Life Is Good!
Ahhh, the American Dream. You're sitting by the beautiful ocean
at Kaanapali Beach on Maui basking in the warm rays of the dying
sun as it sets into the horizon. It's not just the sun that
warms your body. You also have that warm, fuzzy feeling that
comes just from knowing that thousands of dollars are pouring
into your very large bank account from your fully-automated home
based business. Life is good...or is it? Life IS good, but
that's not the reason why!
What is it that makes life so good? Is it wealth? Nope! Some of
the wealthiest people in the world live absolutely miserable
lives. The suicide rate among wealthy people is very high. Is it
Love and marriage? Nope! The divorce rate is higher today than
it ever has been in history. Could it possibly be power? I don't
think some of the Enron executives would say they were having a
good life. So what is it?
Okay, are you ready for this earth-shaking revelation? The
secret to a good life is happiness! Disappointed? Well, you
shouldn't be. Happiness is the Golden Fleece! It's Shangri-La!
It's the ultimate high! It's the next big thing just around the
corner! Zillions of dollars are spent each year by people trying
to find true happiness. Isn't that what we are looking for in a
mate? Isn't that what we spend most of our time trying to
achieve? Isn't that what you are looking for in that home based
business you are trying to get off the ground?
Is it possible to find happiness in this post Sept 11 world we
live in today? Absolutely! The problem is, you are not going to
find it in external things. Happiness comes from within. THINGS
can't make you happy! They are only a temporary solution to a
more serious problem.
I know a lot of you don't particularly ascribe to any particular
religion, but please allow me to use a story from the Bible to
make a point. One of the best examples of inner contentment and
happiness comes from Acts 16:16-36. It tells the story of Paul
and Silas who were stripped, beaten and thrown into prison in
shackles. That would probably be a very depressing situation to
those of us who look to our external circumstances for our
happiness; however, their joy and contentment came from the
inside, not their external circumstances. They were praying and
singing hymns at midnight.
The point I am trying to make is that we have to learn to be
content in whatever situation we find ourselves. That doesn't
mean we have to stay in the situation, but our happiness must
not be controlled by it. Please allow me to give you ten
recommendations for changing your life and learning to be
content.
Ten Life Changing Steps Learn to become "aware" of everything
that is going on around you. So many of us live our lives just
reacting to things that happen. When that car pulls out in front
of us, we just automatically get angry. When someone says
something derogatory, we just get hurt. We have to stop being
reactive and we have to start being proactive. Take control of
your life instead of letting it control you!
Learn forgiveness, forget grudges! I know it may be very
difficult to forgive some of the atrocities that may have been
committed against you in your life, but it is critical to your
happiness. It brings healing to the forgiver, not just the
person being forgiven.
Do something nice for someone. Don't do it for what they might
do for you but do it for the joy it will bring to your life.
Make peace with your past and don't let it control your present.
The way you see things today is through the filter of your past.
Change your outlook.
Instead of trying to get people to understand you, try to
understand them first. Try to see things from their perspective.
Live in the present. Don't dwell on things that may or may not
happen in the future. Don't be overwhelmed by the "big picture".
Narrow your focus to what is happening now.
There is a saying in the computer world that goes "Garbage In
Garbage Out". What you put into your mind has a profound effect
on your life. Fill your mind with good things that are pure,
lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. Turn away from the negative
and embrace the positive.
Live each minute as if it were your last...it just might be. Our
lives are too short to be spent in an unhealthy environment.
Remember the wise saying, 'God grant me the wisdom to change the
things I can, accept the things I can't and the intelligence to
know the difference". Take that and apply it to your life.
Tell yourself only good things. Your brain believes what it is
told over and over. An important rule in behavioral psychology
is "You get more out of that which is reinforced." Don't keep
thinking how lousy you are or how bad a person you are. Tell
yourself only positive thoughts. Encourage yourself. Lift
yourself up. Do away with negative thinking and start thinking
positive thoughts.
Don't settle for temporary solutions. Drugs, alcohol, excessive
eating, sex and pornography, excessive dieting, spending money
and any other bad habits you might have are destructive
behavior. They will not give you long lasting relief. They are
just band aids on a critical wound. Do away with any destructive
behavior and replace it with something positive.
Life IS good! Start that home based business and you just might
wind up on the shores of Kaanapali Beach. Just do it for the
right reasons!