“We come with nothing. We leave with nothing.” – Master Shi Heng Yi
These eight words have been playing on my mind since I first heard Master Shi Heng Yi on Diary of a CEO and then Modern Wisdom.
A few weeks ago, I shared a post online that included this quote, and a friend of mine offered an alternative perspective.
His viewpoint was that we do leave planet Earth with something which is our legacy and the difference we make.
And I don’t disagree with him.
In fact, I believe the main purpose of our time on this planet, between when we are born and when we move on to our next incarnation (if you believe that), is to make a difference. That’s the greatest thing we can dedicate ourselves to.
How we leave people feeling after they’ve been in our company and what people say about us when we’re gone is what truly matters.
That legacy, as my friend highlighted, is what we take with us.
However, I don’t think that’s what Master Shi Heng Yi meant by:
“We come with nothing. We leave with nothing.”
I believe he was pointing instead to the futility of chasing possessions, material wealth, and financial success just to fit in with societal expectations or impress others.
As Gary Vaynerchuk often says, we buy dumb stuff with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like.
In the process, we end up acquiring more than we need, accumulating debt, stress, and dissatisfaction. We lose sight of who we truly are and what life is really about.
And we can’t even take any of it with us when we pass.
So again, for what purpose?
I think this is the essence of what Master Shi Heng Yi was referring to.
Even during the pursuit of material success, many people live in misery. Why?
Because they’ve lost their “why” or never had a “why” in the beginning, and have forgotten their values, and are disconnected from their own path.
They find themselves in a cycle of dis-ease, pain, and dissatisfaction.
Again, I ask, for what purpose?
Surely, our time on Earth is to be enjoyed, not spent suffering under the pressure we place on ourselves.
Life can be hard enough, with its own challenges that we don’t need to bring dis-ease, pain and dissatisfaction upon ourselves.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not against acquiring possessions, material wealth, or financial success.
And I’m certainly not saying we should all become monks, meditating on top of a mountain in the Alps for the rest of our lives.
We don’t live in that world, and frankly, I think it could probably get boring after a while.
When pursued meaningfully and intentionally, possessions, material wealth, and financial success can bring joy and happiness and improve our quality of life. But it must align with our values and what we truly want, not what society tells us we should want.
Even then, these things mustn’t own us. They should be an extension of who we already are, not the definition.
When we get crystal clear on what we actually want, we often realise it’s not that much, especially when it comes to material things.
I realised that most of the things I genuinely desire relate to health (I’d love a sauna!) and, more importantly, shared experiences with friends, family, and loved ones.
That, for me, is what matters, not upgrading my phone every 12 months.
I use a process called Lifebook to help define my life vision.
There are many visioning tools out there. While I recommend Lifebook, I encourage you to find whatever works best for you.
It may take trial and error, but even simply journaling about what you want or jotting down thoughts in your notes app can bring clarity and shift your focus.
Remember: where attention goes, energy flows.
Once you gain clarity on what you want, you can begin to adjust your current reality to align with it.
As Master Shi Heng Yi said:
“We come with nothing. We leave with nothing.”
What happens between the time that we are born and the time that we pass on is up to US.
And I’m realising more and more that between these times it’s playtime.
Playtime to create our very best lives possible with the people we love and care for the most, and whatever that includes for us personally.
Just be sure that you’re the one choosing what to include.
And are not being forced, dragged, conditioned, or manipulated into what to include by society and all of the forces around us.
This requires us to live consciously and intentionally.
While not always easy. It’s totally worth it..
REMINDERS
1.
Where attention goes, energy flows.
Our attention and focus are the real currency. What we give our attention to shapes our thoughts, feelings, future, and entire lives. Choose wisely.
2.
Prioritise experiences over possessions.
The memories we create with others outlast anything we can buy or own. Choose experiences over possessions, you won’t regret it.
3.
The most powerful form of help is often a listening ear.
We leave with nothing, so make what’s in between, of birth and death, matter. Our legacy is built through love, impact, and presence, not possessions.