Important Questions and Steps to Improve the Quality of Your Life

You may compare your daily accomplishments to those who you trudged with through the hours of work. Like, did I do more or better than Rosy or Nicky? Perhaps, no matter how much we goofed up, if Nicky goofed up more, that we can sigh with relief and call it a good day as we close our eyes for the night; what happens, if you never did what you wanted to do or if what you did was simply more of the same old drudgery that fills most of your days?

If you did not do what you had planned perfectly, or you screwed up at work that your boss or superior chastise you for it, chances are you are thumping your pillow a little harder than necessary. Your ability to fall asleep then may be disturbed as you ruminate regretfully over what you did that you wish you did not.

Thus you may be giving Nicky something to smile about. Then, would you say it's safe saying, you had a bad day when you didn’t do enough or do it well enough.

Is that how you want to choose to measure the quality of your life?

Why give the Nicky's of this world opportunity to feel good over you?

Why spent many nights abusing your pillow and tossing and turning reflecting back on the things you did and did not, of your waking hours?

Why be a check mark addict, a praise dependent, and a competitive comparison seeker?

Are you compelled to set one goal after the other; to constantly add “just one more" thing to your mile-long to-do list?

Aren't you sick and tired?

Won't you face the reality of your situation?

There's no doubt that to determine self-improvement, most of us measure it by our daily activities (what we did and what we did not). Hence, how well we did comes into play as we reflect back on our activities. Apparently, we then seek praise. Thus the more praise we received for it, either self-provided or by others, the higher we rank our day in terms of quality.

Consequently, if you began to measure your day differently, the quality of your life will change. If you can at the end of the day, reflect on the questions that really matter, sure you'll see how significantly your life will improve.

Here are some questions worth asking yourself:

• How was my day? If very good (10marks), and if not (0 marks).
• At certain points of my day did I felt peaceful and calm? If so, you can give yourself (10marks).
• Was I loving and compassionate with Rosy when she splashed paint on the portrait I was drawing or did I refrain from abusing and cursing the slow driver in front of me that made me fifteen minutes late for my appointment? Give yourself (15marks), if yes.
• Am I mindful and aware of the beauty around me? If yes (5marks). Do I appreciate it? If yes (5marks). Do I whisper a few words of prayerful gratitude? If so (5marks).
• Do I seek stillness and quiet at some point for a few minutes at least? (If yes, 10marks) Do I take a moment to just breathe and observe the life force within you? (If yes, Subtract 10marks).
• Do I reach out a hand of support or offer a few kind words to another, not because I have to, but because it was something I was inclined to do from the heart? If yes (10marks).
• Do I smile often? (If yes, 5marks). Do I laugh? (If yes, 5marks). Do I find moments of unexpected joy? (If yes, 5marks). Do I seek the above? (If yes, 5marks).
• Do I love what I'm doing or most importantly do I love the people around me? (If yes, 10marks).

Congratulations If you scored 100%! All these things make for a great day.

Though you may have scored wonderfully in the above questions, don't completely rule out room for improvement in the "being" department. Maybe it is time to work on improving the quality of your day and of your life.

Apparently, don’t be too hard on yourself, for you're not alone. Most of us spend too many moments of our day diminishing its quality by getting too wrapped up in doing. Don't slip into unhealthy doing.

Diagnosing an ailment is the first step to healing. The good news is, from the awareness, we can grow from the less than good days and improve the quality of our life. We can begin to experience life the way we were meant to, with peace and joy. All it takes to begin the change is three simple steps.

Steps to Improve the Quality of Tomorrow

1. The first step is to be more conscious, before you drift off to sleep, about how you are living your life regardless of the things you get done or do not get done. Use today as an example. Reflect, learn and grow from the hours you just experienced.
2. Next, aside doing. Of course, you will have to do something but prioritize the living component over the doing component for the upcoming 24 hours.
3. Finally, write a to-be list instead of a to-do list for tomorrow. It may look this way:

Tomorrow I will be

●︎ mindful

●︎ aware

●︎ peaceful

●︎ a person who seeks reasons to smile and laugh

●︎ loving

●︎ appreciative

●︎ forgiving

●︎ thoughtful

●︎ supportive

●︎ still

●︎ quiet

●︎ faithful

●︎ honest

It's who you are that determines the quality of your life, not by what you accomplish. Hence we are all, human beings not human doings. Perhaps, we should base the value of our day and life on that small bit of wisdom and live accordingly.

Now, I suppose you drop the worries and do have yourself a pleasant night rest. You deserve it!

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