Are we Living or Leading a Life

I've been asking this question of myself and to the others too Are we Living? or Leading a Life!

There is a difference between the two - when we ask ourselves Are we Living? The answers expected are yes, to the fullest, on my own terms etc., and Leading a Life would mean - am not in control, it is directed by someone else, I've no choices but to let things go on without affecting the routine etc.

Living life of your terms is like playing tennis the way champions like Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Sampras etc., play, hitting hard, dominating and not allowing their opponents even an inch, and finally forcing them to a defeat and another title added to their kitty. Whereas living is like a kite in the sky being manipulated by one holding the string on the ground.

To change and to get things done we need to act. We should merely show that we are doing and keep ourselves busy doing routine mundane things, beucase mere motion isn't necessarily action. People who keep moving around busily are not necessarily accomplishing many things. We have in our township which is still under construction some people like the electrician, the plumber etc. When you see them walking briskly up and down the road or up and down the stairways you'd imagine they are desperately busy, but truly they just act as if they are busy. They do it to justify their earnings on a daily basis. Neither is their heart on the job nor is their mind. They do things without any clear purpose. There are many such people you would find n workplaces too. They could be seen staring at the computer screen for long hours, or on mobile calls, or may be moving up and down asking someone or the other something or the other just to show that they too are busy and are working. Pity such people accomplish nothing either on a dialy basis nor to do they on an annual basis.

So how does one act effectively.
It is an intense and highly focused effort, by putting one's heart and soul into what is being done and in a way doing as if their life depends on it. One gives it the best shot, by planning throughly, eliminating distractions and performing the task from a place of strength, giving every task the same attention and care.

At some other times it's inspired either by an external stimulant or from the inner voice. When this happens it is what one does with joy. Sometimes you don’t think it is work at all. You never feel burdensome at all, instead it is action that feels more like fun and you've hardly worked. Doing something like this can excites you and gets you going. It is action with a great sense of purpose. Inspired action is the small step that reflects your values and help you move towards your heart’s desires.

Another interesting aspect of effective action is that as you continue doing things on a regular basis, as if it is a habit, with focus and power, you start appreciating even the smallest things, like pausing in between to see the efforst of your action or creation. As you grow more and more in expereince with time going by, this appreciation turns the simplest acts into inspired action that gives you joy and fulfillment. If you are doing something with this sort of an attitude, like from a pedestal of joy and truth, you will get deeper and deeper into it and, whether you intend it or not, you will be in that zone where focus and flow come naturally, as it is second nature, or a habit. This is aptly summed up in the word of ~ Lao Tzu, “Great acts are made up of small deeds.”