We tell ourselves our priorities are X, Y and Z. But if one were to look at your calendar and how you spent your time this past week, month and year, would it reflect that?

Have you heard of the phrase mental masturbation? There are a few different definitions and contexts in which this is used, but this is the one I am referring to: engaging in intellectually stimulating activities but with little or no practical purpose. I realized I do that with self help books and podcasts. I will at times, listen to, or read a self-help book, but not implement the learnings.

Everything can change in one instant

I know this intellectually but often, as I think we all do, I need to re-experience something to remember the lesson.

Everything can change in one instant. You get that call and are told you won the lottery; you got your dream job; landed that big client or account; your loved one has cancer; you just got hit by a car or given news that you will never walk again. It can be both good or bad news, but things can change at the turn of a dime.

All paths lead to the same destination. Are you happy in how you are walking along this trail? Is your journey one filled with being present, living with joy, love, pride and light? Are you proud of the route you are picking? Are you willing to face the consequences of your actions? Are you willing to do the hard things?

Can you say that in this hike of life, you are facing your fears, sweating through but making it up that steep hill and taking a deep breath of beautiful air when you get to the top of that hill? Are you taking a moment to pat yourself on the back and enjoy the view? Then taking the next steps to continue on this hike and ready for the next set of muddy areas that your feet may get stuck in? Are you living your life authentically and to the fullest? We don’t need to know the answer, only you do in your heart. And to remember that all paths lead to the same One Path in the end.

Who are you? And who are you becoming? Knowing your identity, currently, and who you want to become (or continue to be), is a simple yet deep question that drives the choices we make each day, and who we become in the long run. […] Each action we take is a vote on who we want to become. Who we are today, is slowly changing or being reinforced by each micro decision we take.