You, too, have only one life, one opportunity to do what you dream. That opportunity is right now. There are no second chances in the dance of life. You can’t go back in time and relive those moments you cherish so much. You can’t fix the mistakes you’ve made in the past. Life is what you make it, and what you choose to make of your life builds your character.
Are you living the life you dreamed of as a child, the one you’ve always wanted to live? What are you doing to fulfill that dream? You’re not living if you’re not striving to achieve constant growth in all areas of your life. You’re not living if you don’t reach new heights in life each and every day. Life is a gift. According to Hindu philosophy, there are sixty billion souls in the universe at any given time, and there are only six billion here right now, having a human experience. Imagine being a soul out there in the universe and suddenly you’re next in line to join the ones on earth, but only for a short period of time. Wouldn’t you try to make the most of this unique opportunity?
You are a limitless human being with the potential to grow and evolve. If there’s something holding you back, that something is you! Most people are very analytical and logical in one area of their lives, but are often completely neglectful in other areas. By not fully developing all areas, they are limiting themselves. There is more to life than just what you do on a day-to-day basis. Seek out new experiences. Challenge yourself.
You are an intellectual being, with a limitless capacity to improve your mind. Learn, explore, be curious and grow. Being able to use your mind is a beautiful and powerful thing. Most people use no more than four to 10 percent of their brain capacity. Your brain is, and should be, the most developed muscle in your body. Your brain power is your ability to respond to the world, to understand it, and to reshape it through your creativity and intelligence. Just imagine the possibilities if you constantly strove to enhance your mind. It’s important to keep your intellect engaged, to stretch and exercise this muscle. I believe that the power of the mind is one of the key factors to achieving excellence in life.
You are a world-class athlete. Being a world-class athlete doesn’t mean you have to have the biggest muscles or run the longest distances. But you shouldn’t neglect your body either. The human body was designed to move, to survive in the wild, to heal, grow and adapt. Yet, in today’s computer age, we are so sedentary that we’re losing our agility, strength and flexibility. Those who don’t challenge themselves physically, on a daily basis, will eventually lose the capacity and ability to function the way our bodies were meant to work. World-class health is priceless.
The key to everything is balance. The great philosopher Aristotle had his philosophy students do daily exercises because he believed that a healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body. Thinking is stressful on the body, so if you’re not in good physical shape, you’re not going to develop your mind to its fullest potential. You must first achieve balance between mind and body.
You are GOD! Whatever your beliefs may be, I believe that the power to live the life you were meant to live lies within you. You must connect with that power to understand what you want your life to be, to know what your values and morals are, to know where you came from and where you’re going. Be creative, believe in your dreams and don’t let anybody or anything hold you back. Each one of us has our own mountain to climb. Devote your life to reaching your personal mountaintop. “Growth is the only evidence of life." (John Henry Newman, clergyman)
Become a world-class human being, the best you can possibly be. Use the gifts with which you’ve been blessed to their fullest potential. I believe that is why we’re here. Living is growing and expanding through the work we do, the actions we take and the lives we lead. As leadership expert Robin Sharma says, “Don't just live your life – lead it.” Those are the words I live by every day.
Ruslan Kedik
