Health. Happiness. Success. It’s what we all seek in life, what we’ve been told leads to a satisfying life. Too often, however, these can seem out of our reach. I’ve been there, and many days, I still don’t have it all together. But I’ve discovered a few things along the way that might help you, too.
Live to give. When I was young, true happiness eluded me. One day, my mother came home from a yard sale with a small, tattered book under her arm. Try Giving Yourself Away was written in the 1940’s by David Dunn, a businessman who discovered the joys of simple giving right where life took him. Mom had read it years before but misplaced her copy. Whether a sincere compliment, a letter of recommendation he didn’t have to write, or a nugget of encouragement to a total stranger, this huge-hearted man gave without remembering yet took without forgetting. “Read this and live it, Roberta,” Mom urged. I did just that and the author’s words transformed my life. Like Dunn, I’d taken up the hobby of helping others and the world now belonged to me.
Stay enthusiastic. Too often, an enthusiastic spirit wanes as we go through life. We stop learning and growing, and our zest drops by the wayside. But nothing great is ever achieved without this essential component of a satisfying life. Enthusiasm is an inside job that draws others to us, filling us with a feeling of contentment and hope. It’s a conscious choice that begins with us and alters everything.
Have a passionate heart and mind. Admittedly, this often means going beyond our comfort zone. But if we stay sequestered in the proven past, we never learn how incredible we really are. Be true to the most important person of all—you!
Always choose kindness. Sure, passion is important but so is compassion. “Astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness,” the poet Maya Angelou observed. You’ll never be sorry, and you’ll find yourself a more satisfied person in the process.
Dream big. James Dean once suggested to “dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” Dreaming big means not letting difficulties define us—always moving toward a state of more resilience and calm endurance. Still, keep in mind, dreams ultimately don’t work unless we do.
Take the focus off money. You’ve likely heard the expression that if you do what you love, the money will follow. To be sure, if we only seek financial reward, we may end up only chasing ourselves. Rather, invest in pursuits that engage your spirit and live your life with an open heart and mind. Truly love life. If money finds you, it will stem from an authentic place.
Live with intention. When we define what we want from life, based on our personal values, we unknowingly draw excellence out of the ordinary. One of the best ways of approaching them is through micromovements—breaking each goal into manageable chunks. If you have a number of things you want to accomplish in the morning, comprise a list the evening before of important phone numbers and other information. Then, the tasks won’t seem nearly as daunting.
Find something that restores you. For me, that critical something is beauty, such as a stroll through a beautiful home-furnishing store or an antiques shop to revive my spirit. For you, it will be different. The important thing is to recognize what it is, and seek it out to recharge your batteries.
Be grateful. Gratitude changes absolutely everything. If you begin your days with a grateful heart to the Source of all blessings, that very day will brim with even more blessings. As Melody Beattie said: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.”
