the pages of life
Growing, knowing
It comes at quite a price
After the fire is over
After the ash is cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be here for you
I will be here for you
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