How Can We Make the Most of Life?

"We have two lives and the second begins when we realize we only have one." - Confucius

Covid19 is causing many people to have an existential crisis. And how we respond is a mini-Rorschach Test of our values, beliefs and mindset.

This insight from Confucius is as true today as when he first said it hundreds of years ago.

One of the most helpful things we can do in the midst of our world being turned upside down is to remember that today is all we've got.

Instead of looking ahead and being filled with fears and worries, it's smarter to focus on what we can do TODAY to make the most of THIS DAY.

One way to do that is to come up with your BIG 3 - three things you have control over that you do everyday, no matter what, so at the end of the day you feel you did what you could to make the most of it.

What could give you a quiet satisfaction that you showed up, were grateful for your life and made a difference for yourself and others?

The Japanese call this IKIGAI which means, "A reason to wake up every morning - a purpose that gives your life meaning and momentum.'

Wha's that for you? Here are mine. Think of yours while reading these.

1. CONNECT: When author E. M. Forster was asked the meaning of life, he said two words, "Only connect." Every day, I call a family member or friend in my inner circle, and reach out to someone outside my inner circle. This could be a college friend I haven't talked to in years. A former client I've lost touch with. A professional colleague I always wanted to know better. These daily conversations are like little emotional life-rafts that remind me that connection is wealth in what matters.
2. CONTRIBUTE: Pablo Picasso said, "The purpose of life is to find your gifts. The meaning is to give them away." My gifts are writing, speaking, coaching and convening. One way I've gifting back what I'm good at is writing blogs like this that (hopefully) help us be proactive and focus on what's right in the world instead of what's wrong. I'm also hosting a free online Tongue Fu! Book Club where I share stories and actionable insights on how we can get along better - at work, at home, and in public - in these stressful times. I can hardly express what it means to wake up every morning knowing I have something to do that's making a difference.
3. CAVORT: John Muir said, "In every walk with Nature, one receives far more than he seeks." Fortunately, Nature hasn't been cancelled. I use the word cavort instead of work out because my walks along the foothills are meant to be joyful so they're a contrast to hard work. What I know for sure is every single time I get outside and get moving, I feel better. I follow Thich Nhat Hanh's advice to "kiss the earth with my feet" so I am present and appreciative of my pain-free freedom of movement.

Those are my Big 3. Sure, there are other ways to take responsibility for our quality of life; however these are easy-peasy so I have the incentive and ability to do them every day.

Your turn. What are your BIG 3?

What are 3 things you can do today - and every day - that feel deeply right ?

How will you make the most of your "second life" by posting your Big 3 on your refrigerator and making them a part of each day starting today ... not someday?

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Sam Horn, CEO of the Tongue Fu! Training Institute, is on a mission to help people treat their life and each other with respect. Her 3 TEDx talks and 9 books have been featured in NY Times, on NPR, and presented to Capital One, National Geographic, Cisco, Intel, EO.