How To Live A More Purposeful And Fulfilling Life?

The human mind is a powerhouse of variety of thoughts and ideas. Our mind does act like a pendulum which oscillates between two extremes. It being so, in the process of this extremism, many a times, we forget or fail to acknowledge and/or appreciate the basic facts that life is very challenging, yet equally very precious and beautiful. It’s also true that we are born to live, learn, contribute and enjoy life.

Nevertheless, the great predicament and confusion have always been: how and what we precisely do?

During the course of his journey of life Lord Buddha found a solution of this complex problem of life and propounded his philosophy of middle path which he defines as a path of moderation between the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification.

Buddha thus says, “Our life is like the strings of Veena (Lute), the music comes only when the strings are neither too loose nor too tight, but just in the middle.”This, according to Buddha, is the path of wisdom.

It’s equally enlightening to know how some other luminaries opined on keeping a balance in our own life:

Aristotle says, “For both excessive and insufficient exercise destroy one’s strength, and both eating and drinking too much or too little destroy health, whereas the right quantity produces, increases or preserves it. So, it is the same with temperance, courage and other virtues… This much then is clear: in all our conduct it is the mean that is to be commended.”

Zig Ziglar says, “I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life, if your home life is in shambles.”

Gordon B. Hinckley says, “The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.”

Good enough. We got some insights. But the issue is still open. How?

We all have 24 hours a day; we all are social human being; we all have certain ambitions/ aspirations /wishes in life; we all have certain obligations/ duties/ jobs which we wish to perform or are required to perform. Now, the question which comes to our fore more often than not, is how to manage this 24 hours properly to do at least reasonable justice to what is stated herein above? How to strike that delicate, yet effective balance between the various activities that we are to perform during that fixed cycle of 24 hours?

It’s easy and doable. We may do the following : Divide 24 hours in three parts with occasional reallocation of plus/minus 10 to 15% depending upon some urgent requirements: 8 hours for vocation or profession or job etc., 8 hours with your family and friends for social, cultural, spiritual and/or other extracurricular activities and remaining 8 hours for your rest including sleep.

Yes, while following this simple routine, sincerity of purpose should get its due honor.