Triangle of Life

Living a life of purpose means being on the toes to attain the desired value out of your time and efforts. Whatever you desire depends on how you plan to achieve it and not on the absolute nature of the task. One can achieve a very challenging task with accurate planning and miss a straightforward task when no plan is in place.

Planning and forward sightedness are central to achieving any assignment, no matter how trivial it is.

Acknowledging this simple fact can have a tremendous impact on how we attain what we wish to attain in our lives. Things just don't happen at their own. Direct your energies toward the goal efficiently to make them a reality.

Now, the big question, How to organize planning?

The answer is neither simple nor single.

People use different strategies for organizing and planning. They can be intentional extensive planning through various modern gadgets or unconscious thoughts with little paperwork or record.

Whatever the technique one uses, no one can deny the importance of having a plan ready.

My strategy of making sure nothing important is missed involves a triangle which I call “The triangle of life". The three corners of this triangle are made of three domains of life, which are worth considering while you look forward into the future.

The equal distance between them means that all are equally important and related to each other. In reality, however, the distance between them varies as we scramble to maintain equal share for all.

Another important feature is its inverted nature. We will shortly see why is it so.

Self

This is where all things related to yourself are present.

You are the most important person on earth for yourself.

The triangle stands inverted because the other two domains rest on you. You are the centre of your life and all things around you depend on you. You are holding the burden of family and work and everything in between them. This is exactly why focus on yourself, increase your capacity and skills. Your growth will benefit everyone who is around you. This is a win-win situation.

Trying to care for family and work while ignoring your real self will not work at all. Selflessness and devotion are traits of fairy tales. Investing in yourself is crucial.

You are your biggest assets.

Family

I label the second corner of the triangle as family. It is to the right side. Because it's important to you as much as you are important to yourself. Anything you do and achieve in life is ultimately for the sake of your family. You should not ignore these very people as you see forward into your future. Every plan should go through the scrutiny of how it affects your family.

Besides incorporating them in your plans for self, make independent plans for them too. Like going to visit someone, or going to a movie, or having a walk, or having a party in their presence. Whatever it is, planning for your family is a must.

When you have children, they heavily influence what you do in your life. You cannot have anything going without considering how it affects them. Plan extensively for them. For their education, their growth, their health and their ever-increasing demands.

Work

This makes the left angle of the triangle. It feeds you and your family and therefore its essential and cannot go unnoticed. It also feeds your soul when your work is your passion. It takes time, energy, knowledge and skills. Planning for work is essential, and usually the only domain we consider worth planning.

When growing yourself personally in knowledge and skills, you improve your work and help people who benefit from your work. I am a doctor and my job is to ensure people's health. Today newer technologies and treatments are entering hospitals every day. I must keep myself updated with the best knowledge and skills to ensure best for my patients. I must scrutinize the commercial benefits of large corporations who might try to hurt patients financially.

Therefore, when I spend time to read scientific literature, I am not working for the greater benefit of people who depend on me.

Others

Everything else falls in the area bounded by the three lines.

And everything outside it is none of your concern.

What Donald Trump said today is too unimportant to consider if your daughter has a birthday tomorrow. The world is complex, and it follows its own rules.

You have your own world to take care of and must decide what is irrelevant to yourself, your family and your work.