Why it’s important to Zero in on the BIG Picture
Without a bigger picture in mind, our actions are often dictated by “What’s more pleasurable in the moment?” rather than “What’s better in the long-term?” In the moment, the consequences of most choices are insignificant. It makes little difference, on a particular day, if you opt to stay on the couch rather than hitting the gym, but over the course of a year, the negative results from this repeated decision will compound.
Consequences of doing what’s more pleasurable in the moment instead of what’s better in the long-term
That paragraph hit close to home!
I often spend time on Saturday morning catching up on reading articles that hit my inbox during the week . As I sat at the table drinking my coffee, I chuckled to myself as I thought about forwarding this article to my brother.
We met for dinner the night before and during our conversation he pointed to his growing belly and blamed it on his better half (good cooking) and being too tired at the end of the day to do anything besides lay on the couch!
There are days that I can definitely relate to being too tired at the end of the day to do anything but veg-out! Sadly, if that becomes my daily practice there isn’t a remote chance of being in better shape by summer. One of my goals.
Without keeping the BIG Picture in my mind I won’t eat right or workout! I’d much rather eat whatever I want and skip exercise.
An intentional life is one marked by long-term thinking that leads to beneficial short-term decision-making.
First, decide what you want. Then, decide—every day, in ways big and small—how to get there. Have the ends in mind, and the means will become clear.
My desire is to age well, without sickness or disease, to have the energy and spirit for adventure/fun required to keep up with eight grand-kids. Keeping the BIG picture in mind means that I must consistently make good choices about self-care.
Determining the ends, however, is not always easy.”
The Real Secret to Happiness
For thousands of years, people have grappled with the big question of “What really matters?” What, among the many alternative ways we can choose to spend our finite time, will bring us happiness?
My family and small group of friends are what really matters to me. Spending time with them brings me the most happiness, joy and fulfillment. Knowing that, means that I make choices with the limited free time available to spend time with them on a regular basis.
The BIG picture. 😉
Recently, another batch of smart people have attempted to answer these eternal questions, and their conclusion reinforces something that most of us know instinctively, deep down in our soul.
According to Harvard’s Grant & Glueck Study, which tracked more than 700 participants over the course of 75 years, the key to long-term happiness and fulfillment comes down to a single factor: the quality of our relationships.
The root of happiness is not money, fame, or good looks—it’s the people we choose to surround ourselves with and how well we nurture our relationships with them.
Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, explained that: “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”
As with most things in life, when it comes to building good relationships, quality is more important than quantity. Indeed, practicing minimalism is as important in curating relationships as it is in decluttering a closet.
The Payoff from Positive Relationships
A “tribe” of inspiring and supportive people can lift you up, hold you accountable, and inspire you to live to your greatest potential. As motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously observed, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. So choose wisely.
The content for this post was taken from this article. What Is The Most Important Factor in Leading a Happy, Fulfilling Life? https://www.becomingminimalist.com/happy-life/
I encourage you to read it in it’s entirety and think about YOUR BIG PICTURE. What’s most important to you?