3 Things you should never forget
When you have a decision to make, what do you say to yourself?
When you’re frustrated and overwhelmed, how do you calm yourself?
How do you delay pleasure now for success in the future?
Our day is a barrage of ads trying to sell us something. Fake food trying to kill us. And a news media trying to make every problem in the world our problem.
How do you keep from going through your days feeling like the world is happening to you?
You need reminders of how you want to act and who you want to be.
Quick phrases you can repeat to yourself to live better and make better decisions.
For Abraham Lincoln, it was, “this too shall pass.”
Those are the words he repeated to himself through eight lost elections, a civil war and lifelong depression.
Here are three reminders you’ll be better for not forgetting.
Remember You Will Die
“Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” – Steve Jobs
Most of us are shielded from death. It’s something that happens out of sight and not to us.
In the past, it was more prevalent. People knew it up close and personal. Death was seen as natural, not a forbidden topic.
Remembering you will die is a tool to deal with the difficulties of everyday life.
The barking dogs, the crying babies, the never-ending to-do lists. If you knew it was the last day of your life – these wouldn’t be frustrations.
Remember that this life is flying by and you’re not always going to be around.
It can help to think in terms of summers. Or to calculate your remaining time with people you love.
Remember that the last time is coming. The last conversation, the last hug, the last goodbye – they’re on their way and they don’t come with an alert or a reminder.
Remember Tomorrow
“If you are careless and lazy now and keep putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself, you will not notice that you are making no progress, but you will live and die as someone quite ordinary.” Epictetus
When you’re faced with a decision, ask – How will I feel about this tomorrow?
If I pick this fight, how does it impact my relationship tomorrow?
If I cheat on my diet, how will I feel about it tomorrow?
If I have this drink, how will I feel about it tomorrow?
In recovery, there’s a reminder for alcoholics to “think past the drink.”
In business, it’s called second-order thinking. What are the second and third consequences of this decision?
The first consequence of the drink might be positive — a little pleasure and more free flowing conversation. But what are the consequences of the second and the third drink?
What’s the consequence of waking up tomorrow and not knowing what you did for hours?
This doesn’t mean not to enjoy today because of tomorrow. It means to remember that today impacts the quality of tomorrow.
If you're not on guard against your impulses, they will get you.
If you're not clear on who you want to be, if you constantly forget about tomorrow, the world will drown you in comfort.
Remember to Live
“The part of life we really live is small. For all the rest of existence is not life, but merely time.” - Seneca
Most people will spend their lives toggling between being anxious about the future and trying to make sense of the past.
It’s hard, especially when you’re full of ambition, to enjoy today.
You have goals and it’s hard not to feel anxious about what’s next. Am I making enough progress? Am I on the right track?
It’s a constant struggle to remember that our life is now. That it’s happening today.
You think your real life is just around the corner, a hurdle away. You can easily spend an entire life about to live.
It’s easy to think we’ll be content once we get what we’re working towards.
But you have a lifetime of evidence to remind yourself that this isn’t true.
Think of anything you’ve ever wanted. Once you’ve gotten it, it’s quickly replaced by the next desire.
This isn’t good or bad, it’s just worth remembering.
As you struggle and push towards who you want to be. Remind yourself that your life is taking place right now. Remind yourself that the pushing and the struggling is what you’ll remember.
The accomplishments are great. But the pleasure from them is short lived. Don’t make the mistake of thinking there’s something out there that will make you happy forever.
In short, remember that you’re going to die, but don’t let that keep you from making decisions that will improve your tomorrow and in the midst of it all — don’t forget to live.
If you’re reading this for the first time, subscribe below.
Thanks for reading,
Bates