Successful people first see the possibilities and then build a happy life.
A Lack of Vision
Too many people, including myself, start in life without a clear vision of where they want to go. If asked: “What kind of life do you want to build?” they wouldn’t be able to answer the question. That’s because they can’t see the possibilities.
Instead, they “go with the flow,” influenced by norms and patterns of behavior established by family, friends, teachers, and even social media. They do what is expected of them to fit in with the group.
Once headed down this path, it is often quite difficult to change direction. Previous choices made along the way further limit their flexibility. As the years go by without a clear vision or sense of purpose, they become disillusioned, even depressed.
Is this you?
That pretty much described me in my mid-thirties. My life had imploded, with a series of significant failures, including divorce and personal bankruptcy. My house was foreclosed upon, my car repossessed. I was unhappy with my career choice, and quite frankly, I hated myself.
One day during my lunch hour, I wandered into an audiobook store just down the street from my work (this was back in the 1990s when cassette tapes were still a thing). I checked out several “self-help” cassette tape programs and began listening to them in my car and at home that night.
That was the day my vision began to clear, and I began to see the possibilities for my life.
See the Possibilities
These personal growth books, created by people like Zig Ziglar, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Dr. Stephen Covey, Dr. Norman Vinecnt Peale, Brian Tracey, Jim Rohn, and many, many others, were the books that helped me to get through the deeply personal challenges in my life.
They taught me that true happiness begins from within and expands outwards. They taught me many other things about life, but most importantly, they taught me how to see the possibilities and how to build a happy life.
These books, tapes, and videos, and many others since, continue to have a profound, lasting, and positive impact on my way of thinking today. I subscribe to many blogs and podcasts that center around happiness and personal growth. They keep me centered.
One of the earliest and biggest influencers in my life is Zig Ziglar. Zig is famous for his quotes, one of which is:
“If you can dream it, you can achieve it.” – Zig Ziglar
To paraphrase Zig’s quote (with great respect to Zig): “If you can see the possibilities, you can build a happy life.”
Though Zig is now gone, his son Tom has continued in his father’s footsteps. Check out Tom’s latest article entitled “How is Your Vision?”
You Are Not Alone
If you feel stuck in life, without direction or purpose – in other words, you can’t see the possibilities that life has to offer you, please know that you are not alone and that many people have been there before.
You can turn things around. You can still build a happy life through self-awareness, transformation, and self-care. See my post Build a Happy Life to get started.
See the Possibilities and then build a happy life.
No wrong notes,
Mike
I hope that this post has inspired, motivated, or educated you in some small way. If so, check out “Positive Thinking or Bad Atti-tunes?”
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