“Comparison is the death of joy.”
Mark Twain
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
Lao Tzu
One of the most common and destructive daily habit is to constantly compare your life and yourself to other people and their lives.
I sometimes write about how a good start to your day often leads to having a good day in general.
A social, an energetic or a productive start sets the context for your day.
But on some days you may not get a good start for some reason.
Maybe you slept badly. Or the maybe grey skies and cold autumn rain is dragging your energy down.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Anais Nin
One of the most common questions people ask me via email is how to become more of an optimist.
So this week I'd simply like to share three habits that can help you to get started with that.
I use these myself just about every day to stay optimistic in pretty much any situation.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb
Saying no is often the easier way out.
When you say no you can safely stay within your comfort zone. You don’t have to fear failing or being rejected.
The scary unknown and sometimes difficult change can be avoided.