In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored 10 timeless truths for life. This week we will expand our thoughts about life and how what we do each day is important. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read past newsletters.

Even with the rapid advancements in technology and medicine which is expanding our lifespans and providing us with so many more advantages than our ancestors had, we still just have one life to live. So on this week’s trek, we will review…

6 Guideposts to Live an Effective Life

Do you remember conversations like this when you were young, or your children may have said…“She called me a bad name.” “He took my toy.” “She didn’t like my dress.” “I had it first.” Ah yes, the thrill of being young again. Remember how important these things seemed when we were young? In retrospect, they now seem so trivial.

Of course, as we get older and wiser, we focus on important things, like showing our friends how successful we’ve become, outflanking others to get a promotion, keeping up with the Joneses, and ensuring that we look young — forever. You’d think we’d have learned something from our kindergarten days, wouldn’t you?

The truth is, we’re often so busy running on our treadmill to nowhere that we can lose focus on the things that really matter in life. Before we know it, the seconds have become minutes, the days have become weeks, and the months have become years. And when we finally take the time to catch our breath, we look back in retrospect and think, “Where did all the time go?” As I am approaching 64 this summer, this hits all too close to home.

It’s so easy to be blinded by ambition, power, and success that many people miss out on the simple pleasures of life. For example, do your children’s birthday parties, sporting events, or recitals make your priority list? Are you available to counsel your friend in need? Do you make the time to help your kids with their homework, to attend back-to-school nights, or to put down your newspaper, smartphone, and iPad when your family wants to tell you about their day? Or, is something else more important to you at the time?

Now, I know that you probably lead a hectic life and that you’re getting pulled in many different directions. The truth is, it’s not that you don’t have enough time to devote to things that matter to you but rather, the time needed is spent doing something else instead of being invested into what is truly more important.

It goes without saying that every time you decide to focus on one thing in your life, you’ve also decided not to invest that time on something else. Unfortunately, once opportunities are lost, they’re often lost forever — life doesn’t come with a dress rehearsal. So, if you think you may regret the path you’re on, it may be time to change course.

Here are six guideposts of questions to point you in the right direction:

1. Priorities

Have you ever stopped to think about what matters most to you? Do you invest the majority of your time in those areas? Or do trivial issues sidetrack you from doing the things that you should care about the most?

2. Agenda

Do you let other people control your agenda? How much time do you spend reacting to fire drills versus doing things that matter? Are you asking your loved ones to do all of the accommodating, while allowing others to have free rein over your priorities?

3. Time Management

How much of your day is spent on autopilot? Do you devote more time to thinking about what you’re going to do or doing it? When was the last time you identified and eliminated wasteful tasks and routines?

4. Quality

How much of your day is spent worrying about problems versus appreciating the moment? What percentage of your time do you spend being physically present but mentally absent? Does multitasking damage your ability to give your undivided attention?

5. Inner Peace

Do you care more about what you want out of life or about what others think? Do you value creating wonderful memories as much as you value material rewards? Are you investing in your family and friends or taking them for granted? When was the last time you felt comfortable with yourself?

6. The Decision Is Yours

It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae that we quickly lose sight of the big picture. Those who are truthful and have paused long enough to reflect on where they’ve been have concluded that they’ve squandered much of their precious time on earth.

Have you ever stopped to think about what matters most to you? Do you invest the majority of your time in those areas? Or do trivial issues sidetrack you from doing the things that you should care about the most?

Even those who have secured enviable positions of power and material wealth admit that their decisions to follow these paths have come with real costs — in relationships and precious moments that can’t be replaced. This doesn’t have to be you.

The trail that you choose is your decision and yours alone. The only correct answer is the one that fulfills your God-given design for you. As George Eliot once said, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” The crucial element is to know what your purpose in life is at this point. The key is to establish goals that matter most to you and your loved ones, align your priorities around your life purpose and goals, and then pursue them. While doing this, you need to take the time to enjoy your life and remain true to yourself through your calling and to those who love you.

Your goal shouldn’t be cramming as much stuff as possible into your life. Success and happiness are achieved by investing time and attention in areas that really matter to you. No matter how old you are, you still have time to change course. As Alan Lakein once said, “Time = Life, Therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life.” Are you investing your precious time in the areas that matter most to you? It’s your choice.

We would all do well to study the entire lesson that Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19-34, which will help to keep our priorities straight. For brevity sake, I will read verses 31-34, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

The six guideposts that we discovered this week will help us to refocus our lives so that we invest our time into what is most important instead of spending our time in those activities that have no eternal impact. In next week’s Wisdom Notes, we will explore the 5 essential elements of success. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.