Will This Matter?

Stress is a constant in life, and it can pile up quickly. In such times, I rely on one simple question to regain perspective.

Will This Matter in a Week?

Recently, I walked into a cafe to see a customer yelling at a poor worker. Apparently his latte had too much milk. Will that really matter in a week?

Many life stressors are short-lived and inconsequential:

• Somebody cuts you off in traffic
• You accidentally spill a drink
• A stranger makes a rude comment
• Running late to an appointment

Will This Matter in a Year?

Even stressors with more weight—like career setbacks or family conflicts—won't typically matter in a year. This is because:

1) We tend to brood over worst-case scenarios, but these rarely happen.

2) We get better at dealing with challenges in life.

Reflecting on setbacks I faced a year ago makes me realize that most problems are temporary.

However, if you think a particular stressor will matter in a year, take action to address the problem. For a problem that is truly out of your control, you can soften the blow by reflecting on what it can teach you (psychologists call this post-traumatic growth).

Will This Really Matter?

Would 80-year-old you care much about your current worries, problems, and failures? If not, then what would ultimately matter? Is it family and personal fulfillment? Or perhaps professional success and positive impact on the world?

Reflecting on your life from this perspective helps you focus on what's truly important to you.

How should my life be remembered and measured? What would give my life true meaning? I don't really know the answers yet 🤷‍♂️. But living in the moment with the people I love seems like a good place to start.

Join me on a journey to redesign life, one step at a time! 👊