Daily Reminders For Better Days (& A More Fulfilled Life)
I recently read (okay…listened to, on Audible) Steven Bartlett’s Happy Sexy Millionaire, and it was a blatant reminder of things you really do need to get right in order to have a successful life. And I think the author & myself are both on the same page (no pun intended) when we use the word “successful”. No, we’re not referring to being a happy sexy millionaire - but rather a genuinely fulfilled person who has a sense of inner joy thanks to the fact that they are on their on unique path, perfect for them.
There were a few key take-aways that I listed as they resonated most powerfully for myself, and I think serve as really valuable daily AM reminders before launching into your day.
Without further ado…
Practice gratitude each day - morning & night. Journaling it out on paper is best, but thinking about your gratitude list in your head will work on days where writing isn’t possible. Beyond all of the proven benefits both scientifically and “spiritually” - it never fails to put you in a better mood. Just do it.
Rather than compare yourself to others - compare yourself to your past self. You can only be a better version of you. Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come, and let that inspire your next steps.
Focus on how you can help others. This one I find super helpful when I’m feeling stuck or a lack of motivation. Shifting into: ‘What can I do to help someone today?’ revitalizes me, and it’s interesting how it always seems to come right on back to you.
Consistency compounds. Daily habits (like, done…daily - that means everyday, always) add up to big returns, regardless of how seemingly small the habit. Reverse engineer your goals and make sure you’re moving (however “slowly”) towards them on a consistent basis.
Take responsibility. For yourself, your circumstances, your emotions - all of it. Life isn’t what happens to you - it’s how you deal with it. The good news: you are always in charge of that part!
Focus on INTERNAL gratification. Catch when you’re doing something for the external reasons (money, social validation, etc.) and bring yourself back to the real reason you WANT to do something. If it no longer aligns with your genuine purpose - let it go.
Stack your skills. You don’t have the be “the best” to be “the best”. In other words, if you get “pretty good” at a collection of complimentary skills (say, 5 or 6), then you can more easily (& enjoyable!) attain a high status in your particular niche. Work to your unique strengths rather than focus on being the single best at a single thing (this way is tiring & boring anyways!).
Set yourself a high (uncomfortably high!) hourly rate (for internal purposes), and use it to determine how to spend your time. This is a really practical strategy for decision-making as it relates to what to outsource, and just generally how to spend your time. Possibly most importantly: what to say NO to (because…it’s crystal clear it’s NOT worth your time!).
Time is limited. Live each day as if it were your last (figuratively, not literally…obviously!). I struggled with the concept of this one a bit - because I like to think in terms of ABUNDANCE (not scarcity!), but upon more reflection, I believe with the right perspective, this idea still aligns with that thinking. Basically, it means you need to prioritize your goals & focus on them. <— This is my #1 hack to more joy & less stress.
The last point is so very important and crucial that is deserve a more practical prompt, so that you can well & truly implement it effectively. The thing is, in order to prioritize your goals & focus on them, you first need to get clear on your values.
There are 2 possible questions (i.e. journal prompts!) Steven suggests, which I will leave you with here…
How would the person that I want to become spend their time?
Which decision would the person I want to become make?