"That's been one of my mantras -- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."
Steve Jobs
In high school, I had difficulties with maths. French wasn't easy either. At university, it was statistical data processing that I couldn't get my head around. Ten years later, it's not a particular subject that challenges me, but a skill: The ability to focus.
Just stop and think for a moment. Everything that has ever occurred, everything that we know and can see has happened over the past 13.8 billion years, since the universe came into existence with the big bang. The birth of our Sun, the creation of Planet Earth, the first spark of life, our entire history -- countless events, both likely and unlikely, have lead to this very moment and you reading this.
In this very moment, you are alive. You have been given a very narrow window of opportunity to be conscious of it all. Although it may seem like a long time, it may not be. You will have the chance to experience a fraction of what the universe has to offer -- from the ordinary day-to-day, to the incredible beauty of nature here on Earth and the depth of emotions that we are capable of feeling as human beings.
As far as we know, we humans are the only living creatures capable of being consciously aware of the Big Picture, at least here on Earth. Many here are living in circumstances that make it very hard, or even impossible, to be happy, healthy or wealthy. But then there is, fortunately, a growing number of people who actually do live in rather comfortable circumstances. They enjoyed some form of education, have a place they call home, make a living and take care of their family. They are quite happy, quite healthy, and because of it, you may argue they are quite wealthy too. You may argue, that this describes you.
But then there is this feeling. This disruptive notion that despite the quite or even very acceptable circumstances you live under, there is something not right. It's this idea that you live, but don't really live. That it's all a game, and that while you play to get to the next level, you are missing out on something.
That has to change.
The circumstances have dictated that we play along this game. We have to climb the career ladder. We have to keep up with all the latest. We need to scroll down the infinite timelines of social media, and contribute to it by producing information that makes us seem relevant. We need to keep up with fashion, gadgets and go places to have been there. Compared to twenty years ago, we find ourselves staring out of a much larger window, making it barely possible to focus on anything. And as we fail to focus, we risk to lose the greatest gift we may have: Our unique ability to see and experience that Big Picture, and within it, discover the details that actually make all the difference in life.
Every day, we risk spending much of our precious time and energy doing and focusing on matters that don't make much of a difference. We eventually risk not living up to our full potential as individuals and as humans. I am not saying that the latest fashion trends, the newest smartphone or the countless status updates on social media are completely irrelevant -- sometimes on the contrary! But they represent hundreds of small distractions every day that prevent us from simply focusing on tasks that matter, on spending time on people that deserve attention. I fall victim to these mini-crises every day myself!
I am realistic enough to know that there are people out there who do not want to make a difference, nor are interested in whatever makes life worth living beyond their self-interest. Yet I am optimistic enough to believe that most people spend at least most of their time well. I don't doubt for a second that there are millions out there who are eagerly, and sometimes desperately, looking for ways to do less of the things that don't matter, and do the things that actually make more of a difference.
Imagine a world in which every person alive would do just that. If seven billion people would trade just one minute every day to do something that actually matters instead of wasting their time. That's a combined 13,000 years of time, or in other words, the equivalent time investment of over 170 human lives every single day. The impact would be profound.
Here you are, alive in fascinating times. It's the only window of opportunity you will ever get, just a few decades short, to experience the Big Picture, and to discover what it's all about. You may not want to waste it, but instead look for the details that make a difference to your happiness, your health, your relationships, your work and the world around you. Once you start to discover these details, you may just become the happiest, wealthiest, most successful and, above all, most fulfilled version of yourself. How would that change the world?
Start looking, even if it is just for one minute...