A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

Storm Thoughts.

The key to growth and success, no matter what the endeavour, is the ability to delve into the challenges and find the lesson or message and employ it to better our lives. Simple, huh?
Most humans try to avoid discomfort, especially the kind that leads to trouble in their relationships, work, health, and general well-being. We seek calm and tranquility and rarely see the value in upheaval, discord, loss, calamity, stress, ill health, lack of money, loss of job, and failed relationships. However, it is in these negative circumstances that the greatest opportunities for growth and success lurk...if only we would stop, look, and listen.
We become so busy trying to win the battle that we lose sight of the big picture and lose the war. Storm Thoughts are the key. They are the hidden meaning in the discord that assaults our lives from time to time. The lessons of life come not from the calm successful times but rather from those trying times that require us to rise above our circumstances and find the brass ring just out of our grasp - if we chose to do so. And, it is always our choice.
We might try to frame the turbulence in our life by embracing it as an opportunity to find the change that leads to success. The key is knowing that the answer is there, covered in fear. My friend, Howard Parsons, constantly reminds us to take a few minutes each day to meditate. What he means by this is that it is important to use the opportunities presented to us to find our path to peace and joy, however, we define these. It is in the chaos of life that shows up as trouble of some sort, that we find the possibilities available for positive change.
Regardless of whether we are striving for a more fulfilling relationship, a work promotion, fiscal success, better health, the next sentence in our book, or a new sale, the path is found during the stormy nights by stopping for a few moments to look for the light. Stormy nights exist in all levels of life not just our personal ones. For instance, we are constantly surrounded by media storms that embrace the chaos of political and financial life on a local, national and worldwide basis. We get caught up in the blame game as politics moves from one disaster to another. Storms are the message bearers if we use them to take time to stop and let go of the pettiness and concentrate on the possibilities. Out of great conflict (personal or otherwise) comes great possibility. Embrace yours.

HAPPINESS COMES BEFORE SUCCESS

Most of us have moved forward in our lives assuming that if we work hard and create successful lives, we will attain some level of happiness. Here's a very unique and intriguing twist on that supposition from Shawn Achor, who has spent his time proving scientifically that happiness is what leads to success. He's a terrific speaker with a great message and it's worth your while to give it a listen.
Also, I am going to accept the 21 day challenge at the end of the video - how about you?

HOW TO SUCCEED

success is measured not by what you do but rather, how you do it

This comment is so self-evident after I read it a few times but for some reason it struck me as very insightful the first time. That would, of course, mean that it has some special significance and that I need to pay attention to it. We can point to millions of examples of this truism in action whether we are looking at various careers, professions or practices. Some people make a complete success of whatever they are involved in and some don't. The difference is the person not the task or action that is being undertaken. Regardless of how we might decide to define success using terms like money, popularity, power, promotion, marks, these are the results. The success was determined by how the person approached the task at hand. Interestingly, there are three ways to approach the task that will lead to success.

I thought you'd never ask.......

1. Acceptance: It may be something that you don't particularly want to do but know that you must do it anyway. You proceed by accepting the task, accepting the fact that you must do it and then letting go of the resistance.

2. Enjoy: Whatever task or action that is before you is something that you enjoy doing. It brings you a sense of joy and lightness and you are eager to jump in, thus ensuring its success.

3. Enthusiasm: You approach the process with a great and intense enthusiasm because you can't wait to get started. you can feel your enthusiasm in the pit of your stomach.

You don't need to feel all three to ensure success - they all take you there.

Good Luck