Success + Happiness
“Seeking excellence and experiencing satisfaction are not mutually exclusive. Being satisfied, then, doesn’t mean “settling.” It simply means accepting and taking pleasure in what is. It’s allowing yourself to feel contentment whether or not a thing is complete or “perfect.” – Brendon Burchard
Burchard’s bestselling book shares great advice when it comes to unlocking our potential. He does it with great storytelling and research-driven insights.
Honor what’s important to you
One of the areas we (sometimes) chiefly neglect is the power of positive thinking. We have to practice and embody in our daily lives. We get pulled in so many directions. Pressures from work, school, family, friends, and even acquaintances. Everyone wants a piece, but it goes back to what you value as important. What’s most important to you? What makes you happy?
I value family. I value close relationships. Friends, true friends, will be evident as they will contribute to your state of well being, not try to hold you back, or diminish your dreams. Those who care about you will respect that you have priorities and aspirations that are unique to you. More importantly — they will give you room to breathe and grow.
Becoming more self-aware
In a social media driven world, there’s the image that is perceived vs. the reality you live. Yes, we want to project a positive filtered image, one that is revealed through rose-tinted glasses. The reality is life has its ups and downs. We make mistakes. Through failure, we learn to get back up and dust ourselves off, ready to face even greater challenges.
Reading motivational books and articles provide a medium for self-reflection and introspection. As a bestselling author and motivational coach, Burchard reinforces important themes in High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way.
His themes are not new concepts, but ones that require a shift in mindset and habits.
Summarizing (some) key themes
Success and happiness are not mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand.
- Power of positive thinking. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking, as it can fortify you with courage and resilience.
- Ask yourself core questions about you and what would make you happy. Live with intention and purpose. He highlights the importance of “seeking clarity.”
- Practice high performance habits. Focus on what matters, and not all the extraneous things that get in the way. Focus on the main thing.
- Be courageous. To live life to the fullest, work on becoming the person you aspire to be, and don’t let others dictate how to live (for you).
- Learn to be influential. Influence comes in many forms.
- Spend less time with Debbie Downers. Steer away from negativity, and invite more positive people and experiences into your life.
- Generate energy and be more productive. It’s not the hours spent slaving away. Wellness, balance, and sleep are critically important. Rather it’s the concept of generating energy and “increasing the outputs that matter.”
FlyteLiving 
Vivian, while each of those last points are equally important, I think the one that stands out to me is the suggestion that we seek clarity or ‘get to know what makes us happy’. Don’t you think a lot of us get through life sort of ‘accidentally’ and it happens to us? Instead of knowing what we want out of it and then figuring out how to get there.
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Hey Debra, that’s a really great observation! I think many of us (myself included) go with the flow. Then stumble on the realization, sometimes through moments of hardship, that we have to find our own way to happiness. Seeking clarity is difficult because sometimes we don’t like what we see in ourselves, but necessary to unlock deeper meaning and happiness. That’s my take at least.
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