Inspiration and Life
Are You Prepared for a Better Life?
5 ways to prepare for the future
Are you familiar with the Scout motto? It consists of only two words, but these words speak a great deal to those of us who want to live a better life. The two words are — BE PREPARED!
While a scout knows what they are preparing for, for what are you preparing? Let’s look at some ideas of how to use this motto to live a better life!
Prepared for what?
When Lord Baden-Powell devised the Scout motto in 1907, he was asked, “prepared for what?” He answered, “Why for any old thing.” Later he wrote that to be prepared meant, “you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” More than a century later, preparedness is still a cornerstone of Scouting. In recent years, the Scouts trademarked “Prepared. For LifeTM. “
Preparing is such a routine activity we seldom give it thought.
As a living, breathing human being, you unconsciously prepare from the time you wake to when your head hits the pillow. Sleep itself prepares your mind and body in numerous ways. Thankfully most of this preparation is automatic, but that is not the kind of preparation we want to discuss.
The preparation we will look at requires you to think and act consciously. This preparation is the pathway to living a good life and determines your future.
Let’s look at what preparing for the future can do for you.
Preparation makes you “lucky”
Two millennia ago, a Roman Philosopher recognized the importance of preparing when he made this statement:
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca (c.4 BC — 65 AD)
He recognized the more you prepare, the more likely you will get “lucky” when an opportunity comes along. To others, you may appear lucky — but your achievements will result from preparing yourself to see and seize the opportunity when it arises.
Our 16th president similarly understood how important it is to prepare in life with these words of wisdom:
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
For a time, Lincoln was one of the “luckiest” and most successful men ever to live. In showing his dedication to being prepared, he also stated:
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
Many wise people throughout history understood the importance of preparation. One of our founding fathers penned:
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin (1796–1790)
How can you prepare for your future and become “lucky” as so many others have? Let’s look at some of the more important areas you can prepare for to live a productive, fruitful,
fulfilled life.
Education
Learning is a cornerstone for everything you accomplish in life. You can prepare by getting a degree from a prestigious university. Still, that degree alone will not help you get “lucky.” To obtain real achievement or “luck,” you must continue to prepare by constantly learning and growing. Every successful person will tell you they are a lifelong learner. If you are not continually learning, you will soon be in trouble.
There are countless opportunities to continue your education and learning in today’s digital age. The possibilities are virtually limitless between our library system, vast school network, and the internet! Just think, you are only a few keystrokes away from the largest repository of information, knowledge, and wisdom of all time. Why not take advantage of it, and prepare yourself for that “luck” that will inevitably come?
Career
Most of us spend a large portion of our lives working. Nothing is more important than continual learning to build your career. A few areas you can always prepare for are:
- Studying your industry and business
- Improving your productivity
- Honing your skills, especially your people skills.
That last item is essential. Here is what one of the wealthiest and most successful people in the history of America had to say about it:
“I will pay more for [the ability to deal with people] than for any other under the sun.” John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937)
For too many, ongoing learning slows down or ends after college. I once read that the average salesperson reads less than a book a year! How can they expect to be successful if they stop preparing for their craft? It’s no wonder there are so many “average” salespeople and so few that achieve real success and wealth in the profession.
What about in your field? Some professions require a great deal of ongoing preparation, yet most do not have learning requirements of any kind.
Unless you are one of the very few who gets things handed to them all their life, born with a proverbial silver spoon in your mouth, you best keep preparing!
Health
How much preparation do you do to maintain your health? Do you exercise, eat healthy foods, and have regular physicals? In addition to keeping your body healthy, how much preparation do you do for your mind, soul, and spirit? Mental and spiritual health is vital to a good life.
When it comes to your health, a little preparation can go a long way. What you do today with your body and mind will serve you later. Best they serve you in a good way, don’t you think?
A healthy life has far more potential to be a happy life.
Do you have a plan to protect this crucial area of life? If not, why not? You may be healthy now, but can you stay that way without a plan?
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Benjamin Franklin (1796–1790)
Don’t forget to spend time outdoors with plenty of fresh air. And while you are at it, learn some simple, easy-to-do mindfulness exercises to reduce stress. These will bring a world of good into your life.
Retirement
Why would I include retirement in this list? Because it is something you can prepare for at any age.
There is no question that the earlier you begin, the better off you will be. Even if you are only 21 start saving now. You do not want to be one of the masses who will need to continue to work far beyond 65 years old. If you are sharp enough and begin preparing early, you can likely retire well before 65 and enjoy your life more!
Relationships
Preparing is a necessary part of any relationship, especially a close one. Relationships permeate every part of life. Nothing is more important in life than relationships. Relationships not only give us life, they are life itself!
How many people do you know who give thought to prepare for their relationships? Prepare how?
Whether you realize it or not, you have lived your life preparing for relationships. From adolescence through school, you formed new relationships. Developing these relationships prepared you to form new relationships in college and in the workplace. And so it goes through life, each relationship preparing you for the next.
Think about when you met that special someone who became your spouse. You were likely prepared to get to know them better, fall in love, marry and possibly have children. Every relationship you have had has prepared you for those that came after. It’s like learning on the job. You learned to become a good employee, friend, spouse, mom or dad, aunt or uncle, and so on. Life has a way of preparing us when we are in the midst of it!
Lastly, in my mind, if you are not continually preparing to become a better spouse, you are missing the boat. It is the most important relationship in your life, so why wouldn’t you always be preparing to love that person ever more deeply? You have only one shot at it, so why not give it your best?
I will end this section with a tip. One of the best ways to prepare yourself in life for anything is to be appreciative. What you appreciate always appreciates in value. This increased value better prepares you to be that spouse, employee, mom, dad, and for anything else of importance.
Final thoughts
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” H. Jackson Brown Jr. (1940-present)
Why not be like the Scout, always preparing and always prepared?
To paraphrase what Lord Baden-Powell stated, always be in a state of readiness in your mind, your body, and whatever you do in your life.
I challenge you to prepare to live your best possible life, And while you’re at it, help others live their best possible lives as well!
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Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION
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