Living Life Backwards
As we kick off the new year, I think it’s imperative that we examine the motivations behind our thoughts and actions. Having goals is great, but may not actually be all that helpful if they are not the right goals for us. Are you going after something because it is deeply important to you? Or because a person or society tells you that you should?
For example, I have found myself chasing after a raise in the past. Not because I didn’t have enough money to pay my bills or buy the things I needed (and many I wanted), but because it always feels good to have more. From a young age, I enjoyed saving my money. I have always liked to know I have that security, “just in case.” Plus if I make more money, I can have nicer things, which can help me feel better about myself as I compare my success and belongings with others.
This is a belief I have been working a lot within myself. Do I really need that extra money? Or is my time more valuable? Instead of making more, can I maybe spend less instead?
You may recognize a similar financial pursuit in your own life, or maybe yours looks different. Maybe you desire to lose weight because you see images of others who look much thinner, or other moms who lost their baby weight right away and you have not. Maybe you’ve had pressure on you since you were a child to achieve this or that, and you are always chasing after the next thing because once you achieve something, the satisfaction wears off quickly and you find yourself in the same mindset of discontent and “not enough.”
The society we live in is only making it harder and harder to feel content. We see thousands of ads making us believe we need this or that, and the ability to get it is at our fingertips. We have an extremely hard time being still, that is, not having something to distract us from our own thoughts.
I have been reading the book Living Life Backwards by David Gibson. It explores the book of Ecclesiastes written by the wise King Solomon, who finds himself pondering life and its meaning. What is the point of it all? We are all going to die some day. Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people, so why should we care to even try?
It is an extremely thought provoking book, imploring me to really analyze what’s truly important in my life. Time or money? Success or relationships? Staying safe and comfortable or putting myself out there?
Those who have a near death experience or scary medical diagnosis often come away with a different perspective on life than they had before. Though unfortunate to have gone through the situation that they did, they are fortunate to harness a new appreciation for life and what a precious, and fleeting, gift it is.
Living Life Backwards and the book of Ecclesiastes offer those of us who have not gone through a life threatening experience to gain a similar perspective. “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” - Ecclesiastes 1:3-4
What is the point of this life? What are we chasing after? As we step into 2025 with our goals and aspirations and plans, ask yourself if you are pursuing the right things. Things that will bring richness and fulfillment to your life. Do you believe in God? If so, are you spending time with him? For it is He who provides love, joy, and peace. He who will provide to us a deep sense of purpose through service, in love, to those around us.
So as you set your intentions for the year, spend some time grounding yourself to what is important. Instead of working from the outside in - trying to change the circumstances around you in hopes that will bring you more happiness, create goals that will change you from the inside out - cultivating joy and peace from within through practices such as prayer and meditation. None of us know what the year will bring, but we can make it the best year yet by strengthening the wellbeing of our heart, mind, spirit, and body. Let’s go 2025.
