Step Back and Reflect on the true purpose of our life

In a recent article, a Life That Counts, by Dr. John C. Maxwell, we
are invited to step back and reflect on the true purpose of our life.
The article begins with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, American
political theorist, author and inventor, who wrote: "I would rather
have it said 'he lived usefully' than 'he did rich.'" Franklin wanted
a life in which his success would be counted not in the amount of
money he could amass, but rather in terms of how much of himself he
could give in helping people. Maxwell's own reflection tells us a
similar story:

"As I age, I gain perspective on the illusion of wealth and status as
forms of fulfillment. I don't want my life to be measured by dollars
and cents, or the number of books I've authored. Rather, I want to be
remembered by the lives that I've touched. I want to live a life that
counts. With each day that passes, I feel a greater sense of urgency
to make sure my time and energy are invested in developing leaders."

He shares with us his insights on how a life that counts is determined:

The relationships that I form - "Relationships help us to define who
we are and what we can become." It is surrounding ourselves with
people who enrich and enliven our lives and spirit, help us to see new
possibilities within ourselves and inspire us to our greatest
potential. His Relationship Rules are beautifully simple:

1. "Get along with yourself - The one relationship you will have
until you die is yourself.
2. Value people - You cannot make another person feel important if
you secretly feel that he or she is a nobody.
3. Make the effort to form relationships - The result of a person who
has never served others? Loneliness.
4. Understand the Reciprocity Rule - Over time, people come to share
reciprocal, similar attitudes towards each other.
5. Follow the Golden Rule - The timeless principle: Treat others the
way you want to be treated."

The decisions that I make - Our decisions reflect the person we are.
To have meaningful and positive impact in life, our life must be
values-based, guided by principles.

The experiences that I encounter - Our lives are influenced by so many
experiences that give breadth, depth and form to them: the birth of a
child, a personal or professional accomplishment, a relationship with
a life's partner or friend, the death of a loved one. These
experiences, and our response to them, help us grow and, in some
cases, give greater purpose and focus to our life. One of the
pointers that Maxwell shares on gaining the best from experiences is:
"Evaluate experience - Experience isn't the best teach. Evaluated
experience is the best teacher. Learn from mistakes and victories
alike. Draw upon experience to grow and gain wisdom."

Great leaders, I would suggest, do want to be rich in life, but not in
the monetary sense. Their richness is in their love of life and their
servant leadership - in first understanding themselves, and then
enabling others to achieve their greatest potential. This week and
always may you live a life that counts - one filled with purpose,
passion and joy, that all may say of you: You lived your life
usefully.