Why do we wait, hesitate, and let moments pass us by? Opportunities are all around us, and yet, there are times when we don’t seize the moment to make a positive difference in the world around us. We passively ignore our sphere of influence, and let circumstances and other factors dictate the outcome.

But how do people “die” while still living on Earth? In my own journey as well as through my conversations with people I coach, I have seen at least three things that keep us from fully “coming alive:”

• Distractions – This world is filled with distractions. Instead of focusing on the road ahead, we focus our time, attention, and resources on the off ramps and side roads that call out to us and lead us astray from our destination.
• Interruptions – Life is not perfect, and our road is often paved with potholes we did not plan for.  No one asks for failure or setbacks. I have never heard anyone say, “You know, I haven’t had a good trial in my life lately. I’m going to schedule one for this Thursday at 2.” Yet, interruptions are a part of this life, and our ability to deal with and persevere through interruptions will determine our impact on the world around us.
• Engagement – The lack of engagement in our lives, and more specifically, the roles in our lives, leads us to a numb existence. Some people just watch the moments pass by and become a spectator instead of an active participant in their lives and the world around them. They never embrace the roles and opportunities before them, and they unfortunately miss the moments.

I don’t want to wait until I die to make a difference. I aspire to come alive now, to fully engage my strengths and passions in the opportunities and moments I have been given. Whether you are leading your family, your organization, or your team, you have a responsibility to be actively engaged in the events around you. You have an opportunity to go beyond transactional leadership and truly help to transform the lives and fates of people.

It’s your choice, you can let yourself DIE a slow death through Distractions, Interruptions, and a lack of full Engagement, or you can choose to embrace the life you have been given, imperfect as it may be, and make the most of your moments. As William Wallace so eloquently said, “Every man dies, not every man really lives.” What choice will you make?

[shareable cite=”William Wallace”]Every man dies, not every man really lives.[/shareable]