Live every moment like it’s your last
In a human life, two things we are entirely responsible for often cause our most difficult challenges. And our most painful experiences. Those are the limitations we place on ourselves and the expectations we set. Reflect on how many times you chose not to try something because you talked yourself into thinking you would fail. Or fail someone else in your life. All the times you thought, ‘I could never do that.’ Or, ‘What if I try and fail?’ Or, ‘I might hurt myself,’ when you desperately wanted to dive off the high dive as a child. Or the big one: ‘What if I fall in love with someone and they leave me?’
Think of how boring your life would be if you followed every limitation your imagination conjured. All the trials, tribulations, and tests that made you who you are today. Each leap of faith we take in life comes with no guarantees. A life less lived lacks these gifts. A life full of taking chances, of ups and downs, of happiness and sorrow, provides the opportunities to grow as soul. To taste life in every manner. To learn the meaning of life.
But what often interferes most with this growth is our own expectations. Small or large ones. Through our expectations, we place barriers in front of the many opportunities waiting for us to take advantage of. Far too often, what we expect in life may not benefit us. In fact, they often lead to disappointment when they fall flat. I’m sure you can think of situations where this has happened.
But expectations, when they come from the heart and not the mind, can change the trajectory of one’s life. We open ourselves to new possibilities without insisting on any particular outcome. At times, when one can face a situation without doubt, without all the what-ifs, the whys, or the why-nots, and tap into love, anything is possible. That’s when one begins to see all the miracles in life just waiting to be discovered. From things as simple as finding a lost sock, feeling the sun on your face, having a conversation with a close friend, crawling into bed at night in a safe home. Miracles we may experience every day, but often forget to be grateful for.
We always have a choice. We may talk ourselves into believing we don’t, and that’s on us. But here’s the kicker. The lessons learned from our good choices are often immediately evident, but even our worst choices can teach us necessary lessons. I know you think I’m crazy. But any choice we make has a lesson for us. We learn from each one. Our good and bad choices lead us to lessons we need to learn and grow from. Every moment in life holds gifts for us if we choose to accept them. The more we choose, the more challenges we overcome, and the more love we share, the more gifts we discover.
Live every moment like it’s your last. Make the best of it, and your life will be filled with immeasurable treasures.