Life's joy can be different for everyone since it's subjective. The joy of living, however, is generally defined as the feeling of happiness, contentment, and fulfilment that comes from being alive and experiencing the world around us. It is possible for some people to find joy in living by spending time with loved ones, pursuing their passions, or achieving their goals. For others, it may come from simply being present in the moment and appreciating the beauty of nature or the small pleasures of everyday life.
The joy of living is not just a feeling or a momentary state of happiness. It is a way of being in the world, a way of living a meaningful, purposeful, and fulfilling life. It is the result of our willingness to take responsibility for our own lives, to face our fears and challenges, and to find meaning and purpose in one's life and embrace the opportunities and experiences that come our way. It's about being grateful for what we have and finding ways to cultivate happiness and fulfilment in our lives, even during challenging times. Overcoming challenges can be a significant part of the joy of living. While traumatic events can be difficult, they can also provide opportunities for personal growth and development. People who experience post-traumatic growth may report increased resilience, a greater appreciation for life, deeper connections with others, and a stronger sense of personal strength and meaning. Furthermore, the act of overcoming challenges can help us build resilience and strength, which can help us face future challenges with greater ease and confidence. So, while challenges may not always feel joyful in the moment, the process of overcoming them and the benefits that result can certainly be a source of joy and fulfilment in life. It's important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will necessarily experience post-traumatic growth, and the process can be complex and individualised. However, for many people, overcoming challenges and adversity can ultimately lead to positive growth and a deeper sense of joy and fulfilment in life. The sovereignty of the individual. To experience the joy of living, we must first recognise that life is not always easy. We must accept that there will be setbacks, failures, and disappointments along the way. But we must also recognise that these challenges are not the end of the road. They are opportunities for growth, for learning, and for transformation. As Dr Jordan Peterson may frame the approach to life: it is the willingness to take responsibility for our own lives, to confront our fears, and to strive for excellence in all that we do. Ultimately, the joy of living is not just about achieving our goals or reaching a certain level of success. It is about the journey we take to get there, about the process of growth and transformation that we experience along the way. It is about the satisfaction that comes from knowing that we are living our lives to the fullest, that we are making a positive impact on the world around us, and that we are fulfilling our true potential as human beings. In conclusion, the joy of living is a powerful force that can help us overcome the challenges and difficulties of our lives. It is a way of being in the world that is grounded in responsibility, courage and a commitment to excellence. So let us embrace the challenges we face, and let us strive to live our lives to the fullest, with all the joy and meaning that comes with it.
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Do we have to know the negative? According to Jesus, we should be like sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16). Or as Machiavelli wrote, “… a prince who wishes to survive must know how to do wrong, and how to do or not do wrong according to necessity.” — Chapter XV, The Prince.
Before i give an opinion, some context. i find myself working with a group of ordinary people working towards an extraordinary goal. The goal is monumental and life-changing. Achievements, increments and successes are facilitated by an extraordinary leader whose quasi-laissez-faire attitude gives us the space to give our all. It sounds like he treats us as grown-ups. And he does. We recognise that we are there by merit and can leave anytime. But why would you leave this amazing sense of purpose? How do i find myself in the company of such wonderful people? The circumstances which bring about the tribe are described as a factor in personal development in terms of attracting them. Think of it as an electromagnetic field at a certain frequency where these things happen. This field of potential. Now think of tuning your mind into this frequency and, like an iron filing to a magnet, you find yourself there. How did i attract it? By thinking big. How do you ‘think big’? By contemplating ‘big’ things. For me, it changed when i took my wife to Vienna for our anniversary and saw the Hofburg Palace. To stand there and view its majesty and grandeur in person and contemplate what it took to create it. Vision, effort, and a 'why' give someone the desire to work tirelessly towards its completion. I was changed from then on because it resonated with me. It was the key to the lock. As i said to my dear friend, Alan Hennessy when we had a radio show “Let’s build a palace!”. i was speaking figuratively but in this heart, mind, and wherever there was a strong desire to work with people who had an equally strong desire. This is because building something this substantial cannot be done alone. Nor was this the first avenue i had experienced in achieving what we are looking to achieve. i had been disappointed before but i had gained significant experience. i know what success in this area doesn’t look and sound like. This brings me to the point of the environment. Because we are building, creating and working in a positive direction, we rarely speak of the negative efforts of ‘the competition’ or ‘the other side’. Because what we are constructing is so positive, there is no need to know others' counter-actions. We are building something because we know what is not done correctly. We know, any human knows the difference between right and wrong. Good creates, and evil looks to take down what is created. Evil cannot create, it lacks the ability. Evil thrives in the absence of creation. Yes, you have to be aware of how things are not working but the counter-action is not to go against it or fight it but to create. Create the change you wish to see in the world. Your creation will leave no room for wrongdoing. Once you start creating, remember that you will attract its opposite, and what you attract will not stop until it succeeds. This is why your desire to create must be greater and on a consistent basis. The most energy will be in its foundation but once it is built, it takes less energy to maintain. Yes, you have to be aware of wrong-doing or evil but it has no energy, it drains energy so “keeping an eye on it” should not be a continuous use of your time. Rise above. And keep on rising. There are two men sitting in front of me. One is 89 and the other will be 89 shortly. Both are weak with age. "Did you ever think we'd make it this far?". "No." One of them is my Dad and the other is his best man. Friends for decades. It is interesting because, despite the CNN (constant negative news) and the narrative that we are hell-bent on destroying ourselves and our planet, our population has never been this large and the world has never been safer. Chances are, you'll make it into your eighties and beyond. So it may be worth remembering that your future starts now.
Diet and pensions come to mind. These are the two topics that people seem to put off or put on the long finger. I'll start my pension when the time is right. I'll eat better and exercise when I need to. Despite of the data presented to them, most people are poor planners for the future and its consequences. Planning for the future is not just for business. Your life should be your business. There should be room for error and expansion plans. You may be required to pivot at certain times. And wherever you find yourself on the ladder of life, you should be thinking bigger. Amazing things happen when you create. There is an unintended consequence, a re-framing of how you see the world. Things take on a completely different aspect even though the only thing that changed is you. A field full of dandelions becomes a field full of wishes. You see opportunity where adversity existed, you see solutions instead of problems and you seem to have the energy to accomplish more in the same amount of time. On a recent radio interview i explained, it is better to run towards the ribbon than to run away from the starting blocks. No-one knows when their race is run but we all will pass that finishing ribbon of life. At the end of the day, what matters is how we filled our days. We won't be able to take what we accumulated across the finish line. Work towards what you look forward to rather than away from what you fear. The path won't change but you will be in a better frame of mind to negotiate it. So, planning is for life. As Stephen R. Covey said in Habit 2 begin with the end in mind. Visualise what you would like to have achieved. And may your only regret be like Robert Frost, that you are only one traveller to get it all done. The figures are there to see. The majority of people in their lifetime will not become millionaires, or billionaires or live the life they dreamed of when they were kids. Why is that? There is no shortage of books, videos or opportunities to learn to excel. The biggest force of opposition in our lives is ourselves. We don't like the feeling of being stretched. It's almost counterintuitive to embark on the path to success. Why would you go through all that uncertainty and risk? Sit down, you're rocking the boat.
Whether it's the gym, rugby, soccer, karate training or even dieting there seems to be this point at which we stop caring about whether we go or not. We miss the first session and it doesn't seem so bad. Then the next and then "people should love me for who i am". The same is true of life and we set our goals gradually lower, to make them more manageable. This is so that we don't have to stretch ourselves but can still tick the box saying we set and reached them and that goal setting and personal development doesn't work. This internal dialogue of counter-intention doesn't go any further than me, myself and i. When we look closer, it is really a discussion about self-worth and the value hierarchy. It is action that demonstrates self-worth, not words. There is a piece of wisdom from the late, great Jim Rohn; it's not about reaching the goal, it's about who you become in the process. The questions to self when our spirits lag are "who am i doing this for?", "what is the view like when i reach my goal? How excited am I about what I see from there?", "what do my actions demonstrate about how i spend my time and how i value myself?" "If i miss this then when am i going back on track?". Mediocre action in the direction of your goal is better than the most effective, unexecuted plan. Or "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory." - Friedrich Engels. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Stop looking for short-cuts, discover them on the journey. If you believe that each of us is gifted with unlimited potential then don't be an aeroplane on the ground. What is an "almost" person? https://youtu.be/0Q4R_iaP1co |
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AuthorHoward Hughes Archives
November 2023
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