A HIGH QUALITY LIFE STARTS WITH HIGH QUALITY YOU

A high quality life starts with a high-quality you

Cheryl Richardson

A high quality life starts with a high-quality you! Don't rush frantically trying to catch up or make up for what you didn't do in the past. This kind of frenetic rushing and hopeless browbeating keeps you tied to the past and feelings bad about yourself. Get a fresh start on this process by being gentle with yourself. Set aside some time to reflect on all you’ve done right in the past by considering the following questions:

What qualities of character have you strengthened? Are you more honest with others about how you feel? Have you learned to set boundaries with those people who drain your energy? Maybe you’ve improved your communication skills or become more sensitive to the needs of others?

Have you shared an act of kindness or supported others in some way? Did you help a friend in need or care for an elderly parents? Maybe you coached you kid’s sports team or volunteered for a non-profit organization?

What special memories have you created with those you love? Did  you take a vacation that was particularly memorable? Did you organize an event that brought people closer together? Were there any special moments that stand out?

What have you achieved or accomplished? Consider both your personal and professional life. Did you meet your business goals or get a promotion at work? Maybe you finished an important project, like writing a book or developing a workshop, or channelled your creative energy into painting or cooking?

-Cheryl Richardson

Commentary by Sudhir Krishnan

Outward success is a result of the work you do on the inside - what manifests outside is only the reflection of the inside.  Lasting results come when we are consistent and make small but regular steps towards our goals. At times when we are enthusiastic to make a positive change in our lives, it may be tempting to rush to implement a lot of change very quickly. For example, we may decide to go on a very strict diet, read many self-help books at the same time, over-exercise to make up for all the months we were not regular etc. However this type of excitement does not last long as the mind is constantly focused on lack, where we are constantly trying to "fix ourselves". It is hard to get lasting results without first being contended in the present.

To shift the mind from a perception of "I need to fix myself" to "I love myself the way I am", Cheryl recommends that we go and look at all the things in the past that we have done right in the area of personal/spiritual growth, relationships, and career. When we give ourselves a pat in our back for things that we did right, our energy will be positive, we will be more appreciative of ourselves, and from that comforting place of gratitude, we can go on to implement more positive changes in the future.

And Here is the same message in Dr. Wayne Dyer's words:

"Deficiency motivation doesn't work. It will lead to a life-long pursuit of try to fix me. Learn to appreciate what you have and where and who you are."

This is an important message for parents as well. Positive changes come only by appreciating the strengths of our children. Criticizing the short-comings of our children will not any motivate positive transformation. And of course this works on our partners too. When I appreciate my wife on her cooking, somehow the meals tend to get better and better - just a few regular, yet genuine words create so much magic. The only downside to this is that by appreciating her cooking, I am forced to spend more time at the gym! :-)