Accomplishment
Ahh, if we could stop at peace and joy, what a wonderful world it would be. Not really; we are made for more. Our moms were right; each of us possesses a unique talent meant to be used. For these reasons, a fulfilling life requires accomplishment – the ambition to do something accompanied by the […]
Joy
Components Joy is not a state of happiness but a condition like peace that exists independent of circumstances. Joy is a conscious decision supported by gratitude and attitude. To begin with, everyone reading this post on their electronic device over the internet can be grateful their physiological and safety needs from Maslow’s Hierarchy are met. […]
Peace
A fulfilling life starts with peace, a sense of calmness permeating your being that overcomes circumstances and distractions. Absent peace, it is more difficult to experience joy fully or obtain accomplishment. Peace may be present, but it is not toes in warm sand listening to the crashing waves or soaking in the majestic scenery from […]
The Fulfilling Life
After five months, it is past time to explain the subject of the 52 Steps Forward blog – pursuing a fulfilling life. This omission became evident when a faithful reader, colleague, and friend revised his LinkedIn profile to add he is pursuing a meaningful life. I chided him about his word choice, and he pointed […]
Ready, Set, Go!
Many of us start the day leaping out of bed as if shot out of a cannon. Running through our minds is a myriad of obligations and we send our brains into overdrive by checking phone messages and “consulting” social media. We also know how we start something is typically how we do it. If […]
Crotchety & Curmudgeonly
I come by it honestly as entering the sixth decade moves me into the province of the crotchety and curmudgeonly. This milestone inspires reflection but not the creation of a “what I must do before I die” list. Nor am I about to deliver the typical old man’s speech, but this message is more personal […]
Resist the Temptation to Be Virtuous(?)
What do I Mean? It is too easy to pursue the avalanche of “opportunities” coming our way from within, family, work, and friends that take us away from doing what we previously determined to be most important. We discover the most troublesome enemies of accomplishing our goals are not obvious time wasters like social media […]
Am I really a…?
Under the Light of Day Most of our self or external criticism cannot withstand the simple but often unasked question, “Is it true?” An objective self-assessment casts aside negative beliefs and their harmful consequences. A friend recently attended a high-brow executive leadership program at Yale University and I requested a meeting to discuss one of […]
Be Careful With Your Tribe
Last week, I wrote about the value of prudently selecting your tribe members. Today, I write about who you should avoid being, being with, and the peril of indifference when selecting your companions. Our moms told us not to hang out with troublemakers because she feared us becoming one. My dad told me, “If you […]
Get By with a Little Help from My Friends
The words from a 1967 Beatles song remain true today, “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.” While we can attempt to go it alone, we should not. We are born with less knowledge than a turtle that knows to crawl out of its sandy nest and use moonlight to find […]