Is there life before death?
Wow, easy there, buddy. What a morbid question!
For many of us in the West, contemplating death is taboo. We avoid it at all costs.
While in many philosophies and cultures, from the Stoics to current day Tibet, contemplating our mortality is seen as an essential part of life.
In the West, we often overvalue “time = money”, and believe we are here on Earth only to be productive.
We can get too focused on promotions, raises or material success, forgetting that those things in itself do not lead to happiness.
We act like we only live to work.
But is that true?
Let’s do a thought experiment..
What if you knew you only have 1 more month to live?
Would you then lay awake at night, thinking about what your manager said to you? Or about that presentation that didn’t go as planned?
Would you add that extra project to your already full schedule, or would you choose to spend more time with friends or family?
Would you spend your commute mindlessly scrolling the news, or would you enjoy the colours in the sky?
If you would do things differently after hearing that news – why not do it now?
Work is an essential part of our life. But it’s not the reason why we’re here.
Reflect on what it means to you to live a full and happy life.
You don’t even have to switch jobs, as there are many ways to make your current job more enjoyable and meaningful.
In the evening, spend five minutes reflecting on your day. Write about moments or people that made you feel alive, connected, or genuinely happy.
This helps in recognizing the value of your daily experiences beyond work achievements and material success.
Burning yourself out chasing after more senior titles or money will not get you what you hope for. It never does in the end.
Instead, work to make a positive impact – on your team, your company and for your clients.
Work to grow, learn, and have fun.
Work to connect with people.
Work to support your life outside of work.
You only have one life.
Make the most out of it.
No comment yet, add your voice below!