How can we determine a life lived to its full potential?

I have always thought that life should be meaningful. Not necessarily every moment of every day. I mean, how meaningful is it doing laundry? Nor should life always be serious. We all need extremely large doses of just having a good time!

But life has to be more than pleasure-seeking, partly because the enjoyment doesn't last. It's here for a moment, then gone.If there is no larger meaning to life...then life is without a driving force, without overall substance or explanation.

"Every human being is one—no matter who you are, how you are, where you’re from. Even in pain or happiness, you’re one. You’ve come here as one and will have to leave, as well. In the life of each human being, there is the possibility to experience supreme joy. The greatest potential is the possibility of that joy in a human being’s life. When a human being is born, it is their opportunity to experience peace and joy, to fulfill this life. Everything else they can attain and let it go. But peace is one thing the human being can attain and hold onto. It is because of the calling of our heart that we want to complete our life, to capture what has been given. We can catch onto something that will be with us throughout our entire life that will support us.

Fulfill this life.

This is your life. It’s been given to you. What you do with it is completely up to you. You can throw it away or save it. You can attain joy and fulfill your life. Every day is precious, priceless. Will tomorrow come? Nobody knows. All we can do is hope it will. Every day that is given is a blessing. We talk about miracles. What is a miracle? When the sun rises, isn’t
that a miracle? The miracle is what is going on within you. The fact that you exist is a miracle. This life that comes day after day is a miracle. And when you start seeing that, your life will be filled with joy.

So if you want that, then accept it—not with blind faith, but from anexperience. Only through experience can a human being move forward and take the next step.The story is still being written—yours and mine. It’s not finished. What the ending will be like is up to us. If we want the story to be that this person understood the supreme joy, fulfilled their life, and spent their life in joy, then that story can be written. It’s up to us." - Maharaji

Life still has its ups and downs, its disappointments, and struggles. But what gives my life meaning and makes it so satisfying is the real fulfillment I've experienced in knowing Maharaji’s message.

How confident you are?

Imagine how much your life and things in your life would improve with an increased belief in yourself. An increase in your confidence and self-esteem. I'd like you to take a moment right now and imagine yourself with more confidence and a greater respect for yourself. Imagine bringing that confidence in yourself to the workplace, feeling confident in your ability to get up and give a speech, to work towards the advancement or the pay raise that you know could be yours. Imagine having the confidence to meet new people, whether it's a new client or out on the dating scene.

When you were growing up or even now as an adult, has anyone ever told you:
"You are such a loser!"
"You will never amount to anything!"
"I can't believe how stupid you are!"
"Nobody wants you here, just leave.
"You can't do that, why even try."
"You are worthless just like your (mom/dad/sibling), they never amounted to anything either!"

If you have ever been told this or anything like this, you know what it is like to be without confidence and lacking self-esteem. You have taken all of this negativity and started believing in it. You believe you aren't worthy. You aren't good enough. That you can't do it.

All confidence and self-esteem issues arise because of the thoughts and feelings you have about yourself. Nearly all of these issues stem from something that has happened in your youth when you accepted these ideas into your mind regardless of whether they were true or not.

What is confidence?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'confidence' as being self-assured and feeling or showing self-reliance. You have a whole range of tools - strengths, skills, abilities and strategies - available to you which will enhance your confidence. But sometimes you may not be fully aware of them.
By becoming more aware of these tools and the ways in which you can apply them in the face of life's challenges, you can build your confidence.

Useful links:
1.How to Be Confident
2.Building Self-confidence
3.Know your Confidence level
4.The Effective Learning Newsletter…It’s Free!