Keys to living a good life, Part 1

The first, and most important thing is to be a person you would respect and love. It really takes the complexity out of the rest of your life. For years I struggled with my self-image. I couldn't understand why I felt so inferior to everyone else. I was a real Charlie Brown.

It had a lot to do with what I thought others thought of me. And I think it's pretty much the same with everyone who hasn't dealt with this and put it behind them. Our self-image, no matter what smoke and mirrors our minds put up to disguise the fact, are almost always based on how we think others perceive us.

It occurred to me, though, that if I met someone just like me, I'd like him and want him to be my friend. That turned out to be the big revelation that over time, turned my life around.

It sounds so simple. And like most basic truths, it is simple. The first key to happiness is to like yourself. And, like other basic truths, it's not QUITE that simple. You can't just say "I like me" and have it done with. You have to know what you're saying, and understand it, and mean it. If there's something in your behavior that you don't like..... guess what? You won't like yourself until you change it. The good news is, you have the power (and you're the only one with that power) to change it.

Too critical of others? Change it! Find yourself needing to feel superior to others? Get over it! Find yourself often rationalizing why it's ok for you to do unto others as you'd never have them do unto you? Cut it out!

We are all guilty of these things and others like them to some extent. Acknowledge that, and vow to try harder. And follow through. Nobody's perfect, but the person who can honestly say that they try to improve on their shortcomings is as near to perfect a person as I know.

Don't have any shortcomings? If you think that, that's the worst shortcoming of all. You know better. That one shortcoming is the one that will keep you from trying, and trying is the best you can do. You won't succeed all of the time. But if you try, you will succeed most of the time.

Maybe not at first, but success breeds success.

Be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Ghandi

If you're still interested, move on to Part II