3264: [Part 2] How to Make This Season the Best Season of Your Life by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist

[00:00:00] This is Optimal Living Daily Episode 3264 How to Make This Season the Best Season of Your Life Part 2 by Joshua Becker of BecomingMinimalist.com And I'm Justin Malik. Happy Saturday and welcome back or welcome for the first time if you're new here.

[00:00:17] This is where I read to you like a big ongoing audiobook from many different authors, but today is a continuation from yesterday, so I'd recommend listening to yesterday's episode first. If you're all caught up, let's get right to part two and continue optimizing your life.

[00:00:38] How to Make This Season the Best Season of Your Life Part 2 by Joshua Becker of BecomingMinimalist.com Number four, identify the joys in your current season. Oh, to look around and recognize the simple joys that surround us each day. Is there a more blessed discipline in life?

[00:00:59] Every day, joys surround us. And the more we stop to recognize them, the more we appreciate them and the day in front of us. That is one of the reasons gratitude is such an important discipline. The more we practice it in the good times and the bad,

[00:01:15] the more we experience joy and meaning and fulfillment. Identify the unique joys of your present season. The opportunity to focus undivided attention on your education. The excitement of a young marriage. The precious first smile of your newborn daughter.

[00:01:36] The maturing sun as it becomes a young man in front of your eyes. The opportunity to serve or give or travel that your empty nest now offers you. Or even the final few months with your loving spouse as death draws ever closer.

[00:01:52] Number five, honor your past but don't overburden your present with it. My past has made me the person I am and I never want to forget it or the people who have made me. I'm thankful for my past in every imaginable way.

[00:02:09] I'm just not moving in that direction. I do not honor my past by allowing it to burden my present. In fact, I most honor my past by living my best in the present.

[00:02:22] This can be seen most vividly in the physical possessions we carry from one season to another. I encourage people to live more by owning less. When we remove the burden of unneeded physical possessions, we uncover time, money, energy and opportunity to pursue greater passions.

[00:02:43] Inevitably during my conversations with people, I'll be asked about possessions from a past season of life. What do I do with my grandparents blank? My spouse passed away. How do I handle his blank?

[00:02:56] Where my children are now grown but I can't seem to part with their old blank. On each occasion, I gently remind the person that their present obligation is to live their best life today.

[00:03:09] In fact, we honor our past relationships most by making the most of our present opportunities. If I were to pass away, I'd sure love my wife to keep something that reminds her of me, but I would never want to burden her future seasons with my old things.

[00:03:26] In fact, I'd be upset if I found out she was holding on to my old things out of a feeling of obligation. I hope she would look fondly on her season of life being married to me. But she has entered a new one.

[00:03:40] And I want her to live her best life today, not carry unneeded possessions or burdens forward. Number 6 See trials as opportunity to grow. Every season of life contains special and unique joys. But there is no perfect world. There's no perfect person. There's no perfect season of life.

[00:04:03] Every season contains unique obstacles and trials. It's easier said than done, but when we see the trials in life as opportunities to grow, even trials can be welcomed or at least better understood. I would wish no trial on any person nor would I ever wish them upon myself,

[00:04:23] but the reality remains that success is a terrible teacher. We grow most when faced with obstacles, hurdles and trials of every kind. There's no doubt your present season is requiring you to confront new challenges, but that doesn't mean you cannot also enjoy this period,

[00:04:42] even working to make it the best one of your life, no matter the trial you are currently facing. And number 7 Give what you can to younger generations. There are very few obligations that I believe apply to every person alive,

[00:04:58] but it seems to me one such obligation is to pass on to younger generations the lessons we have learned in life. Some lessons we learned with great difficulty, some came easy to us, but each are valuable to those who will come after us.

[00:05:15] This is the only way society moves forward. If you want to make the most of your current season of life, consider what talents, abilities and wisdom you have collected that can be passed on to younger generations. Be present in your child's life.

[00:05:32] Mentor a young ambitious worker in your career field. Get involved in your community or church or local school. There are even non-profit organizations dedicated specifically to help you mentor those who need it most. Give to others in some way.

[00:05:49] That is the best way to make the most of life and it's the best way to enjoy each season of life along the way. Each new season of life is an adventure and every adventure is meant to be enjoyed.

[00:06:04] You might as well enjoy this current one the most. You just listened to part 2 of the post titled How to Make This Season the Best Season of Your Life by Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com I'll be right back with my commentary. Thank you again Joshua.

[00:06:25] Identifying joys in our current season really is a matter of perspective. It's easy to lose sight of the positive if we're going through maybe a tougher time. But I think this is where some kind of daily reminder can be helpful.

[00:06:40] Obviously I hope this podcast can serve as a daily reminder for you. It does for me. But Joshua also mentioned gratitude. And study after study has shown the benefits of that too. It can be quick. It doesn't need to be some big thing. It can take seconds really.

[00:06:57] So for example, for me it's just one of the last things I think about before falling asleep. Instead of dwelling on the past or stressing about things that I might need to do the next day. I just think about good things that happened and what I'm grateful for.

[00:07:13] Really simple thing to do. But I find it a great way to end the day. So maybe you can try that too. And thank you again to Joshua for this one. Thank you for being here every day, including the weekends. Means a lot.

[00:07:26] And an extra thank you if you've ever shared this podcast with someone that's a huge help to keep this going. Have a great weekend and I'll be back tomorrow as usual. Where your optimal life awaits.