Monthly Archives: January 2014

“Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels…”

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“Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route.”

– Charles Caleb Colton, English cleric, writer and collector

coastline

Image from Flickr by alana sise.

Recently, I began watching a TV series on the National Geographic channel called “Life Below Zero.” The storyline follows the life of four different families living in Northern Alaska in one of the harshest and coldest environments possible.

What makes this show so interesting and intriguing for me is how passionate they all are about their lifestyle, and how happy they all are with their choices, despite the considerable hardship of living off the land in the rugged Alaska wilderness.

Exercise:

What is your current route toward happiness? How can you better embrace the mazes and meanderings that are leading you on your own unique journey?

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal

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“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else. You are the only one who gets burned.”

– Buddhaghosa, fifth century commentator on Buddha’s work

Image of hot coals

Image from Unsplash by Magnus S

No one in their right mind would ever pick up a hot coal to throw it at someone. In an instant, they would be raced off to the emergency room for treatment, and a very protracted recovery period. Most likely they would also bear considerable scars that would remain for years or perhaps for life.

Exercise:

Take note of the times when you observe the destructive force of anger today.

How can you minimize it, release it, or better yet, replace it with understanding, tolerance and forgiveness, to make for a more peaceful, accepting and loving world?

“Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm.”

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“Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm.”

– Sir William Osler, physician and founding professor of John Hopkins Hospital

work

Image from Flickr by Sean MacEntee

In his book Drive, Daniel Pink describes three predominant qualities to life that drive all of us. They include:
  • Autonomy, or the ability to influence our world.
  • Mastery, or the capacity to grow and improve our skills and abilities.
  • Purpose, or a sense of meaning – knowing that our daily efforts are making a difference to our own lives and the lives of others.

Exercise:

Using the three qualities above as a framework for a driven life, how do you plan to focus your interest, energy and enthusiasm today?