How do you judge success in your life? What makes you happy? I’ve been writing a lot lately about money, but the accumulation of wealth can be a false yardstick for success. As we’ve seen in our economy, money comes and goes. True happiness or joy in life needs to be built on a more solid foundation.
Is your life full of all the joy and significance you desire? For most, the answer is no. Why is this? There are a few that seem to be living with a deep sense of contentment. What makes their lives different? What are they doing to achieve such satisfaction?
Are you happy with your life? Happiness and fulfillment come from a sense of contentment. How does one become content? Well, I think it starts by realizing we have enough. We often drive ourselves crazy pursuing more. In fact, constantly wanting more is what has pushed America into a recession. Greed, envy and an obsession for more has taken its toll. Let us now pursue contentment!
When Thanksgiving is over this year and all the hubbub dies down, will our lives be full of contentment and joy or will we make ourselves crazy striving to have just a little more? When Thanksgiving is over, will we still be truly thankful or will we allow ourselves to slip into ungratefulness? When Thanksgiving has come and gone, will it have just been a speed bump in the run up to Christmas?
Living life to the fullest is often found in the simplest pleasures of life. Things do not have to be big, exotic, expensive, or complicated to be enjoyable. I find that the deepest, richest moments of my life are brief times filled with common things combined in an uncommon way. It is like a “perfect storm”. All the perfect elements of a great life just seem to mix together into a wonderful moment.
“Maybe we have to break everything to make something better out of ourselves.” ~Chuck Palahniuk
The road to a better life is full of a lot of sinkholes. I think some of the well-meaning self-improvement material is misleading. It gives advice that leaves us feeling depressed and disillusioned. I know because [...]
