Can you Define Happiness?

 

Can you Define Happiness
A Happy Family by the Lake

What are the best things that make us happy? A simple question that many can answer, if they can take a brief moment to think for a second about what are the magical things that make us happy. If you can think back to your younger days were you happier then or now? Can you define happiness? Not the past or the future but the present happiness that is engulfing your life. LOL.

I’ve noticed a big movement on the finding happiness bandwagon from blogs, documentaries, and now a movie is about to be released based on this subject. (Just saw the trailer last weekend) At the core of the topic many people ask the question, what makes you happy? Do they want to know answers as it will solve a mystery based on this discussion, because everybody seems miserable? Maybe they are looking for a rabbit in a fox hole? Happiness is not something you can whip up and serve on a platter. It is a realization as to how you view life in the current state, with no past regrets and a sense of making the best of every situational moment going forward. This is happiness defined in my opinion. Now let’s discuss this topic further below and talk a bit about my personal happiness activities. The next few phrases I will express what makes me happy.

Continue reading Can you Define Happiness?

The Company you Keep

Do all of you believe in the saying you are who you are based on the company you keep. If your family and friends define you as per this statement, then if they are not on your level does that mean you will not grow or maybe they will hold you back? What if the coin was on the other side, and you have a group of friends who want to give you the boot because you are not winning as per their standards. Maybe you have not had success in a few years and feel you are in a rut professionally, does that qualify you to be a loser? This thinking came to me as I was reading a post that made a hidden reference stating people will be more successful if they are around successful people.

OK the question of the day is when do you know if you should move on, and find more successful people or if you should stay loyal to your original circle and hopefully they will surprise you one day by getting that PHD degree. I am struggling with finding the appropriate reasoning behind leaving your good friends that you get along with but may not be at your level. Maybe I am different from others who are cut throat type of individuals, or maybe since watching the movie Rudy I was forever changed. (90% of the time I root for the underdog unless it is my favorite team)

The second question is what if you are the person being dumped or pushed aside, what would you do? Keep attempting to hang out and communicate with a person disinterested in you or move on as well. I can’t believe it but this happens all the time here at my place of work. Certain circles of people hang every day and then in a month or two one person is suddenly out casted, thus not seen every day with the same crowd and is now eating lunch Hans Solo. Damn people can be rude at times, but do they have reasoning or not?  Can that sort of behavior lead to promotions and success in the office? I really do not know, but I have heard the richer get richer. People who invest in businesses and real estate join forces with others with the same mentality or for that fact the same wallet size. Do you know how awkward it would be to ask your buddy that has 50 K debt and a 30K income to invest in a 3 family house with you? Hello the answer will be 95% of the time a flat-out, I can’t do it buddy.

In Conclusion will you, if you strive for more find a circle of successful friends or stick with the original circle of friends you had? Maybe you have the drive and determination to achieve success by yourself and not involve your friends or family. Do you think Wal-Mart, Microsoft, or Apple would be the successful companies they have become without help from those close to the founders? I would assume no is a possibility to the answer. Everyday millions of no name insiders make things happen for companies and thus continue in making the entity successful.  A great idea is the starting point, but without a successful motivated and energized team the idea would not get off the ground.

That great show you see with all the great actors who bring you joyous TV magic do not do it by themselves. There are at least 30 + show staffers who make it happen behind the scenes. What does this crap have to do with the post? If you strive for success and are one step closer to a major milestone, do you trust some new business acquaintance to help you do business dealings or would you be more willing to trust a friend you have known for years.
I think I would probably trust somebody whom I have known for years. My one trepidation would be that a relationship can turn sour when you intertwine money with family / friends.

Comment if you agree with the company you keep post above or if you do not? Have you ever dropped a friend because they were a complete mess and didn’t strive for success?

Rich Uncle EL

Failure is not an Option Series II

In this series you remember I said to first try something and if you fail then your a better improved version of yourself. See previous post-Failure Series I Why you ask? Because you attempted something that was out of your comfort zone, you didn’t settle with the usual and that is what sparks improvement from within.

Granted nobody wants to fail in life and I would never wish failure upon someone, but without entering the game you will not know if you will succeed or not. What I am attempting to express to everyone with this sports metaphor is that time is ticking and it will not stop for you. Every second wasted not applying yourself towards your future desires / goals is a travesty in disguise.

Why is it in disguise because if you do not attempt it nobody will ever know the idea you wanted to take that is still stuck in your mind. I have been hearing the word legacy lately and it is filled with massive pressure being placed on many individuals to make something out of their lives as they were destined to do. Every attempt you make towards your dreams is a step closer to a better more improved you. This can be applied to any area of life for example, financial, relationships, career wise, etc. How am I doing all that can be done to avoid failing? By doing the baby steps towards all my goals and by coaching others to do better for themselves. See below my 5 steps on how to help others in this failure is not an option mentality.

One of my dreams is to help others realize their hidden potential. Why you ask?

1. It is a part of who I am. Teacher at heart for anything relating to finance and self improvement.
2. Success breeds more Success- If I share with you something that can potentially make you successful then my efforts will someway be reciprocated back to me. (Sort of like Karma)
3. I honestly like being a part of success stories and if I contributed to that then I am better for it.
4. If I am open with you then I hope a more successful person will be open with me and share some of their past success stories.
5. It feels great to help others. Especially educate others on avoiding major errors you once made in life.

Comment if you relate to this failure is not a option mentality. I would ask you to also offer up any ideas of your own on how to avoid losing it all and failing at life.

RichUncle EL

Failure is not an Option Series I

Quote of the day: Failure is not an option, it is a springboard to success.

       
          One thing I find mind-boggling is how many people are scared to fail and will not attempt what they want to do in life for fear of failing. Risk is embedded in everything we do and people must learn to calculate the level of risk involved so that they can determine if it is worth pursuing or not. How do you calculate it you ask? A simple pros and cons list is one way, a SWOT analysis is another example. Where you can list the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of that new venture you so desire to achieve. If you follow sports and in particular basketball you will notice that Michael Jordan had a commercial with Gatorade where he expresses how many times he failed in life and how it made him a better man and finally a success on the court. Which in turn will transition anybody to be successful in other aspects of life.

Road To Success:

1. Analyze your Desires / Risk Trade off
2. Make an Attempt- If the pros out weight the cons
3. If Cons out weight the pros – Find an alternative Desire /Goal
3. Give a 100% to this new venture and you’re less likely to fail
4. If you are having a difficult time during the process- Ask for help
5. Always perform whatever you do as if it were your first day on the job
6. Find a mentor who has expert knowledge based on your desire
7. If you Fail do not accept Defeat- Try Again.

         If you follow these steps you can do better in your new ventures. If you want some of the steps can be done in any order you wish that is best for your situation. This can be related to many areas of life including personal finance / money issues. Those things we dread the most are the things that will help us be better individuals.. If we accept the challenge to overcome them and not let them overcome us. By not pursuing your dreams and desires in life you will let your fears get the best of you.

         For me a day is complete when I have achieved a goal that I wished to accomplish in the morning or the day before. I have daily, monthly, and longer term goals that I always set for myself. In a big picture sort of way once you have this type of mind frame you will always keep striving for more as you check off each newly attained goal / desire. This might seem to others as if I will never be satisfied in life, but from my point of view I see it as never being stagnant and always improving on my life. This is what life is truly about from my perspective.

Please comment if you have taken a risk recently or achieved a new goal / desire.

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