Is it death that makes us so afraid or the thought that we may not have lived a life of meaning and purpose? Or worse, the life that we lived did not fulfill the life that was imagined when God created us?

[shareable cite=”Harold Kushner” text=”I am convinced that it is not the fear of death that haunts our sleep so much as the fear we might as well never have lived.”]“I am convinced that it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending that haunts our sleep so much as the fear… that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well never have lived.”[/shareable]

Through my work with athletes, I have seen many stories of celebration and conquest as well as disgust and defeat. Most athletes do not fear a clock that reads 0:00 – especially if they know they have given their all and played their best. What frightens them the most is reaching the end of a contest knowing they did not play to the best of their ability or potential.

We must play to win instead of playing not to lose. In other words, we need to appreciate the opportunities we have been given and use them to make an impact in the lives of other people. When the last second ticks off the clock of your life, what thought will you have? Will you triumphantly raise your hands in victory celebrating a fulfilling life? Or, will you hang your head haunted by the feeling that you could have been more and could have done more?

Begin today by asking these relevant and pertinent questions:

• What roles do I play in life (e.g. student, athlete, friend, husband, wife, father, mother, business leader)?
• What am I doing with the responsibility and opportunity of these roles?
• Am I realizing my potential in all areas of my life?
• Am I motivated by the joy of living or haunted by the fear of dying?
• Do I see opportunities to make a positive impact and seize them?
• At the end of this year, this decade, this life, will I cherish the memories that I made or fear the regrets that I have?

As Ken Blanchard so prophetically proclaims, “The legacy you live is the legacy you leave.” What are you afraid of? Every day, you can make a choice to positively impact the people within your sphere of influence by:

• Encouraging them
• Listening to them
• Mentoring them
• Learning from them
• Leading them
• Serving them

Also, true leaders in any walk of life are:

• Purposeful with their time
• Confident in their calling
• Generous with their resources
• Compassionate with their heart

Choose today to invest your time purposefully and wisely, and make your life count for what matters most! A life well lived leads to rejoicing, not regret!

[shareable cite=”Mike Van Hoozer”]”A life well lived leads to rejoicing, not regret!”[/shareable]