I’ve been thinking, “What have I done to improve my life recently?”
Since ambiguous seems to be a buzz word on the forum lately, I’ll use it to describe that question. Even so, what have I gained in the last few days, weeks, or months that I can be proud of and that I feel contributes to the quality of my life?
Let me preface my question with the fact that I read a thread about Leonardo Da Vinci that made me think of my college days and the World History classes I took.
Reflecting back on the Renaissance Period, I wonder how much we differ from the people of that era.
From what I know, men of that time valued living a life that was balanced. A pursuit of quality coupled with natural curiosity drove individuals to achieve great things that enrich our world even centuries beyond their lives. Painting, music, architecture, medical advances, and theological enlightenments carry through today and remind us of our own potential. So how do we, in the currently “modern” age, begin to tap into that better person we want to become?
In order to answer this question, we should identify the various aspects of our daily lives and decide which of those warrant attention. Although outsiders to this forum may think that members here only value money and riches, I believe there is a greater depth to the majority here. My belief is that the overall consensus is that money is a tool or means to happiness, but not the tangible equivalent of it.
With that acknowledged, I think we can establish that obtaining “millionaire” status does not make for a balanced life. Instead, let’s look at the most basic elements of a person.
The Body:
You would be nobody without it, so what are you doing to take care of it? As each of us is in a different phase of life, I would challenge you to reflect on your daily habits and whether or not you are content with the choices you make. Just for clarification, it is your choice, I just wonder if you’ve thought about the consequences or results of those choices. Whether diet, exercise, or just getting a check up, are you happy with your progress thus far?
I’m not saying you have to go join a gym, but on a smaller scale, is there a better choice you can incorporate into your daily life? Whether it’s cutting back on portions or choosing to smoke one less cigarette (no, not me), is there something in your life that will improve your health if repeatedly done? Apart from that, have you pushed yourself to your physical limits? This can be done through marathons or even doing one more exercise than you usually do.
The Mind:
They say it’s a terrible thing to lose, but my question is, “Did you ever have it?”, or at least did you try to enhance it and make it stronger? In an age of computers, TV’s, I pods, and radios, I would argue that our brains are being placed in “passive” mode too much and hardly ever in “active” mode. What I mean by that is there is an over exposure to media sources and entertainment venues which pacify us and don’t force us to use critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills. This dumbing down of sorts is being manifest in our society as a whole as is reflected in the scores of achievement tests and in the over all reduction of skilled labor.
My challenge to you is to find an area of interest and work on improving your mental abilities. Whether it is memory, mathematics, speed reading, or image recognition, there is always some area that can be worked on. It doesn’t even have to be in the form of a drill or test. One could use puzzles or even reading books to stimulate thinking.
The Soul:
I looked so deep and did not know what stirs and takes its toll,
And yet I hope to always keep this thing that’s known as soul.
Many reading this may not believe in this aspect of humanity. My answer is this. If you are right, it doesn’t matter if I’m wrong. If you are wrong, you had better figure it out quick. Whether in the pews of churches or in the ghost hunting group at the cemetery, there is a profound desire instilled in man to carry on past our mortality. Regardless of if you think the soul is legitimate or if you think it is just the emotional firing of neurons, it is hard to deny that something makes us unique in all creation.
It is this force or attribute of man that distinguishes us in many ways. Glimpses of the soul are shown in our ability to show compassion to those who are suffering, sacrifice for others, or just appreciate the beauty of a sunset. It is a unique gift. So the question is, “Apart from intellect, what can you do to bring peace to your life?”
The mind, the body, and the soul; all three integrated together in a way that is unique to each one of us. It is now up to you to look at those from the past and even to those in the present and learn what you can to improve your quality of life. After all, living a balanced life is a difficult feat, but still an admirable goal. So I’ll leave you with this thought, can you dedicate 10 minutes a day to each of these areas? It’s a type of 30 minute challenge that if done well, might just change your priorities, your perspective, and help you realize your place in the big picture. After all, many of the greats from the Renaissance era did not achieve great wealth, but I would bet if you asked them, they would say they tried to live fulfilled lives.
Since ambiguous seems to be a buzz word on the forum lately, I’ll use it to describe that question. Even so, what have I gained in the last few days, weeks, or months that I can be proud of and that I feel contributes to the quality of my life?
Let me preface my question with the fact that I read a thread about Leonardo Da Vinci that made me think of my college days and the World History classes I took.
Reflecting back on the Renaissance Period, I wonder how much we differ from the people of that era.
From what I know, men of that time valued living a life that was balanced. A pursuit of quality coupled with natural curiosity drove individuals to achieve great things that enrich our world even centuries beyond their lives. Painting, music, architecture, medical advances, and theological enlightenments carry through today and remind us of our own potential. So how do we, in the currently “modern” age, begin to tap into that better person we want to become?
In order to answer this question, we should identify the various aspects of our daily lives and decide which of those warrant attention. Although outsiders to this forum may think that members here only value money and riches, I believe there is a greater depth to the majority here. My belief is that the overall consensus is that money is a tool or means to happiness, but not the tangible equivalent of it.
With that acknowledged, I think we can establish that obtaining “millionaire” status does not make for a balanced life. Instead, let’s look at the most basic elements of a person.
The Body:
You would be nobody without it, so what are you doing to take care of it? As each of us is in a different phase of life, I would challenge you to reflect on your daily habits and whether or not you are content with the choices you make. Just for clarification, it is your choice, I just wonder if you’ve thought about the consequences or results of those choices. Whether diet, exercise, or just getting a check up, are you happy with your progress thus far?
I’m not saying you have to go join a gym, but on a smaller scale, is there a better choice you can incorporate into your daily life? Whether it’s cutting back on portions or choosing to smoke one less cigarette (no, not me), is there something in your life that will improve your health if repeatedly done? Apart from that, have you pushed yourself to your physical limits? This can be done through marathons or even doing one more exercise than you usually do.
The Mind:
They say it’s a terrible thing to lose, but my question is, “Did you ever have it?”, or at least did you try to enhance it and make it stronger? In an age of computers, TV’s, I pods, and radios, I would argue that our brains are being placed in “passive” mode too much and hardly ever in “active” mode. What I mean by that is there is an over exposure to media sources and entertainment venues which pacify us and don’t force us to use critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills. This dumbing down of sorts is being manifest in our society as a whole as is reflected in the scores of achievement tests and in the over all reduction of skilled labor.
My challenge to you is to find an area of interest and work on improving your mental abilities. Whether it is memory, mathematics, speed reading, or image recognition, there is always some area that can be worked on. It doesn’t even have to be in the form of a drill or test. One could use puzzles or even reading books to stimulate thinking.
The Soul:
I looked so deep and did not know what stirs and takes its toll,
And yet I hope to always keep this thing that’s known as soul.
Many reading this may not believe in this aspect of humanity. My answer is this. If you are right, it doesn’t matter if I’m wrong. If you are wrong, you had better figure it out quick. Whether in the pews of churches or in the ghost hunting group at the cemetery, there is a profound desire instilled in man to carry on past our mortality. Regardless of if you think the soul is legitimate or if you think it is just the emotional firing of neurons, it is hard to deny that something makes us unique in all creation.
It is this force or attribute of man that distinguishes us in many ways. Glimpses of the soul are shown in our ability to show compassion to those who are suffering, sacrifice for others, or just appreciate the beauty of a sunset. It is a unique gift. So the question is, “Apart from intellect, what can you do to bring peace to your life?”
The mind, the body, and the soul; all three integrated together in a way that is unique to each one of us. It is now up to you to look at those from the past and even to those in the present and learn what you can to improve your quality of life. After all, living a balanced life is a difficult feat, but still an admirable goal. So I’ll leave you with this thought, can you dedicate 10 minutes a day to each of these areas? It’s a type of 30 minute challenge that if done well, might just change your priorities, your perspective, and help you realize your place in the big picture. After all, many of the greats from the Renaissance era did not achieve great wealth, but I would bet if you asked them, they would say they tried to live fulfilled lives.
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