If you try a lot of things, expecting some to fail, you maximize your chances of success and take the scariness out of starting.
Tag: satisfaction
Why it’s so hard to get started
How to do something big
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do? Something grand and ambitions? Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a book, or build an airplane, or hike the Appalachian Trail. It’s huge, life-changing even, and you’ve known for a long time that you want to do it, but you haven’t done it. Here’s how to change that.
The secret to a more interesting life
Amelia Earhart said “When a great adventure is offered, you don’t refuse it.” And then Chris Guillebeau quoted her. When two of my heroes speak, I definitely take notice. Adventure is important and too often neglected in our lives. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut or even just […]
How unhappiness works–and how to beat it
Pop quiz: only one question and it’s multiple choice. What would make me happy? a) winning the lottery b) my loved ones truly appreciating me c) a lifetime supply of chocolate d) my neocortex Happiness, and unhappiness, are actually pretty simple, but they’re not caused by circumstances like most people […]
The #1 stumbling block for smart people (and how everyone can avoid it)
A lot of people think intelligence, or innate talent, is responsible for success. It seems to make sense, right? But actually, that’s not quite true. It’s the people who keep growing that come up with the best ideas and are willing to take the risk of trying something new. There […]
Five simple steps to making your dreams come true
A few weeks back, I wrote a post about big dreams. Dreams are important—they can give us direction and hope, something to work toward. If you don’t know what you want to do, check out that post for a few suggestions on figuring it out. But dreams can only take […]
How to ditch your worst excuse and start getting things done
Do you have a hard time getting things done, or even started? Do you give yourself a lot of excuses for why? I do. It’s come to my attention that I have a lot of excuses for why I don’t/ won’t/ didn’t get something done, and they all come down […]
Cynicism and changing the world
Yesterday’s post generated some really great discussion about optimism. This is a subject with a lot of strong opinions! Most people wrote very thoughtful and interesting insights, but what struck me was the tone of scorn in a few of the pessimists’ comments, and the slight defensiveness in a few […]
How to become an optimist (and how to use pessimism to your advantage)
Apparently, at some point in my life, I “learned” that it’s safer to expect things to turn out badly. Then you’re always either right or pleasantly surprised, right? Well, yes, but that’s a bit limiting. The thing is, if you believe you can do something, you’re more likely to try […]
How to find your passion
Do you ever wonder what you’re really doing here on this planet, or more accurately, what you’re supposed to be doing? Do you envy the people who just seem to know, and are already doing what they’re clearly meant to do? There aren’t a lot, but they’re out there. They […]
The #2 Shortcut to Enjoying Life
It’s deceptively simple: be nice to yourself.
The number one shortcut to enjoying life more
Mystics tell us to live in and savor every moment, but that’s a pretty tall order! For the rest of us, trying to jump directly to that stage seems unrealistic to me, although I like it as a goal. Meanwhile, savoring a few moments per day is a good start.