Most of us know what we need to do to live our best life- whether it’s building stronger relationships with family, improving our fitness and health, or growing our business. Yet the key to improvement or even greatness is to do good today instead of waiting until tomorrow. Yes, even in an ugly mortgage market and uncertain economy. In fact, especially now.

In his private journal which later became known as Meditations Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius scolds himself writing “You could be good today,” he writes, “instead you choose tomorrow.” Instead, he tells himself, concentrate on the challenge or task in front of you like it’s the last thing I’ll ever do.

How can you do good today, like it’s the only thing that matters? You can do it…

With deliberation using your muscle memory of discipline and established personal practices.

You can do it with a sense of urgency knowing that tomorrow, next week, month, or year is not guaranteed.

You can do good today with a sense of purpose knowing the why behind what it is that you do.

You can do it with a clear plan that avoids the mistakes of a haphazard approach.

You can do it with concentration ignoring the endless distractions both digital and organic this life tempt with which this life tempts us.

You can do good today with excellence by establishing and living by the high standards you’ve set for yourself.

You can do it with humility not being concerned about who gets the credit.

You can do good using wisdom to make decisions drawing on the understanding and insights drawn from others and your own personal experiences.

You can do it with justice choosing to treat others with fairness and kindness.

You can do good today with courage by doing the right thing even when it’s intimidating, unsettling, or downright scary. 

You can do it with temperance not taking your actions to the extreme.

This is how you can do good today. This is how we can live our best lives.