Sometimes people develop a greater awareness of the deeper aspects of their lives by taking a little time to slow down their hectic pace and thinking about what’s really important. If it feels comfortable to you, here are a few questions to consider. There are no right or wrong answers. Whatever answers you have are the right answers for you.

Everyone’s life reflects a past consisting of where they’ve come from and what they’ve experienced. At the same time, we are also aware of our goals for the future, our hopes and dreams, our calling, our destiny. In looking at your life, what seems more true for you. Are you more a product of your past, or are you more a wellspring of what you are striving for and want to accomplish in your future?

Think for a moment about someone who you truly love, maybe a spouse, a parent, or a child. In your mind, is that person’s life an evolutionary accident, the result of a random biological process over the millenia? Or was that person placed here at a specific time for a particular reason, to fulfill a distinct purpose?

Can you recall a time in your life when you were at your worst, when life seemed almost unbearable even though you were eventually able to pull yourself up somehow? During that time of crisis, from what source did you draw your strength? What enabled you to persevere? Where did you find the motivation to overcome your adversity?

If you knew for certain that you only had five more years to live, would you want to change your life in any way? Are there any goals you would feel compelled to achieve in your remaining time? Are there any people you would want to see? Are there any places you would need to visit?

Briefly recall for a moment one of the most difficult experiences in your life, possibly a medical crisis or a financial problem. How has that experience made you a better, more fulfilled person today? That is, how has it contributed to your confidence, strength, wisdom, and well-being?

The famous archeologist Teilhard de Chardin once said to the effect that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a human experience. If you knew for certain this was true for you, what would it mean for your life?