I’ve been thinking lately about what I actually think living a life that counts is.

Ben Franklin once wrote, “I would rather have it said ‘he lived usefully’ than ‘he died rich.”

And Winston Churchill famously said “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

In my book I was purposely non-descriptive in describing what I thought ‘a life that counts’ is, because different people will measure their life in different ways and against different standards. However, here’s some thoughts for you to ponder on as you consider your life that lies before you, how you will construct and live it, and what it will count for at the end of the day.

• Living a life bigger than your own – their focus isn’t solely on themselves. They see the bigger picture and have a bigger perspective.  They’re famous not just for what they’ve achieved but what they’ve given. They give back in some way and make the world around them a better place. They leave a legacy – an imprint – their mark.
• They have an “abundance mentality. Bill Gates has this. Warren Buffet has this. William Colgate had this. Ben Franklin had this. Instead of seeing the world in terms of how much money they could make, these people see/saw the world in terms of how many people he could help. To them, making money was not the end in itself. They didn’t measure their life by dollars and cents despite how rich they were. And being useful was its own reward.
• They value relationships. Relationships help us to define who we are and what we can become. They shape your character, values, and interest as we interact and exchange energy, emotions, ideas and values. Some relationships reinforce our values and uplift us; while others undercut our convictions and drain us. Getting along with yourself, appreciating and valuing people (treat others as you would want them to treat you) and making the effort to form and cultivate relationships will be one of your  greatest treasures in life and an immense source of joy.
• The experiences they encounter mould them for the better. In addition to relationships and decisions, our lives are shaped by pivotal experiences. Whether triumphs or tragedies, our lives are moulded and shaped by pivotal experiences. Perhaps we receive a long-awaited promotion or we’re suddenly let go from a job. Perhaps a loved one passes away, or a newborn baby enters our lives. These experiences immerse us in emotions and challenge our convictions. Oftentimes, we’re defined not so much in the moment of experience itself as in our response to the experience. Do we quit or rebound? Do we harbour bitterness or choose to forgive? Do we blame or improve? Whatever the case, the experiences in our lives profoundly touch us.
• They have perspective on what really matters. They live a magnificent, passionate, authentic and purposeful life. They chase their dreams but realise that this is just part of the fabric of life. They are successful by whatever terms they measure it, but  at the same time appreciate the bigger perspective. That is, there are always people worse off. We live in a big world with much need and so to purpose to make a difference in others life is truly a higher purpose. Character on the inside is more important than all that glitters on the outside. Peace and happiness is not measured by gold medals, twitter followers or dollars in the bank.

So what is a life that counts ?  … to me, it is all these things. Or put another way – if you’re not doing something with your life, then it doesn’t matter how long you live. If you’re doing something with your life, then it doesn’t matter how short your life may be. A life is not measured by years lived, but by its usefulness. If you are giving, loving, serving, helping, encouraging, making a difference, adding value to others, then you’re living a life that counts!