Matthew softly replies: “I think I did pretty well. I had a great marriage, three healthy children, and a number of substantial professions. Sure, I may not have seen my family too much because of work demands, I had few true friends due to time constraints and I made some mistakes. We all do. But, all in all, I have few regrets.”

“Ah-ha!” the bean counter claims, “what you may not be aware of this: You spent a combined total of:

• 45.2 years of your life harshly criticizing yourself and others
• 30.6 years worrying about things you could not change
• 26.4 years allowing false assumptions get in the way of having what you want
• 19.3 years in judgment of others rather than trying to understand them
• 16.7 years stuffing anger rather than expressing it in a healthy manner

All the while, you spent only:

• 17.8 years feeling love
• 15 years focusing solely on what is important to you
• 10.7 years in play
• 9.6 years laughing
• 7.6 years helping others
• 5.7 years in meditation or prayer
• 4.1 years being totally honest, with yourself and others
• 3.2 years being in the moment, without distractions
• 3.1 years expressing love
• 2.3 years thanking others."

Matthew woke up from his dream in a sweaty panic. “Is it true? Is this the way I lived my life? Is this a wake up call for me to define and live more clearly in the realm of what is truly important to me?”

Certain times in our lives demand that we step back and look at what is truly important to us—look at how we spend our days, which is how we spend our lives. These times are, for example, at the birth or death of a loved one, falling in love, getting fired, the end of a marriage, serious disease or catastrophe.

We have unimpaired clarity at these moments. What is important becomes crystal clear, and all else fades away.

My request of you this week is to step back from your every-day assumptions and SMO's (standard methods of operation). Look at the beauty and gifts around and within you. What is truly important to you? How are you honoring that each and every day?

Have a great week and enjoy your discoveries.

Ann

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Copyright & Permission Copyright © 1998-2006 All rights reserved

Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute "Your Success Thought for the Week for January 11, 2006" as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Ann Golden Eglé, Golden Visions Success Coaching, LLC, 541.385.8887, 21775 Rickard Rd., Bend, Oregon 97701, www.GoldenVisionsSuccess.com