Eric Weiner, a former NPR correspondent and author, travelled to a number of countries including Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland which were ranked high on happiness by the World Database of Happiness.
Bestselling author, Harvey Mackay, wrote an excellent column dealing with risk taking and regret. According to Mr. Mackay, people rarely regret taking risks; what they do regret is not taking them sooner or not taking them at all. He goes on to say, “Afraid to try something new?
There’s a very seductive trap that people often fall into when they become successful. They become full of themselves and their success and begin to entertain thoughts like, “I know what I’m doing,” and, “I’m way too good to fail.”
It’s truly amazing how many people resent even the smallest of changes in their lives. You hear them whining around and saying things like: “I just got settled into a comfortable routine and then this change came along and ruined it.
All too many people go through life waiting to be rescued—waiting for something really good to happen to them. The biggest reason is that they are afraid to try new things because they’re worried about failing or making mistakes.
Last fall, my wife Marcia was planting flower bulbs of numerous varieties in hopes of getting some beautiful blooms during the following spring. Toward the end of her planting, she came across a gladiolus bulb at the bottom of her bulb box that looked like it had seen better days—it was all dried up and looked like it wanted to be put out of its misery.
Marcel Schwantes recently reported in Inc. Magazine what Oprah Winfrey had to say on NPR’s Morning Edition about Lifelong Happiness: “I’m telling you, if you do something to make someone else happier, it’s almost like it comes back to you exactly 100-fold.
Many of us are very busy–so much so, that we don’t want to take the time to let those people in our lives share their stories with us. The problem with this is that all of us need opportunities to share our stories–our joys, problems, and sorrows–with someone who cares. Being able to share our stories is what helps to keep us on an even keel emotionally.
Actor Denzel Washington once said in a commencement address, “I’ve found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Nothing. Nelson Mandela said, ‘There is no passion to be found in playing small – in settling for a life that’s less than what your capable of living.’”
The above is a quote from Beverly Sills. What this means is that if you want to experience a level of success that’s beyond the ordinary, you have to be willing to start at the bottom and work your way up.