“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” ~Socrates
Spiritual growth, personal growth, professional growth, business growth, relational growth, emotional growth, and on and on it goes!
For those who feel like they are on a continuous, 120 mph, path of growth and busy-ness, I have a question for you: Are you happy?
More Doesn’t Always Mean More
In other words, are you content with where you are at this exact moment in time or, like me, do you ever feel like you have some other place to be, some next level to achieve, or some new insight to gain?
Is there another workshop you must attend? Another new book you have to read? Yes, the book someone mentioned in passing the other day?
And just like all the other books you bought, you know, the ones you started reading, got a portion of the way through and then put it on the shelf with all the other half-read books?
Why? Because you got bored, you’ve heard it all before, orrrrrrrrr because somebody mentioned a different book, the perfect book, the one that will surely launch you to the next level of success!
Don’t get me wrong, growth is an integral part of every facet of my life. And yet, I have learned that more books, more seminars, and more growth, doesn’t guarantee you will have more happiness in your life.
What About Happiness?
Recently, I have been more focused something that is turning out to be even more valuable than growth for me – Happiness!
After all isn’t the ultimate goal of growth to be happy? To find peace, love, abundance, and more joy in our daily lives?
Often, growth for me requires that I exit the habit-trail of activity and busy-ness and sit in silence. It is in this solitude, that I am reminded of these thoughts that always seem to re-center me.
3 Thoughts About Growth & Happiness:
- Success does not equal significance. According to Alfred Adler, our greatest sense of self-worth and value comes from contributing to the well-being of others. Success is about us, significance usually has something to do with others.
- What you sow is what you reap. – In other words, your thoughts (both the good and the not-so good) become things that you attract into your life. Your thoughts are magnets so be very careful what you think and what you allow to take space in your head!
- We are all going to physically expire…eventually. – Use your time wisely, very few people on their deathbed say, “I wished I would’ve learned more or made more money!” (To learn what they really said go here…)
Everyday you have the power to choose happiness!
Everyday you have the power to make a difference in the life of others! Sometimes, it is as simple as a phone call or a kind word.
I wish you nothing but growth AND even more importantly, profound HAPPINESS!
Until next time…
