Have you ever struggled with the very notion of YOLO (You Only Live Once)?
I have!
And, I discovered that reality goes way beyond the – gadget-heavy – 1967 James Bond movie “You only live twice”.
In reality, you and I have already experienced and will go through multiple lives. Getting new jobs, making new friends, and losing some. We’ve lived in different places, discovered different cultures. We’ve experienced loss and moved on.
For each of us, there’s the opportunity to trigger these new lives. And even if you think yours is perfect right now, you know it won’t stay like this. Soon enough, you’ll open a new chapter. Change is the only constant!
So far, if my count is correct, I’ve lived 19 different lives, all triggered by a major personal or professional shift.
I will spare you the details, but, as I reflect on how I learned to get the best out of each of these periods, here are a few principles I’ve seen work for me in both personal and professional experiences:
Be curious and expect magic in every encounter! If you want to discover the interesting side of others and get something valuable from them, don’t be afraid to engage with them and ask open-ended questions. Chances are you’ll capture someone’s frame of mind, dig deeper and learn a lot.
Be a creator and share. You don’t need to be an author or an artist to do so. Start by giving more than you take. Share with others. Give them your time, your thoughts—no need to be the smartest in the room. Just kindly and genuinely share. Good things will come from it.
Build great habits and nurture them. It took me years to realize that one, but let’s face it, routines and rituals define us. We are what we do! I know I’m a runner, an author, a Sherpa because that’s what I’m doing – almost – every day. I “just” Do It!
Don’t be obsessed with goals. Enjoy the journey! Life is unpredictable. No matter what you plan, chances are you’ll have to adjust or even wholly rethink your goals. That’s ok. As long as you gain from every step in the process, celebrate your wins, and reflect on your failures.
Finally, make sure you take care of your physical and mental health. We only have one body and one mind to take us through our many lives.
So, live great lives and enjoy the ride!