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The Happiness
Factor In Success
If you want to reach out for success then living a
happy, resilient and optimistic life is important
component of that success goal. It is also good
for your health. Being happy actually protects you
from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top
causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and
stroke. If you are dead from the complications
brought on by stress your success will not matter
much to you.
Change is one of the constants in our world today.
Sociologist, Alvin Tofler, back in 1970 wrote the
book, "Future Shock", sharing his perceptions and
impact of "too much change in too short a period
of time". Change is a life stressor and a
barrier to success for many people today.
What we need to understand is we have the power to
make the necessary changes and reach out for
success if we want really to. Even if we find
ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always
find solace in the knowledge that this too would
change.
Social networks or relationships are essential to
our happiness. People are different. Accept
people for who or what they are, avoid clashes,
constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of
resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still
try and make an effort to understand the situation
and you might just get along with well. The
Bible reminds us, "If it is possible, as far as it
depends on you, live at peace with everyone"
(Romans 12:18). This is great advice for anyone
looking for happiness in their success.
Finding ways to increase the happiness of others
is a way to make your life more healthy and
successful.
To be happy and contented is a choice we make.
Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most
of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how
relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their
outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose
to be happy.
There are a number of ways which you can do this
as you reach out for success.
1. Have an attitude of gratitude. We have so
much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for
bringing you home safely. Thank the cook for a
wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your
windows. Also thank the store clerk for the speedy
and efficient way they dealt with your purchases.
Thank the policeman for making your place safe and
thank God for being alive. Having a grateful heart
will impact your view of yourself and your
willingness to reach out for success in whatever
form that may be.
2. News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people
just can't start their day without their daily
dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the
news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day
with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing
to do. Starting your day by stressing over
things that you have no control over will not
provide a healthy atmosphere for being successful.
3. Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too
important to waste. Time management can be
viewed as a list of rules that involves
scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating
lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are
the core basics of time management that should be
understood to develop an efficient personal time
management skill. These basic skills can be fine
tuned further to include the finer points of each
skill that can give you that extra reserve to make
the results you desire. Wasted time is like
turnovers in basketball. The more you have,
the more unlikely
you will be able to achieve the desired success
you are looking for. Wasted time can never
be retrieved.
4. Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Have
you heard a good joke? Share it with others.
Share a smile. That frown turned upside down
will impact others in positive ways you can never
imagine. What a simple way to reach out for
success! Happiness shared benefits not only you
but is multiplied over and over. Give a
driver waiting to get out of a street a chance to
enter traffic and that driver is more likely to
pass the same favour on to some else. The
successful commute home is the one where everyone
arrives home safely. Reach out for success even in
the small things of everyday living.
5. Express your feelings, affections, friendship
and passion to people around you. They will most
likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to
harbour pent up anger of frustrations. This is bad
for your health. Instead find ways of expressing
them in a way that will not cause more injury or
hurt to anyone. True success in life will only be
attained as you make the effort to reach out for
success in your personal relationships.
6. Working hard brings tremendous personal
satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being
competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments
are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense
of value. Starting projects is good, but the
prize goes to those who follow through to the
finish line. Work on things that you feel worthy
of your time. Success involves the character
created and maintained through the process to the
finish.
7. Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn
something new everyday. Learning also makes
us expand and broaden our horizons. It helps to
keep our minds active and healthy longer. This
could also give us more opportunities in the
future as we reach out for success.
8. Exercise is important. Run, jog, walk and do
other things that your body was made for. Feel
alive. Provide proper nutrition and exercise for
your body. If you are not feeling well your
drive and motivation for success will be reduced.
9. Spend time in prayer and meditation. You
cannot accomplish anything without God's
help. Your eternal success is more important
than your earthly success. Reach out for
success in the area that matters most. Jesus said,
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole
world, yet forfeit his soul? {37} Or what can a
man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37,
NIV)
These are the few simple things you can do
everyday to in include the happiness factor in
your success.
And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln
who said, "Most people are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be."
By Bob McLellan
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