Moments Before

Life Flash! You might be missing out!

Moments before things begin or end or change are hidden everywhere. Embrace them and add enlightenment and fulfillment to your life.

Whenever something momentous happens in life, it can be split into a before and an after. There’s a moment before everything changed, before the “after” that comes in different shapes, good and bad. Remembering those moments, whether it’s a lesson or a cherished memory, brings out what it means to be human.

There’s a sense of urgency among people that seems to always be pushing for them to go, go, go, all the time. Some of this is positive, pushing people towards great accomplishments or things they never thought would have been possible for them to accomplish. However, racing through life this way can lead you to end up being stressed and overwhelmed. So, I want to emphasize the importance of taking those moments before back.

The moment before can be one of the most exciting experiences of the whole journey. It’s the lead up, it’s the silence before the big rush, the top of the rollercoaster. Take the moment before a first kiss, for example. It’s the end of the night, everything went smoothly, time even got away from you, and you’re standing at the place where you’ll part for the night, holding on to the moment before you go inside and go on with normal life. You get the courage to look up into their eyes and lean in. They lean in, too. There it is. The moment before.

Self reflection is one of the first things that Trent Hamm talks about when it comes to these moments and the change they can have, if you let them. He says,

You’ve spent time evaluating the realities of your overall life and you know both what’s good in it and what’s bad in it

Trent Hamm

So, you have to take special care to take in those moments and remember them, even if their negative.

Like the moment before you break up with someone. You’ve decided this relationship should come to an end, and you’re ready to have the conversation with them. You arrive at the place agreed upon, you go in, give a cursory hug. They already know, you can see it in their eyes, you’re showing your emotions all over your face. You get seated at a table, stuffing your hands under your thighs, but it feels awkward, so you take them out and clasp them together, holding them on the counter. And then you’ve arrived at the moment before. After this, one of you will speak and you’ll have made your decision. The door will close.

Reflecting and Benjamin Hardy suggests investing in moments like these to become more fulfilled and successful in life. He says,

You can and will change if you INVEST in peak experiences…Confidence is a byproduct. Personality is a byproduct. Your behavior and decisions determine these things.

Benjamin Hardy

It’s important to realize the impact of these small moments. If you put them all together, they can show who you are, where you’ve been.

The curious thing about these moments is that right after, it’s done. You’ve kissed. You’ve broken up. It’s happened. And life takes off again. It will never happen in the same way again. There are countless other ‘moments before’ that you’ll experience in your life, some better than others. That’s what makes life so worthwhile and fulfilling. Don’t let those moments pass you by as you fly through life. Take the time to take them in. You’ll be better for it.