Love the Life you Live and Live the Life You Love
The older I get the more powerful this saying is yet living this philosophy is challenging. If you saw the movie or play, Chicago, you may recall Renee Zellweger singing this line to Richard Gere in a jail scene from inside her cell. I certainly hope none of you ever face that set of circumstances, yet even in these circumstances she recognized she loved the life she lived despite the consequences of her choices. Can we each say the same about our lives?
One of my clients is a realtor to high-end clientele. I recently asked her if she was envious of the vast wealth many of her clients have. “No,” she said. “My goal is to be happy in my life with balance in all aspects of it. I want to live with purpose and within my means.” I had a great respect for her already, but my opinion was reinforced significantly by this statement. For her the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence or security wall. She finds a way to see the green grass right where she is.
I have a few personal beliefs that help me stay centered and content.
* Know your personal mission – I know the purpose of my life and the value I am providing.
* Short-term goals with a future focus – If you have longer-term goals then near-term goals help you stay focused on that objective while achieving results and accomplishments now. When I focus on my own plan and objectives I tend not to get caught up in unrealistic wishes or the lives of others.
* Be a realistic dreamer – Dreams are important. They cause us to stretch beyond where we are while living in the reality of today.
* Know yourself well – Be self-aware, reflect and self-examine. This helps me stay focused on all the reasons to be content where I am rather than being envious of others.
* Surround yourself with positive people – We get what we focus on and those around us shape our world-view so choose to make it a positive picture. Doing so helps make our self-fulfilling prophecy positive and filled with possibilities.