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Are You Existing, Living, Or SLAYING?

Far too many people think that “live” and “exist” are synonyms. They are not…And because I believe we are here to live to the FULLEST potential in our HIGHEST self, I added the word SLAY. According to the Urban Dictionary, the word SLAY means to kill it, to dominate it, and to nail it; to dream and work hard until you own it; to be on point and impress greatly. It also stands for my personal core values…Stay Ready To Be Ready, Lead out Loud, A Sense of Family, and You Are Built To Last.


At its core, the difference between existing, living, and SLAYING is this: When you exist, you do the things you need to do in order to stay alive; when you live, you do the things you want to do in order to enjoy your life. And when you SLAY, you do the things you want to do in order to enjoy your life MINDFULLY. Existing is all about survival. You breathe, eat, sleep, and work to pay the bills that keep you fed, clothed, and sheltered. Living is about enjoyment. SLAYING is about fully enjoying, loving, and savoring life every day without sacrificing health, relationships, career opportunities, or happiness.


Existing, living, and SLAYING have the same four hallmarks but vastly different results.


If you’re just existing, this is your life:

  • Purpose: You have no real purpose.

  • Engagement: You plod through your days passively and mechanically.

  • Activities: Life happens to you and you go through the motions to maintain it.

  • Emotions: You feel no passion or joy; in fact, you may not feel much at all.

A full 40% of Americans feel that they live life without purpose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


If you’re living, this is your life:

  • Purpose: You know your purpose and pursue it.

  • Engagement: You “attack” your days actively and enthusiastically.

  • Activities: Life happens for you…You control your life and the things you do to enjoy it.

  • Emotions: You feel passion, joy, enthusiasm, interest, happiness, contentment, and fulfillment.

If you’re SLAYING, this is your life:

  • Purpose: You know your purpose and pursue it MINDFULLY.

  • Engagement: You “attack” your days actively, enthusiastically, and MINDFULLY.

  • Activities: You control your life and the things you do to enjoy it MINDFULLY.

  • Emotions: You feel passion, joy, enthusiasm, interest, happiness, contentment, and fulfillment MINDFULLY.


Mindfulness is all about being open, aware, accepting, and paying attention to what you’re doing and what your experiencing. A study published in the International Journal of Well-being found that "mindfulness affected personal goals, gave people a greater degree of independence, and increased their well-being. Compared to people who rarely practice mindfulness, those who practice it frequently report feeling less stressed, anxious, depressed, or impulsive. They also report being more positive and optimistic in life."


Questions To Ask Yourself


If you want to establish whether you’re living or existing vs. SLAYING, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Who or what controls my life and why?

  • Why am I doing what I do and is it yielding favorable results?

  • Am I following my dreams or someone else’s dream?

  • Am I living up to my full potential in my higher self?

  • Am I doing what I want to do or what I have to do?

  • Do I love waking up each morning with an attitude of gratitude, eager to start my day?

  • Have I set my own goals, or have I allowed someone else to set them for me?

  • Am I moving forward with self-discipline or merely running in place and stagnating?

  • Do I feel a sense of freedom or basically feel trapped?