STRESS “A friend of the enemy?” #5

 

Mistake #5:   Having No Sense Of Purpose Beyond Work

In the 1940's, Victor Frankl, a trained psychiatrist, was one of the many prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps of World War II. Like the millions of other prisoners, he was forced to endure heavy physical labour, exhaustion, starvation, beatings and the strategic stripping of his human dignity.

Following his release in 1945, he compiled a book called Man's search for Meaning. Apart from a recollection of the atrocities he had endured, this book is an insight as to how he was able to cope and stay alive under such horrendous living conditions, and what the human spirit requires in order to survive.

In his book he writes,

"He who has a WHY can bear almost any HOW. 

To survive anything requires a sense of meaning. If we can identify what brings us meaning then we can identify a motivation that can lead or take us through anything."

Have you ever found yourself giving up hope or feeling stuck in a rut? Do you ever feel that your life is just about getting up - going to work - coming home - watching television - going to bed?

This is NOT what life should be all about! Don't lose sight of your dreams by falling into the pattern of monotony. Get clear on your dreams - your reasons 'WHY' you are living - so that you are not just existing through each day, but really living.

But how?   Try this...

You need to acknowledge your personal needs and make sure that you do things that you enjoy doing. You need to acknowledge your relationship needs and regularly connect with people. You need to acknowledge your spiritual needs and learn more about who you are and what you want from life.

You need to keep setting goals, having aspirations and dreaming dreams that give your life meaning. Highlight the reasons 'why' you are living. Make every day filled with excitement and desire so that you are propelled into your day, instead of going through it dragging your feet.

As a priority step before you go to bed this evening, spend at least 20 minutes writing down how you would like your life to turn out.

Include:

· What legacy do you want to leave when you eventually die? · How would you like people to remember you?

· What difference do you want to make to yourself? Your family? Friends? Society?

· What would you need to experience, achieve or own to be able to say ‘I lived without regrets?’

Create a sense of meaning in your life beyond ‘going to work and paying the bills’.

Before you get out of bed tomorrow (and each day for that matter), reaffirm what you want to achieve in the day and in your life.

Keep your dreams and desires alive by regularly engaging in activities, conversations and literature that inspires you and makes life interesting.

TO BE CONTINUED…