Few people are living life to the fullest. We all have excuses and uphill battles to face day in and day out that suck the fun and positive energy right out of life. Sadly, most of us know what living life to the fullest would feel like, but few are brave enough to let go of the reins long enough to allow ourselves to do it. Responsibilities and expectations can loom large, and nagging strings of negativity hold our feet firmly to the ground, restricting our wings and our happiness. The question is: How can any of us start living life to the fullest when we’re always only halfway to where we need to be?
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Life is short!” The dirty dishes of life and the bills we strive to pay will all be there the day we die, no matter how much stress we put ourselves through while we are living. While the future is something to plan for, it shouldn’t be the only thing to live for—especially if you want to live a full life that is satisfying on every level.
In the 1910 manuscript The Science of Getting Rich, author Wallace Wattles warns us that part of living is the desire and want for more in life. It is this desire that he says will help us acquire everything we need to cultivate our own happiness. Far too many people feel that wanting more, deserving more, and speaking of the more we secretly covet is a sign of selfishness and lack. Wattles believed the opposite was true. Living life to the fullest definitely means being grateful and appreciative for what we have in our lives—material and otherwise! But it also means allowing our hands and hearts to always remain open for more: more love, more money, more days spent on a sandy white beach, more opportunities, more dreams, and, most importantly, more happiness. The only way to achieve this is by living in every single moment of your life—desiring more and appreciating what you have with the full realization and expectation that things only get better with time.
Overcoming the Biggest Excuse: Money
For the majority of people, money is the number one excuse for not living life to the fullest. This link we associate with not getting what we want—money—becomes an object of negative fixation. The more we fixate on the money we don’t have, which leads to the life we don’t have but want, the more we stop desiring and cultivating more in our lives. While that may seem complicated, it boils down to the theory that in order to have more, we have to imagine and feel the more first. We also have to be willing to live in the present moment, moving joyously toward the things we really want. If we do it right, then the acquisition of our more will only give birth to the idea of yet something else. Call it the reason to live or the power of positive thinking—either way, living life to the fullest depends on it.
What would make you happiest? If there were no restrictions, what would your life look and feel like? Now that you’ve answered those questions, decide who is holding you back. What excuses do you make? Do you wallow in self-pity for not having what you want, or do you joyfully take what is yours and make the most of it? Do you squander away money, waiting for that rainy day and expecting a catastrophe, or do you take the family vacation you’ve dreamed of? Many of us have learned to be so responsible with our decisions and have been taught from every angle that in order to be an adult, we must make “wise” decisions. Yet, how many people you know—who have lived their entire lives sacrificing and planning for the future—are living the life they dreamed? Most of them age far too quickly and are undermined by age itself before they even have the chance to take their first cruise.
Living life to the fullest is different for every person. Your idea of a full life may be game night with the kids, popcorn overflowing from an Italian ceramic bowl, and brand-name soda pop rather than the store’s special. Another person’s idea of a full life may be working from home or for themselves, enjoying their children as they grow up, and making the most of every relationship they have. Yet another person may glow knowing that their bills are all paid, and they still had enough money to take their family out to a nice dinner. The point is simple—now is the time to live your life. If you are caught in a rut, focusing on what you’re not doing, you’ll never be able to achieve your dreams. You’ll never find happiness in the present moment if you overshadow it with feelings of lack.
When you begin to heed the warnings that life really is short, you can make the decision to be fully present in every moment of your life. Learn your lessons, take your laughter, and smile as often as you can. The future is uncertain, and while you can hope for things down the road to make you happy, you can also choose to find the millions of things in today that can make you happy right now. The choice is yours. Do you want to imagine what it would feel like to live life to the fullest, or do you want to actually be one of those brave few who make no excuses and balance responsibility with happiness, remaining optimistic about what the future holds?
