Want to Be Happy? Get Enthusiastic!

Charles Kingsley said, “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.”

I like this quote because it makes clear the link between enthusiasm and happiness. When we are not feeling happy, we can feel better by simply spending time with something we are enthusiastic about.

The concept that passion drives success is very similar. Emotions are the energy that fuels our actions. As much as we would like to believe that intelligence is more important, emotions are equally important.

For me, since I like to learn, it is easy to get enthusiastic about ideas, information, and activities that are new to me. I find it fairly easy to find happiness in learning something new.

This simple concept can make a big difference in your daily life. Next time you are feeling a little down, make time to get enthusiastic about something. The outlook for your day will become much brighter.

Luck or Skill?

Thomas Jefferson said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Successful people make their own luck.

Success is not about luck. Success comes from awareness, competence, discernment, initiative, preparation, and hard work. No one is just lucky. You have to work for luck. Do you want opportunities that seem to be lucky? Here are some tips to think about.

1. Prepare. Prepare yourself for the future you want. Become a student of whatever subject you want success. Hang out with like minded people, and study those that are successful. Know what it takes. Know what the opportunity will look like.

2. Be aware. Keep yourself ready to take advantage of opportunities when they appear. Most people will miss the opportunity because they are not looking. They are still waiting to be lucky. Put yourself in situations and environments where opportunities happen.

3. Take the initiative. When you see the door of opportunity you must walk through it. Successful people take risk. They do things despite their fear. They step out into the unknown. Many successful journeys start when you do not know how, but you are focused on why.

Prepare for success, find your opportunity, and make yourself some luck!

Is Your Day Filled With Chaos?

If life always went as planned, we would be bored. But we don’t enjoy days filled with chaos either. You probably, like me, experience both routine and hectic days.

William Braithwaite, an American writer, said, “It is simplicity of intention that gives consistency to life.” True. We never intend to have a chaotic day. We plan for productivity. We plan for success. Some days we win and some days we lose that battle.

When my day is filled with turmoil, there is one trick that always lets me regain control. It is simple, and very effective.

I just step back and take a look at the day’s struggles with a longer term view in mind. I put aside what I am trying to accomplish today, and think about my goals for the month and the year.

It can help release today’s pressure by revealing that today is only one day in my longer term plan. Irregardless of today’s outcome, I see the bigger picture, and then I can reset today’s goals. It also resets my attitude, my energy, and my focus.

Next time you find your day going badly, give it a try!

Are You Getting a Daily Dose of Wisdom?

Man was not born with wings, but we invented the airplane. Man was not born with gills, but we invented the scuba tank. Man was born with a creative and curious mind, and free will. Great discoveries and inventions have come to people that continued to learn and challenge the world.

I think it is a privilege to be able to learn, explore, and dream. As a life long learner, it seems easy for me.

One of my daily habits is setting aside time for learning. If you are reading this, then it may be a habit of yours as well. I often wish I had more time to learn, because there is much to discover. Here are some areas that keep me interested in growing.

Work: Increasing your work competence is always a great idea. No matter what your occupation, there are innovations that can be studied.

People: This category can be useful for everyone. You can learn about personalities, leadership, behavior, health, or even mental thought processes.

History: We have a rich world history from which to learn. You can choose specific eras, or geographical areas, or critical events. It is a great way to put things in perspective.

Nature: Do you have interest in the natural world that surrounds us? You could learn more about plants, animals, weather, and space.

Technology: Technological advances in the last twenty years have changed this world. You could learn more about information technology, science, or even medical advances.

Basic Skills: This is the category that I think helps us learn about living. It includes a wide variety of topics that make life easier, or more enjoyable. Things like plumbing repair, growing a vegetable garden, cooking, music, or a hobby.

Whatever your choice of learning in this world, consider setting aside time every day to learn and grow. Spending only fifteen minutes a day will add up to over 90 hours in a year. Invest in yourself. If you are not, who else will?