by Tom Hinton
Did you know that the average person lives about 30,000 days? But, thanks to the marvels of modern medicine we’re living longer! The Course of 10000 Days™ teaches us that our first 10000 days, which equates to a little more than 27 years, are known as our Discovery Years. These days span our infancy to early adulthood. We spend these days developing our personality and ego, learning values, shaping our character and behavior, and creating lifelong bonds with our family and friends. It is during our Discovery Years that we attempt to discover our gifts and talents and exercise creativity. We also learn how to assess risks, make mistakes and rebound, expand our minds, learn social graces, receive a formal education, plot our career path, forge our political beliefs and values, challenge the status quo, set goals and discover the power and pitfalls of money and romance.
Our second 10000 days are our Fulfillment Years. Most people spend their Fulfillment Years building their resume, acquiring wealth, searching for true love, starting a family, laying down roots, striving to achieve their goals, traveling and consuming all the world has to offer.
Ironically, as many people complete their Fulfillment Years they realize they are, in fact, unfulfilled because they have failed to live their dreams or achieve their vision and goals. They realize their Fulfillment Years have been reduced to climbing the corporate ladder, chasing success and keeping up with the Jones. It’s an awkward moment in our lives when we realize that we are completely ego-driven and have little connection with our Inner Spirit, nor any reasonable understanding about why we exist.
When this occurs, it represents the beginning of a major transformation in our life. It is the point when we come face-to-face with our third 10000 days, which The Course™ refers to as our Legacy Years. It is at this moment we realize something significant in our life is missing. We begin to ask ourselves such nagging questions as Who am I? How do I live a life worth remembering? and What is my higher purpose in life? This is the quiet, but steady voice of our Inner Spirit.
As we reach this turning point in our lives, we begin to ask our Inner Spirit to help us find meaningful answers to these difficult questions that will shape our next 10000 days. It is hard to get on with our lives until we have some rational explanation as to why we exist and what our higher purpose is on earth. It’s typical for people in their mid-40s and early 50s to start asking themselves such somber questions about life’s meaning and purpose as they experience the death of loved ones -- parents, a spouse, family members and friends. With each personal loss, the pressure to satisfactorily answer these unsettling questions intensifies and we hunger for meaningful answers. When loved ones pass away, a serious void is created in our life, and we realize our ego is incapable of answering these humbling questions.
This spiritual void is one reason why so many people enter their third 10000 days -- our Legacy Years -- anxious, unfulfilled and searching for answers. This is why so many 40 and 50-year olds undergo a mid-life crisis and walk away from their careers, marriages and families in search of something new. But, without clarity of direction, conviction of purpose and confidence in one’s self, these wandering souls are doomed to a life of ambiguity and unanswered questions.
During our Legacy Years, we struggle with two fundamental issues. The first deals with human vanity. We begin to show our age in unflattering ways. We also begin to show signs of mortality. Our body doesn’t work as well as it used to and we start sagging in certain places and expanding in others. The second issue relates to our personal legacy and how we will be remembered. We realize that there are so many dreams and goals we have yet to fulfill. Subtly, our Inner Spirit challenges us to not give up. And so, we begin anew to search for answers and this search rekindles our hope to salvage long forgotten dreams and goals. It is the beginning of our spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
Some people seek answers by going to church or by reading the Bible, embracing the teachings of prophets like Jesus Christ. While prayer and faith are powerful tools to help people find temporary comfort, our ultimate salvation is not in heaven, but here on earth. By connecting with our Inner Spirit and discovering our higher purpose in life, we can experiences human divineness on earth.
The Course of 10000 Days™ is based on a simple life-balance philosophy that teaches us how to control our ego and emotions so that they can work in harmony with our Inner Spirit to fulfill our dreams and live our higher purpose. While The Course™ is not aligned with any particular church, religion or philosophy, it compliments the life lessons we have learned from the greatest teachers, saints and philosophers throughout the ages.
The purpose of The Course™ is to help you achieve your greatest potential as a human being. To accomplish this goal, you must experience a spiritual awakening and walk the path of enlightenment where you can discover your higher purpose in life. It all begins by responding truthfully and deeply to the Three Sacred Questions of The Course™.
According to The Course™, we all have the same higher purpose. However, how we manifest it varies considerably from one person to the next. This is because each person has a different interpretation of life and the legacy they want to leave behind.
The purpose of The Course™ is clear. It is not some New Age phenomena, but rather the first step in our spiritual development whereby we find harmony and peace within, and create an equal balance among our Ego, Emotions and Inner Spirit. The Course™ refers to these three elements of our Being as the Triangle of Being. Each of us possesses these three elements. It is the Triangle of Being that makes us think, feel, act, behave and react to every situation or encounter in life.
Much of what you will learn from The Course™ deals with self-awareness and self-improvement. It is a process that will lead you through the Three Sacred Questions, over the Bridge of Forgiveness, and, ultimately, into the Kingdom of Roses.
Those who have completed The Course™ will tell you without hesitation that this process works. However, it requires an investment of time and effort on your part. The Course™ embraces the core principle that is written in the Bible, the Koran and other great books of religion -- that in order for you to experience a benefit, you must invest in yourself. If you are seeking lasting fulfillment, then The Course™ is right for you.
Regrettably, some people only want a quick-fix to life. They wrongly believe that if they have the answers, they can solve their problems and skate by. But, as The Course™ teaches us, knowing the answers without understanding the equation of life -- and why we think, feel, act, behave and react to things the way we do, will not help us discover our higher purpose, find inner peace or help us live a passionate life!
This is why prayer alone cannot bring salvation. You must help yourself by taking the next step. While self-help books and self improvement courses are encouraged, ultimately, in order to overcome anxiety, depression, panic attacks and fear is to change how you think, feel, act, behave and react to life. The Course™ addresses these issues and challenges by helping you confront barriers in your life that prevent you from healing and achieving your greatest potential. Ironically, what The Course™ teaches us is one of the best kept secrets in the world. Simply stated, it all starts with your commitment to become the person you desire; to dream your dreams; and, realize that your potential as a human being is unlimited if you believe in yourself.
We invite you to enroll in The Course™ and experience its amazing powers for yourself!
For program information on The Course of 10,000 Days™, please visit The 10000 Days Foundation, a non-profit organization at: www.thecourseof10000days.org
About the Author: Tom Hinton is well known as a thought leader and spiritual development coach. He is the author of the best-selling book entitled 10,000 Days: The Secret to Finding Purpose, Peace and Passion for the Rest of Your Life. Tom facilitates The Course™ weekend retreats in San Diego, California and frequently speaks at meetings and conferences on topics relating to human potential and spiritual development. He can be reached via email at: tom@tomhinton.com
The Course of 10000 Days is based on Tom Hinton's book, "10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life!" This Blog will help you discover your higher purpose, reconnect with your Inner Spirit and guide you on a wonderful spiritual journey to help you achieve your dreams and goals. We look forward to helping you live The Course through our weekend retreats, local and online learning circles, and the book, 10,000 Days.
