BY IZMAEL ARKIN

Does Your Life Even Matter?

Go to work. Come home. Eat Dinner. Go to sleep. Wake up.

Rinse, recycle, repeat.

Do you ever wonder…

Does my life even matter?

There is magic and fear behind this question.

Deep down inside – you know that you matter! You know your life has meaning! You know you have a purpose!

But if your life matters, has meaning, and purpose… You’re forced to ask yourself:

Why am I living each day stuck on repeat?

Choose to Live a Meaningful Life Today

You have to be intentional about the life you want to live. It’s just too easy to fall into the “rinse, repeat, recycle” pattern.

Therefore the first step to living a meaningful life is to choose to live a meaningful life.

Once you have made this choice, then you have to take action.

Below I have listed 10 specific actions you can do today that will start to bring meaning to your life. Don’t try to do all 10 at once. Adopt one item from the list, and then slowly add others as time goes on. The journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step.

10 Ways to Start Living a Meaningful Life… Today

1. Focus on Being a Better Person

What type of human being do you want to be? A trustworthy friend? A loving partner? filled with gratitude?

The key is to step back and to ask these two questions:

1) What type of character do I want to have?
2) If I was that person, how would I act?

Then immediately start acting in a manner consistent with your answer.

We are what we do. Therefore, if you begin to act in a specific manner and continue to act like in that, then you are that person.

2. Commit This Moment

I mentioned this earlier but it bears repeating. Find somewhere quiet to sit. Take a few full breaths in and out. Become present in the moment.

Then with conviction start having an intense dialogue with yourself. In this dialogue you are going to explain that “This moment is it! This is the moment when O commit to living a meaningful life!” Then explain why you are going to commit.

Tony Robbins calls these “incantations”. They are not affirmations. Incantations are not statements that are merely said. They are words driven by deep emotions and passion. They are a commitment to the most important person in this world: yourself

3. Donate Your Time

One of the greatest way’s to bring meaning to your life is to help others in need. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter, help a friend move, read books to children at the library, the list goes on and on.

When you give your time to make the world a better place it brings immense meaning to your life. Imagine being part of the reason the world is improving! Now, that’s cool.

4. Listen When People Talk To You

Very few people actually listen during a conversation. We are social creatures. We all want to be heard. By showing how much you value others, you will bring greater meaning to your own life.

5. Make Today “Book Worthy”

Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself “Wow! That was awesome!” Well, what if you could make today worthy of a chapter in a book.

Think about this question:

What would make today worthy of a Chapter in “The story of my life”?

Answer that question than take action on the most viable thing you can do.

6. Do The Simple Things That Make You Smile

What makes you laugh? What makes you smile? What fills your soul with joy?

Maybe you like to watch sesame street, listen to cheesy music, watch old episodes of Seinfeld. What it is, doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it truly brings joy to your life.

7. Write out a “Future Gratitude List”

This works best if you do it in the morning. Sit down with a pen and paper. Then write down everything you are thankful for that is going to happen today.

The key is to write down everything you want to happen. For example “Have a wonderful lunch with a friend”.

Write down 5 things (the more the better). Then fold up the list and put it in your pocket. Carry it with you throughout the day. Then be intentional about making it happen.

Essentially this is a fun way of planning out your day.

8. Write Out Your “Life Dream List” and Take The First Step

This is awesome! Take out a piece of paper, pen, and stopwatch. Set the timer for 15 minutes.

Then start writing down everything you want to achieve in your life. Have fun with it, nothing is too big!

Then at the end of 15 minutes, look at the list and ask this question.

1) Which achievement (from the list) would have the single greatest impact on my life right now?

Then follow that with this question

2) What is the very first step I can take today to move in that direction?

Then immediately take the first step.

9. Tell Those You Love… That You Love Them

The danger is that It’s easy to get caught in the trap of assuming “they already know I love them”. But in reality, they might not know.

Write down a list of the people that you genuinely love. Then identify which of them you have not told lately “I love you”. Then go say it! It might be a little bit weird at first, but it will also be very powerful.

10. Ask this Question and adjust based on your answer

What would the world be like if everyone was like me?

Take a look at that question. Answer it openly and honestly. Then start making the necessary corrections this very moment.

Hint: If you said “The world would be great!” Then humility and the ability to be honest with yourself are skills you should work on.

Choose 1 Thing

This list can ignite the first step towards a life of meaning and purpose… Or it can do nothing for you. That’s on you.

Is today the moment when you start to bring meaning to your life?

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/10-ways-to-start-living-a-meaningful-life-right-now/