I know this is far off from the type of subjects I usually write about, but this has been on my mind for a while now.  I’ve been reading 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, and I have been thinking a lot about fulfillment, and what it means to consider one’s life a success.

It seems that somehow we are tricked into thinking that life is about attaining status and wealth.  We are conditioned to respond to getting a raise by buying new things that we couldn’t afford before.  We attend big fancy universities with a vocational mindset, hoping to get hired by a big fancy company or start a great new company, all with the goal of gaining great financial success.  But is that journey the kind of life we would truly enjoy?

I’ve find myself struggling to find the balance between the priorities of a couple of different goals.  I’m still not sure what matters most to me.  Take a moment to ponder with me the importance of each of these goals; to be financially wealthy, to travel the world, to create something, to teach something, to help someone, to create opportunity, to seize opportunity, to do something that really matters.

None of these alone is the path to a successful, enjoyable life.  I’m sure you all know that.  But the key is to find balance.  If I spent most of my time chasing money I don’t think I could be happy.  On the other end of the spectrum, if I spent my entire life travelling the world, I wouldn’t consider my life to have depth or meaning.  Achieving an equilibrium between all of the forces that are pulling on me at once would be something that I could consider success.

I guess what I’m trying to express is that the key to enjoying life is experiencing it all, and then going back and doing it again the way you think is right.  Your priorities for each goal in life will be different from mine, that’s what makes us unique.  But we have to take ourselves out of this consumerist trap that many americans and other western civilizations are falling victim to.

Trust me, the goal in life is not to have an iPhone, ferrari, or even successful business.  The goal is to find balance, and to experience as much of it as we can before we expire.

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So here is something I don’t get to do enough of.  I’m going to talk about me…

Just as a little exercise, I’m going to examine different aspects of my life where I think I’m doing a good job of achieving balance and experiencing it all.  I’d love it if you guys would leave comments doing the same.

• I’m taking 20 hours this semester, and yet I’m finding 30 minutes or so each day to read purely for enjoyment.
• I’ve taken up photography, to add to my graphic design, photomanipulation, and overall digital art.
• I still workout at least 5 times per week.
• I just finished an application to be an elementary school teacher.  I’m going to teach for a year while I apply to graduate school.
• I eat very healthy, but find a way to sneak something sweet in each day (today I ate a small piece of Lindt dark chocolate and peanuts).
• I’m still managing to be able to write for ZCL every once in a while.
• I write for a student blog at my school. Check it out here!

And here are a few things I need to work on.

• I still have trouble making time for family.  I’m trying though.
• I haven’t seriously practiced guitar in weeks.
• My motorcycle has been neglected for months.
• I still need to pick a date and marry that girl already…
• My niece doesn’t get to see enough of me, or at least I don’t get to see enough of her.
• I still need to register and start studying for the GRE.
• I still have yet to solve any of the worlds greatest problems, get published, skydive, run a marathon, save a life, or do many of the grander things I plan on doing.

Overall I think I’m doing well.  I’m sure you are too.  But we have room for improvement.  I want perfect balance.  I want to enjoy every step of the journey.  I want to experience it all.  Don’t you?

Tags: achieve more, achieve success, become a badass, hobbies, inspiration, personal development, Simplicity