I've often seen the advice "live for yourself", and trying to research "live for others" seems to be sending me the other way completely.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" - Mahatma Gandhi
I'm nearly 50, and after a lifetime of pretty much living for myself, I'm feeling empty, like "is this all there is!?" or "what's the point of my life!?". And it's started to make me think I am truly missing the point. Perhaps, instead of seeking my own pleasure - and finding that (no matter what I do or buy) this is not making me happy - I should be living a life caring for others, and a life of service to others!?
I honestly don't think it matters who you care for or serve. Ideally a worthy cause(s). Just caring for something other than yourself is the goal. Whilst at the same time caring for yourself too. You need to attend to you own mental and physical health first, before you can care for others.
Which leads me onto 2 pertinent questions:
- How to best care for and serve yourself?
- How to care for and be of service to others?
The answers will be personal to you.
Answering the Questions
These answers are personal to me.
- How to best care for and serve yourself?
- Eat and drink healthily
- Regularly exercise and go running
- All things in moderation
- Be disciplined with your time
- Be disciplined with your wealth
- Be disciplined with your thoughts
- How to care for and be of service to others?
- Serve the company that pays you a salary and serve your customers to the best of your ability.
- Note: Employers are rarely loyal to their employees. When a company needs to let people go, it will do that, it's not a charity. Loyalty to your employer is admirable but unlikely to be returned.
- Care for your family.
- Care for your friends (real friends ... if you have any).
- Care for your house.
- Care for your toys.
- Care for your car.
