What if I Live Tomorrow?
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I recently attended a conference here in San Antonio sponsored by Biblical Leadership Excellence, and we were blessed with terrific speakers sharing how to incorporate our faith in the workplace.
I’ve been part of this group for a couple of years, and here are ways I’ve learned to lead with my faith while in the business environment …
When a team member is struggling with a work assignment, I avoid making assumptions about the undone tasks. Instead, I reach out and ask how I can provide my help.
When in a meeting discussing a serious and intense topic, I do my best to remain professional, respectful, and kind. In other words, I focus on the work issues and not the personality aspects.
When a director provides candid remarks about how I can improve, I listen to the feedback and look for ways to make improvements. Instead of considering it an attack on my performance, I thank the director and develop a game plan to address the deficient items.
Now … I wish I could tell you that everything always goes smoothly in the workplace, but we know that unexpected circumstances often arise, and I may not always react with my best self.
So … I keep working at it.
What if I Live Tomorrow?
Around mid-morning, one speaker shared the following …
“Many of us are often asking ourselves, ‘What if I were to die tomorrow?’ While this is a good question, it might be a good idea if we instead focus on the more likely outcome: ‘What if I live tomorrow?’”
This is a great observation!
I recently heard a young mother discuss her prognosis after hearing her oncologist deliver the tough news that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.
She said, “It’s so tough knowing that I only have a few weeks on this earth to spend with my family. I just want to make the best of every single day!”
These examples remind me that I need to thank the Lord for each day I wake up with good health. I need to focus on the good things that life has to offer instead of worrying about the stuff I cannot control.
The Possibilities
From my standpoint, making the most of tomorrow starts with a positive attitude. Just as important, I need to focus less on the obstacles which stop me from doing the things that are important.
For example, it’s perfectly fine to take several days away from work just to spend time with family. In some cases, even an afternoon will do.
We’ve all heard that work will be the last thing on our minds on our death bed. There is no doubt this is a true statement.
In fact, even now, in my 50s, the memories that often circulate through my mind have nothing to do with work activities or professional accomplishments.
Rather, I spend most of my time thinking of the beautiful moments the Lord has given me with my family.
See you next week, my friends!
Inspiring Quotes
"Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once." – Lillian Dickson
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” – Buddha
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What will you do to live life fully tomorrow?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you.