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The Single Secret to Making 2009 Your Best Year Ever I realized that there’s just one tip that’s needed to make 2009 your best year ever. And it’s not a tip you’ll read in most personal development, productivity or self-help blogs or books. That’s because if you implemented this one tip, you wouldn’t really need any others. It would put all of us out of business. So, because I enjoy writing personal development posts and books for you guys, I’m counting on you to NOT actually implement this, and to keep needing other tips I give you in the future.
Leo Babauta
K
idding of course! Go ahead,
wait to buy a nicer car. Got the car, then
Life is a Journey – Enjoy It!
put me and all the rest of ‘em
I couldn’t wait to buy a house.
So how do you go for goals and still
out of business. I’d rather have you happy and successful, and
have happiness right here, right now? By When I bought the house, I couldn’t wait
look for another job, knowing that I did
to … get out of debt. I could go on for
something good.
quite awhile, but you get the point. None
So what’s that single secret, the one thing
of my desires ever produced happiness,
remembering that the important thing isn’t the destination… it’s the journey! Remember that, always: the journey is
that will not only make 2009 your best
because I was stuck in the mindset of
the most important thing. Not the goal.
year ever, but put personal development
wanting more. When I got what I wanted,
Not the ending point.
and self-help bloggers and authors out of
I wanted something else. My happiness
business? Are you sure you’re ready to hear
was always on hold, because I was waiting
it? OK, you’re ready.:) Here goes:
to reach a goal. Waiting for happiness.
Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness
On Goals and Desires
much more of your life than actually being
is right here, right now.
It’s good to have goals. I have them – it’s
at the goal. If you’re only happy when
Sounds too simple, but if you haven’t
a part of living and working. But how much
you’re at the destination, you’ll be unhappy
realized this, and put it into action, it can
are you investing in your goals? How much
most of the time.
have an amazing effect on your life. Today.
of your happiness is based on your goals?
Think about it: if you are only happy once you reach a goal, what about all the time you spend getting to the goal? That’s
Right now.
What’s more, if you are stuck in that It’s also natural to have desires, but if
My Life of Waiting
your life is a series of desires, one after the
you won’t actually be happy – you’ll be
When I was young, I couldn’t wait
other, and everything in you is in pursuit of
looking toward your next destination.
to become an adult. Oh, the freedom!
those desires, you will always be striving
Instead, remember: Stop waiting for
Becoming an adult would bring me
for happiness, waiting for it. Instead,
happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.
happiness. I couldn’t wait.
remember: Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.
When I became an adult, I couldn’t wait to get a good job. That would surely bring
10
mindset, when you reach your destination,
How do you enjoy the journey? By appreciating life in its fullness, its
Feel free to pursue goals, and desires …
wonderfulness. By not looking so much
happiness. I couldn’t wait. When I got
but don’t make your happiness dependent
toward the future, but focusing on the present
a good job, I couldn’t wait to get a raise.
on them. Don’t think of happiness as
moment, right here, right now. By looking
When I got a raise, I couldn’t wait to get
something you’ll have once X happens
around you, and realizing that everything you
married. When I got married, I couldn’t
(whatever X is right now for you).
need for happiness is already here!
#02/2009 www.ProductiveMagazine.com
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