Live an Engaged Life

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

-Steve Prefontaine

One of my goals this year is to live a life that is engaged. In every phase of my life, I want to be all in and focused on what I’m doing. When I’m working, I want to be engaged. When I’m playing with my daughter, I want to be focused. When I’m spending time with God, I want to be all-in.

Distracted

One of my biggest struggles is I tend to live my life in a distracted, haphazard way. For example, I’m trying to focus on my work, but I get distracted by my email or an urge to read an article on ESPN. I’m trying to spend time with my daughter, but I struggle to just be with her, and I check my phone instead. Or, I’m trying to relax and wind down from the day, but I’m worried about what I have to do tomorrow.

Wasting Time

I struggle with wasting time. I spend too much time on email, social media, and watching TV. These activities aren’t bad in moderation. But when I spend too much time on them, I feel less happy and satisfied with my life. I know they aren’t moving me in the direction of where I want to go. They are time-wasters.

Anxiety and Fear

My anxieties and fears also hold me back from living an engaged life. Sometimes I hold back at my work because I doubt my abilities. Being fully engaged in relationships requires honesty and confrontation when necessary. But these things make me uncomfortable, so I hold back, resulting in a detached existence. Sometimes I bite my tongue and hold back my full contribution in life, because I want to avoid criticism.

Don’t Sacrifice the Gift

I’m tired of living life this way. I want to show up fully engaged in every phase of my life. I want to be all-in, focused, and energetic. We only have one life to live. Don’t let your anxieties, fears, and distractions stop you from making the most of it.