When Will Then Be Now? Soon!

Week 3: Cradle to the Grave – Making Every Moment Count in Mind, Body & Spirit

Hello, friends! Welcome back to our 52-week journey through Mind, Body & Spirit, where we're reclaiming the life we were meant to live—one focused, intentional step at a time.

Ask yourself, is what I'm doing now, truly important to me?

If you're new here, grab a copy of my book ‘Lifeonomics Breaking Free of Worry and Regret’ for the full blueprint on turning your most precious asset—your time—into a legacy of fulfillment.

Last week, we tackled "Focus," learning to grab our own ears (literally and figuratively) to realign our time and attention amid the chaos of modern distractions. How did it go for you? Did you notice those sneaky notifications pulling you away from what matters? Pat yourself on the back if you reclaimed even a few minutes—that's progress.

As we build on that momentum, this week's theme, "Cradle to the Grave," dives deeper: Why does focus matter so profoundly, and what should we be zeroing in on to make our finite time truly count?

The Line That Defines Us All

Life is an extraordinary gift, isn't it? Yet one of the simplest ways to capture its essence is as the distance between the cradle and the grave—a straight line on the timeline of existence, marked by days, weeks, months, years, and perhaps decades. (Imagine that line now: your birth at one end, the unknown end at the other, and a cheeky "You Are Here" X popping up right in the middle. Where does it feel like you are?)

But here's the raw truth from Lifeonomics: We never truly know our exact spot on that line. Time is life's most precious asset—finite, irreplaceable, and the only real currency we can't earn back. In the book, we define quality of life not by wealth or achievements, but by the percentage of your time spent on what’s Truly Important: those activities and people that light you up, align with your values, and create lasting ripples. Everything else?

Automate it, delegate it, or eliminate it.

This isn't just philosophy—it's a call to action born from hard-won wisdom. When Rob was just 3 years old, his older brother Nathan was taken from us in a tragic accident. His line ended at only 8 years. That was over 50 years ago for Rob, yet the ache reminds him daily: Life doesn't come with guarantees. Nathan's story isn't one of sorrow alone; it's a profound teacher. It whispers that the only moment we ever truly own is now.

As the hilarious line from Spaceballs puts it: "When will then be now?" The answer? "Soon!" Why waste it on the trivial when we could pour it into what feeds our soul?

From Distraction to Intention: The Lifeonomics Path

In today's hyper-connected world, distractions are relentless. But armed with last week's focus tools, we're ready to ask the deeper question: What if we spent the rest of our time—however long that may be—exclusively on what’s Truly Important with the people who are truly important to us?

With AI, apps, and teams at our fingertips, nearly everything else can be offloaded. Lifeonomics dedicates 90% of its guidance to human nature, purpose, and conscious choices (with just 10% on the "fuel" of money), because fulfillment isn't about doing more—it's about doing what matters.

Consider this: Regret often stems from obsessing over an unchangeable past, while worry rocks us in a chair that goes nowhere (to borrow a favorite quote).

Break free by living fully in the present—unattached to outcomes, fully engaged in the moment. That's Living Life²: exponentially fulfilling, connected moments that build a life worth remembering.

And mortality? It's not a downer; it's your greatest motivator. In Lifeonomics, I urge crafting a "cradle-to-grave" Life Plan—covering cash flow, health, and relationships—to ensure every phase honors your priorities. Even beyond the grave, your legacy lives on through intrinsic wealth: the values, stories, and lessons you pass to loved ones. (Pro tip: Write your own eulogy as an aspiration exercise—what do you want it to say?)

Stats paint a stark picture of our finite window. Globally, average life expectancy hovers around 73 years—about 26,000 days total. Yet studies show we spend roughly 46% of our waking hours mind-wandering, lost in distraction or rumination, per research from Harvard. That's over 12,000 days potentially frittered away! In the U.S., it's a bit higher at 79 years (28,835 days), but the principle holds: Every unchecked distraction steals from your Truly Important quota. T

he good news? Tracking your weekly time allocation (a Lifeonomics staple) can shift that percentage dramatically. Assemble your Life Team—a coach, advisor, or accountability partner—and watch non-essential tasks melt away.

Your Week 3 Assignment: The Sticky Note Revolution

Ready to turn insight into action? This week's challenge is simple, powerful, and impossible to ignore. Grab a stack of sticky notes and scrawl this question in bold letters:

"Is what I’m doing right now truly important to me?”

Plaster them everywhere: your computer screen, bathroom mirror, bedside table, dashboard, fridge. Let it ambush you during doom-scrolling sessions, endless meetings, or autopilot chores. Pause. Reflect. Redirect. Over seven days, notice patterns—what steals your time? What energizes you? Journal your wins and tweaks. Remember the Lifeonomics mantra: "What we feed grows, and what we starve fades away." Feed the important; let the rest wither.

This isn't about perfection; it's about progress. Share your "aha" moments in the comments below—did a sticky note save your evening from Netflix oblivion? Let's build community in this Mind, Body & Spirit tribe.

See You at the Next Mark on the Line

From cradle to grave, your line is yours to draw boldly. Let's make it a masterpiece of presence, purpose, and people. Good luck with the assignment—you've got this!

Join me next week as we explore Restoring Honor. Until then, live Life².

What’s one "Truly Important" thing you'll reclaim this week? Drop it below and tag a friend who needs this nudge.

For more tools, download the Lifeonomics app or snag the book here. #CradleToTheGrave #Lifeonomics #FocusOnWhatMatters

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