“Every man dies – Not every man really lives.” – William Ross Wallace

There is a difference between living and existing, however most people don’t take the time to distinguish between the two.  This post lists thought s to determine if you are existing, and ideas to start living.  So how does one know if they are really living? This question can only be answered by you through self-reflection. As you reflect you should think about these things:

·         Satisfaction and Purpose

Do you feel you know what your purpose is? Do you get satisfaction in what you do and accomplish? Many times if you don’t have a clear purpose or direction in where you want your life to go, you can end up doing things here and there but never feel like they add up to anything meaningful. 

·         Generation of Positive Energy

How often do you laugh? Better yet, how often do you make people smile? Do people come to you for inspiration or motivation?  It is hard to generate positive energy if you are lacking it within.

If you find yourself wanting to start living, here are some ideas for you to think about:

·         Find What You Love to Do

Take some time to be adventurous.  Whether it is taking a Chef class, going on a nature walk, or volunteering at a non-profit – trying new things opens your mind to new possibilities.  Knowing what you don’t like also helps you narrow your focus on what you love to do.

·         Make Space for Passion and Purpose

Once you find out what you are here do and the drive to get it done, you need to make it one of your priorities in life.  Scheduling can be hard, however allowing for your passions to grow and materialize will help increase your positive energy and satisfaction.

In our lives we make choices every second, what to eat, whether to be silent or speak up, engage or separate, whether to live or merely exist. I choose to live… What will Ur answer be?