To Inspire:

Use Things

Love people

Worship the Divine

In the last chapter of Arthur Brooks’ New York Times best seller, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, these seven words were chosen by Arthur as the distillation of all the wisdom and insights he shares in the preceding chapters. I give the book to clients and friends, and I also find myself revisiting it in my own quest to live life to its utmost. Here are some of Brooks’ thoughts on each of those ideas:

Use Things – There is nothing shameful about the world’s material abundance and we are right to enjoy it. Possessions often reflect our work, our creativity and our interests and they are meant to be enjoyed. Ensuring that others have the “things” they need (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) is an important part of enjoying what we have.

Love People – It’s the love part that becomes challenging. Love is a verb reserved exclusively for other people and for God. Sadly, we often reverse these first two – loving things and using people. “To misplace our love is to invite frustration and futility – to get on the hedonic treadmill and set it to ultra-fast.” Loving people is challenging because it requires self-sacrifice. To love is to will the good of the other – and in many situations that means subverting our own will. This paradox is riveting but true – as we die to our own selfish desires and focus on the good of the other, we find a deeper life of fulfillment, happiness and joy.

Worship the Divine – “Take love up one level and we have worship.” Writer David Foster Wallace once said astutely, “there is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” If you love things, you will strive to objectify yourself in terms of money, power, pleasure, and prestige – idols all. You will worship yourself – or at least a two-dimensional cutout of yourself.” But as we surrender our lives to God, we come to understand not only who He is, but who we are and who others are. And we begin to truly love.

Great stuff, right?! Perhaps these seven words can provide a sort of life compass for all of us. Life is such a gift – may we all live it with purpose, passion and joy!

Have a great weekend!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder