Looking Inward to Live Life to the Fullest

What do you do on a daily basis with living a full life in mind? If you’re struggling to think of anything, that’s okay, you’re not alone. Here’s the thing – you aren’t going to enjoy every minute of every day, bad things will happen – whether it’s a car accident, a fall, illness, financial struggles or the loss of a loved one.

But that is only a part of life and these things don’t stop you from living your life to the fullest, and there is also no need for a monumental achievement daily to tick that box.

The Big Three Questions

If you’re trying to determine what it is that you really want from your life and what will help you live a full life, then ask yourself these questions and rely on your intuition to understand what you’re trying to tell yourself.

1. What Does Your Heart Want Right Now?

Right now, at this very moment – what do you want? Empty your feelings onto a sheet of paper and review it later. It might not make a whole lot of sense initially, it’s essentially free writing to direct you. It isn’t about doing something because your brain is telling you to, it’s about relying on your intuition to lead you.

2. What Are You Feeling Right Now?

Follow your intuition and sense where you are being led, no matter where it may be guiding you. Emotions aren’t always wise, but your intuition is, so listen to your gut. This will help you filter out some of what you have written as you’ve let yourself flow onto the paper. It’s part of the process required to make sense of what you’ve put down on paper.

3. What If It’s Different Than You Imagined?

Nothing is ever as you expect it to be. If you are truly following your purpose it won’t matter whether it unfolds as you imagined, there’s a good chance that it will be even better. It’s important to remember, though, that even when chasing your dreams, there will be bumps along the way. Life can never be perfect, but there is something about life’s imperfections that make it worth living.

What Limits You

We all feel held back by assumptions and expectations at various points in our lives. We are comfortable in the box that we have created for ourselves, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves. In truth, we’ve allowed ourselves to become trapped in a box with a trap lid. What assumptions could be limiting you from making progress in life?

• I can’t earn less than X to live a happy life
• I’m too old for this
• I’m not good enough
• My marriage won’t survive this change
• I don’t have what it takes
• I don’t have the necessary skills
• I don’t have anything to offer
• I’m too tired
• My life won’t be better than this
• There’s nothing special about me

Getting Started

If you’re considering something career related, why not volunteer in a place related to that purpose? It’s a great way to see if it really is what you want and get a better feel for things. Alternatively, you could shadow someone who is in the career you want for yourself and see what happens.

If your purpose isn’t career-related, it should be much easier to launch yourself headfirst into it. When you are lying on your deathbed, those limits won’t mean much.

The key to living a full life is finding out what really matters to you, determining what you want, and going after it full force.

This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2021 issue of CHOICES Magazine