Category: Uncategorized

To be envied or to be admired?

Tough question of the day…Would you rather live a life that is envied or a life that is admired? There are subtle differences, and partly it is in the eyes of the beholder (each of us wants different things and admire different characteristics in others), but it can be drastically different.

Living a life of envy usually means that you’re living the good life. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing amoral with that. And it’s harder than a lot of people think. For this, think of your favorite actor or actress, the biggest celebrity or most popular celebrity you know, or just someone who you view as successful (whatever that means to you). They seem to “have it all.” But, remember, it probably took that person a lot of hard work, dedication, and years of “rising through the ranks” to become the person you see today. And even still, there are responsibilities they may have that we never have to deal with (having crazy fans or paparazzi stalk them, always needing to be on their best behavior or else having anything they do/say that is wrong be publicized, etc). But, for the most part, now that they’ve made it, more doors are open for them and they have more opportunities.

Having a life that is admired can be similar, but much more difficult. Think of someone like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., or any other great leader who has been through many trials and tribulations. Maybe they are standing up for present-day injustices. They are facing a lot of resilience from others and on the receiving end of a lot of hate for what they are doing. This takes courage, resilience, and can be a lonely place to be. Over time, they may be viewed as a great person and someone who should be admired. But often times, they don’t really get to feel that admiration and respect while they’re alive. Often times, it comes posthumously. That being said, their actions can help change the world and better the future of countless lives.

I’m not saying one is better than the other. They are both tough, but the latter requires some serious intestinal fortitude.

So…which would you choose?

Random thought on optimization…

What is something you do everyday? Is there a way that you can automate/delegate/eliminate this? Even if it only takes you 10 minutes, 5 days/week, that could save you 50 min/week, three hours and 20 minutes/month, or 40 hours/year! You can literally get a work week back in your life just by taking this task off your plate.

Staying grounded while dreaming big

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” Theodore Roosevelt

Be a dreamer. Set lofty goals. But no matter what the outcome, stay grounded. Remember your roots – where you came from and who your true friends are.

As you gain success, popularity, and prestige, people will treat you differently. It will feel good. But just like there are bandwagon fans for sports teams, there are people that will jump to support you when everything is going well and run away/speak negatively of you when things are going poorly.

No matter where you are in life, always treat people with respect and never compromise your values.

Decide. Commit. Figure out.

Decide what you want. What gets you excited? What do you dream about or wish you had more time to do?

Commit to achieving that goal. Say it out loud, write it down, and task someone to hold you accountable.

Figure out how to do it. You know what you want the end result to look like, so how do you get there? What milestones do you have to hit along the way? Figure out what it looks like by breaking it down into simple goals (in order to do that, I need to do this).

Lastly, change your mindset. Be positive and think big. If you really want something, don’t let anything stop you from getting it as long as you keep your morals.

Consumption

Consume less, save more. This will help not only with your financial success but with your happiness and with helping to protect the earth.

Instead of mindlessly spending money on things that sometimes bring fleeting happiness, take some time to think about what you’re buying and why you’re buying it. Get rid of subscriptions if you don’t use them. Get out of habit spending and avoid lifestyle creep when you can. This will help you financially, but it will also allow you to enjoy things more as they come into your life. Your life will be less cluttered and, therefore, allow you to see clearly. And when you have more money in your bank account, you can spend money on things you’re actually excited about or give money to charities/causes you believe in. Lastly, if you buy less products/live a minimalist lifestyle, you’ll contribute less to the wasting of resources and the increased pollution of the earth.