Mikolaj's Monday Maunder - You are dying

Inspiration and lessons for your leadership journey!

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This Week's Affirmations
(Repeat these quietly to yourself multiple times throughout the day.)

I am blessed with this life for only a short while!

I am aware of my passion and purpose!

I am focused on the most valuable things in life today!

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“Today, I interviewed a woman who is terminally ill.

“So,” I tried to delicately ask, “What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are dying?”

“Well,” she responded, “What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?”

~ Suzie ~
From http://makesmethink.com/

We are all dying – at least in this bodily form. That awareness is one of the things that makes us uniquely human. My experiences in the healthcare industry, especially emergency services, brought that fact clearly in front of me many times at a very young age. I’ve seen the dead and dying in nearly every age bracket.

Taking some time to reflect on your own mortality can help you break free of your trivial worries and focus on what truly matters to you. Many great spiritualists and transformational leaders recommend doing this from time to time. 

Jesus of Nazareth said, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it.”

The first meditation in Wellsprings: A Book of Spiritual Exercises by the famous spiritualist, Anthony de Mello, opens with a meditation called ‘The Conclusion.’ It begins with, “I imagine that today I am to die.” From there the meditation leads you to write a testament to your family and friend about all of the things you have liked, loved, cherished, and learned throughout your life.  The last step is to choose an ending to your testament, like a poem, prayer, writing, or picture.

A popular adage says, “Live today as if it were the last day of your life. One day soon it will be.”

This type of guidance, my life experiences, and personal contemplations inspired me to write of this in A Travel Guide to Leadership:

“Are you courageous enough to contemplate, for even just a few moments, your last day on earth? How will you be remembered? What will you have accomplished? What will you leave behind? What is your love? Your calling? Will you leave rejoicing with the knowledge that you have heard and responded to your calling with joy and love? Or, will you leave with regret and fear?”

The purpose of this type of reflection is not to cause fear or anxiety, but to inspire a keener focus on what matters most to you – to identify your mission on this journey and to act on it. This is even more critical when we contemplate our leadership roles.

When you wake up each day pretending or denying your own and others’ mortality, you risk trivializing the most important and valuable parts of life and leadership.

So that you may more truly live your life to its fullest today and lead with passion and purpose, contemplate for a short while on the fact that, yes, you are dying.

Have an amazing journey today!

Alan

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