Новые времена Go back to the homepage The value of a long-term view of life My son's basketball coach put it simply: "Don't let high school basketball be the best or worst thing that has ever happened to you in your life. If it is, then we as coaches have failed." In other words, enjoy every minute of it, but make sure your relevance, security, and success in life is greater than those 1-3 years of running back and forth on the court as you try to put the ball in the basketball net. A thriving life requires a long-term view of life. Here are four reasons why: From a long-term perspective, we respond well to failure. When we realize that life doesn't end, bad things happen, we realize that we can come out of the shadows – we can thrive. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts." If a man like Churchill, who faced greater challenges than most of us will ever face, could live with that perspective, we too should be inspired to see past everyday problems and realize that we thrive when we overcome them. In the long term, we respond well to success. From a business perspective, success can become more dangerous than failure because we stop growing. A long-term perspective tells me that past success does not exempt me from the need to grow. More importantly, a long-term view of success allows us to revel in success with humility, realizing that our worldly accomplishments, while sweet and worthy of celebration, are just a drop in the ocean. Looking into the distance helps us relax. Looking into the distance is not just about persevering in a struggle; it also helps us to relax. When things aren't tied to the present and immediate reactions, we become more receptive. Small grievances and inconveniences matter less, and forgiveness comes more easily. This is essential for a thriving life. Otherwise we end up as embittered old men. Looking into the distance makes us reflect on our legacy. In preparation for the talk, I reread William Wilberforce, Martin Luther, and St. Ignatius Loyola, among others. All of these leaders were sterling examples of heroic leadership and undoubtedly had far-reaching visions of life and influence. What will your influence remain after you are gone? A long-term perspective does not mean that the immediate does not matter. Personal failures, systemic injustices, and major tragedies are real and painful; they stop us in our tracks and demand a response. But looking at these moments from a long-term perspective allows us to say that the story is not over (and that we are not the authors of it). The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us of Abraham's great faith. «By faith Abraham obeyed the call to go to the land he had inherited, and went without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign land, and dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he looked forward to the city that has foundations, of which God is the maker and builder.» (Hebrews 11:8-10). Abraham was able to live a long life because he trusted God with his future and because he believed in the ultimate vision and purpose of his life – eternal life with God the Creator. This foundation stimulated his foresight and strengthened his faith. It is amazing what we can accomplish and how far we are willing to go with hearts that are in God's hands. Jesus Christ taught that we must «to lay up treasures for themselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.» (Matthew 6:20). This is a long-term perspective. © 2023. Dr. Stephen R. Graves describes himself as an organizational strategist, practical theologian, and social capitalist. He counsels executives and business owners as well as young entrepreneurs. He is the author of numerous books and many articles, as well as a public speaker. His website is: www.stephenrgraves.com. Questions for reflection/discussion How would you describe your outlook on life – is it short term or are you generally able to look at your life, your achievements and failures in the long term? Explain your answer. How do you think a long-term view of life can help us deal with setbacks in a more effective and rewarding way? What about success? From your experience, does looking at life give you a different perspective on the successes we experience? Do the biblical examples of Abraham and Jesus Christ say that they had an unshakable confidence in the eternal influence of our faith and actions?How do you feel about this? How often do you stop to think about the potentially eternal impact of your decisions and the actions you take? NOTES. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 12:11,24, 21:5, 24:27,30-34, 27:18; Matthew 6:19-22, 7:24-27
