98% Of Your Life Is Spent on Things That Don’t Matter

Prefer getting this content as a video? Watch the above.

---

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling anxious and overwhelmed by all the projects I want to complete and the goals I want to accomplish.

It’s been the classic case of too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

At the start of this week, while looking at the giant list of all the things I wanted to get done, I had a minor epiphany:

My work isn’t going anywhere. There will always be tons to do and new stuff I want to do.

And therein lies the problem with constantly living with a hustle mindset: at times, it feels like you’re one step away from a meltdown.

Fighting against the illusion of a ticking clock is a losing battle.

Then I was reminded of the opening line to the book “The Only Thing That Matters” by Neale Donald Walsch, which I came across the night before:

“98% of the world’s people are spending 98% of their time on things that don’t matter.”

So I decided to break this down:

1. If our to-do list will never ever fully get completed and most likely compound in size. And…
2. Most of the things we spend our time on don’t matter…

I suddenly realized that life will always give us a series of things to do, problems to solve, goals to chase, and distractions.

However, doesn’t that bring a profound sense of contentment and freedom? Doesn’t that leave us to focus on real living?

Consider the following:

• What if the way you are right now is as good as you will ever be? If so, how would you spend your time?
• What if the need for constant doing is just a way to avoid being within yourself?
• What if you had nothing to prove to yourself or anyone?

Fast-forward to the end of your life, and you are about to take your last couple of breaths. What will you remember about your life?

Would it be all the “things” and “stuff”?

• Bank statements?
• Mantles on the wall?
• Number of businesses you launched?
• Acronyms next to your name?
• Your waistline?

Or will it be the 2% of things that actually do matter as inferred in Neale’s quote?

Will it be the tiny moments of real living that take place in between all the dog and pony shows that occur in life, such as:

• Connecting with others.
• Doing things you enjoy.
• Learning and creating just for the sake of it.
• The laugh you share with a friend.
• Playing with your kids.
• Singing and dancing along to a song you love.
• That random spark of gratitude for just being alive

These tiny moments within the journey are what matters and what you’ll cherish. So, start focusing on the 2% of real living.

---