Live Life - All of It

"We live only part of the life we are given."
- Michael Murphy

It's fascinating the kind of perspective that having a child brings. I don't find myself thinking differently about life, necessarily, but I certainly find myself paying a lot more attention to my beliefs and values. When I think about the kind of things I want to instill upon my "coming soon" daughter, I quickly reflect on my own life and wonder if I'm practicing what I will soon be preaching. I'm a bit surprised at how often I'm not. This tells me I'm not fully living the life that I am given, otherwise I, would be doing these very things I believe in.

Training new employees at work can bring much of the same reflection that having a child can. If ever in that position, you may find yourself often saying something like "...the way you're supposed to do it..." or if they're watching how you work, you may say "...but you wouldn't do it this way...", rather than just confidently saying "This is how it's done." It's common for us to get off track and start to cut corners or forget the fundamentals of what we're doing on a day to day basis. If we can stick to the intended program, we're likely to be more successful in our day to day tasks. In theory, practicing these fundamentals would help us do a better job and get further in our career, ultimately spilling over into our personal lives.

With the thorough practice at the office, you're likely to bring that rhythm home with you. Being more focussed and paying attention to your day to day activities will certainly keep you on track to live the kind of life you desire - even if we're only living part of it! When you have "little ones" around, it's important to practice what you preach. Children are sponges and constantly learning behaviors based on what they see happening around them. What better way to keep yourself in line than to consider what you may be teaching an impressionable child.

Part of living life to the fullest of your potential is to be dedicated to what you want for yourself. If you're cutting corners and taking short cuts because it may be easier or quicker, then you're likely selling yourself short on achieving what you desire to achieve. It's often hard work to achieve what you want in life, but keeping focused on your goals will give you the best chance to live the full life you are given.