Everything Matters

“Every interaction we have with our patient matters,” is a quote from Patients Comes Second by Paul Spiegelman and Britt Berrett which I just recently finished reading.  I like this quote from this book and let me tell you why…

I believe everything we do does in fact matter.  And I’m not referring to at work or when we are with our customers as the quote that prompted this blog speaks to but I’m meaning everything in life.  Everything matters, period.  Whether we are alone by ourselves watching tv, on vacation enjoying the summer, at work, taking a walk around the block, sitting on the subway or bus, driving to school, talking to a friend, eating breakfast, eating ice-cream, surfing the internet, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, it all matters—it is what defines us and who we are.    

Now you may be thinking, this man has lost his mind, and I’m ok with that because it may not be far from the truth but in this case I do want you to know that what I am saying is true.  Everything matters because everything we do has an impact on us.  It may be small, even minuscule most of the time, but these “teeny tiny impacts” add up.  What we see, think, hear, do, read changes us.  Again most of the time the change is so small it is impossible to detect but everything has an influence on us for better or for worse.  It is impossible for any one of us to avoid it.

Now the most common thought process is to believe that what we do at any given moment doesn’t really matter much at all.  We all justify what we do by telling ourselves our thoughts don’t really influence us or what I’m saying or doing right now really is inconsequential.  We kid ourselves in to believing there are really only a few things that truly effect and shape who we are as a person and therefore most things don’t mean a whole lot.  Most of us continue down this road most of our lives which means we let down our guard too often and fail to optimize our time too often.  We take it easy, indulge in things we shouldn’t, harbor ill feelings, allow negative thoughts to persist, eat unhealthy, talk bad about others, hold on to a pessimistic attitude, waste our valuable time on meaningless things, and the list goes on and on.  The reality is little things bring us down!  And although most of us don’t want to believe it, it is the truth.      

For this reason, every moment of our life is important—every moment matters!  Even those seemingly insignificant ones.  In fact sometimes the insignificant moments are the most crucial.  So what we choose at any given moment matters!   Even doing nothing is a choice we make and has an impact on us.  Because of this, we control our destiny because we control our choices and every choice no matter how small, insignificant, mundane, or common matters.  It all adds up to one great whole which is us—who we are.

Now to be fair, it is impossible for any of us to make the best choice all of the time.  And with technology today our options to choose from are so much greater than ever before.  Though we aren’t perfect, nor ever will be close, if we can remember, as often as possible, that every choice we makes and every moment we live does matter, we can have a more rewarding, meaningful, and successful life.  We guide our ship to where we want it to go.  Every interaction, every thought, every act, everything we do matters.