A High-Quality Perspective Equals a High-Quality Life
What gets us going each day? Why do we make things happen (or fail to) in our lives? How does the way we define quality have anything to do with this?
The way I like to think about our pursuit of life long happiness and fulfillment has a lot to do with quality. I think we all aim, on some level, to become happy and do things that fulfill us. But, we all have different ways of attaining and measuring the quality of life we believe we deserve. We make things happen (or fail to) because the way we understand and approach the concept of quality and it’s relation to focus are the basis for whether we actually do what we need to do, and do it well.
The way a lot of us define quality might mean something built, designed, or done well. But, the quality of our attention and focus are also key concepts in living. The quality of attention and intention that we bring to situations, projects, people and our awareness overall can make the difference between us getting into a field and vocation that excites and stimulates us, or being part of a daily routine and career path that does not stimulate or excite us in the least.
The quality of our lives and our life experience is filtered through our attitude. How and why we choose to act and behave in our current consistent patterns. Two attitudes matter most, internal and external. Our internal attitude shapes how we move towards our own dreams, desires, and whether we believe enough to truly pursue them. Our external attitude is the magnetic force that draws or repels people and opportunities that will lead us to the goals and objectives we sincerely desire.
The enjoyment of the time we have alive comes from being there as it happens. Noticing the magic all around us. Looking for the meaning and significance in our lives and being willing to approach those things deterministically. Stepping up and deciding what a quality life means to us is half of the difficulty we all face.
We can’t get to an undefined vision. An under-defined or clearly described objective is so hard to reach or attain.
High-quality experiences through life, in all categories, sustained for the long term, is what most people need to consider when they think of the word successful. Most just think of money and assume that is enough. But, there are plenty of people with plenty of money who do not have high-quality lives. Deep down, we all know that success has to encompass multiple dimensions of our lives. Success is not just a significant surge forward or achievement in one area. If our drive each day is for a high-quality life we are going to have to think of all the parts of ourselves that will need some quality focus.
So what do we do?
What if quality itself was the constant objective in anything we did? What if every time we approached a project or task, the way we set our attitude and intention always came from a viewpoint and perspective that emphasized quality throughout the process?
That would change the entire quality of our lives. Let me explain and illustrate what I mean by that.
Quality in focus, energy, intention, and execution can be goals and objectives that transcend all projects and periods in our lives. We can always return to a quality approach and bring it with us. It is the objective that helps us achieve all other objectives.
A quality perspective. A quality work ethic. A quality attitude. Any skill we can apply a quality mindset to is an asset we bring to the table. All of these assets in life can help us and help others. Every quality we can embody, develop, or exemplify can lead us to places where we would never reach without it.
A well seasoned and well-lived life is full of quality moments, quality memories and quality effort. We end up experiencing our years on earth determined by the perspectives and paths we choose.
So if quality is so important why doesn’t everybody focus on it? Why aren’t all of our moments, products, and experiences as high-quality as they could be?
It’s on us. We have to choose to want a higher quality experience, product, or life. We have to determine our standards in our work and in our lives. If we accept the circumstances and standards around us as our default we are seldom going to reach very far or climb very high.
People don’t want to have to give their full effort to many things, let alone everything. Quality gets a pass from most people in favor of convenience and ease. Quality means more care and attention go into something. Those attributes and characteristics don’t interact well with convenience and ease.
No artisan craftsperson in any area of mastery approaches their work without a lens of quality front and center to their decision making. They would have given up a long time ago if there was a primary viewpoint of ease and convenience in their minds. Why continue to toil at art or mastery when you’re looking at the world with a perspective of what is easiest equating to what is best?
There might be a lot of advice that you can get out there about success, but a significant amount of it is not quality advice. Most of it is quick hacks and perceived shortcuts. These tidbits pander to our own desire for the path of least resistance and a life that fits within a spectrum we have become accustomed to. Too much of it plays to the very opposite perspective and viewpoint from that of quality.
Anything that makes it seem like changing our behaviors or creating a worthwhile and meaningful life are easy is misguided. To live a high-quality life we all need to be willing to go further than what is easiest and be willing to struggle when necessary. The seductive allure of easy success and quick and fast money have been exploited by charlatans and marketers for decades, if not centuries.
Our daily experiences, the way we think, the way we see the world. All these can have quality at the forefront of the way we approach them. All of our lives can benefit greatly from our willingness to explore the world with a commitment to quality.
This is the 87th installment of Writing Wednesday. A commitment to myself to actually pursue my dreams of becoming a writer. I have resumed this practice after almost an entire years absence.
I am a writer.
Let me know what you think, and follow my journey on Instagram/Twitter (@multitude27)
