Life Lessons: The best things are the simplest ones

It is often said that the most successful ones among us are not always the hardest workers – more often than not, the people who do best are the people who work the smartest, with a clear goal and focus towards their direction in life. This does not necessarily mean heading towards a corporate lifestyle, or a life of fame and riches; sometimes, the best things are the simplest ones and they are also often the hardest to get. For example, how many of us can truly say that we are content with life? How many of us have experienced the joy of having just one day with no stress, tension or responsibility? A focused, smart and determined person often wants simple things from life – peace of mind, ease of habit and lack of tension. However, as life lessons have taught all of us, these three aspects of life are often the most difficult to accomplish. We have learned the hard way that there will always be some expectation to live up to, some work to do and some responsibility to take. So how do you focus yourself to live a life which involves just the right balance between work, personal freedom and happiness? Many people would say, ‘pick any two, because all three are not possible’. However, these are mutually inclusive values – as the quote goes, ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop’. So eliminating work, while it may help for a while, will eventually result in a feeling of purposelessness which is not conducive to personal happiness or freedom. The question of what to do arises – the answer is simple. Think, but don’t overthink. Relax, but don’t become lazy. And take some time to breathe in the moments which take your breath away. For so many people, being successful means being able to enjoy the little things in life, and for this, it’s important work hard, and play hard as well. You have to fall in love with your work, and with the leverage you have to enjoy the time where you are not working. This is how smart workers act; they set achievable goals, and they don’t promise themselves more than they can deliver. A smart worker will do as well as he or she can at work, but he or she will also recognize the importance of taking some time off to refresh the mind. Many people feel that a proper break, or a proper experience with nature can only be had in far-off exotic locations. However, while travelling to different places is definitely wonderful, sometimes it’s not possible – in such a situation, make your own exotic getaway. Drive off to a quiet lake, and wash the water splash and let go of all your worries for an hour or so. If that is not feasible, walk over to a nearby park and enjoy a brief commune with nature – appreciate the beauty that the world has to offer, and remember that you must give something back to the world in order to live a wonderful life in it!

Traveling Minds