My five keys to happiness and success
Hey everyone! As my time is winding down in Florida, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about a few key things that not only create happiness for me but also breeds success. For a long time, I struggled to be happy in life, the genuine real kind of happiness. As much as golf and my career makes me happy, I have a life away from golf and that part of my life deserves the same amount of happiness. The five keys to happiness may or may not work for all of you, or above all else they ban be a starting point on a road that will ultimately lead to genuine happiness.
The first key is very important and should be part of everyone’s life. Answer the phone, when mom, dad or a loved one calls. This is important for many reasons. There will come a time when mom and dad or any loved one won't be able to call anymore. Unfortunately, we don’t live forever and there will come a time when you wished you answered that call. Don’t find yourself in this position. There are 24 hours in the day and the five-minute phone call will mean the world. I talk to my parents every day, multiple times a day, not out of fear of not having them but because they turn bad days into good days and bad days into better days. Always answer the phone.
The second key is never to go to sleep angry or upset. Life is wildly challenging no matter what you do. Throughout you will experience some horrible day. Days that seem to just never end in the worst ways, but it is so important to never go to sleep angry or upset because those negative feelings will filter into the next day and live in your head rent free. We have the choice every day to start fresh and make every day a great one. The choice is yours.
The third key is a personal favorite of mine, I call this one “eat the ice cream.” For the longest time I never enjoyed the finer things in life. I was so focused on saving money, eating healthy and kept my life way too regimented. I call this one “eat the ice cream” because life is too short to not go on the trip you have always wanted too or getting that giant bowl of ice cream with a big warm brownie for dessert. Life is supposed to be fun so enjoy every single moment of it, and always remember to eat the ice cream.
The fourth key is to be kind. This is self-explanatory but throughout life we will come across people that we believe may not deserve our kindness and that is false. No matter what, every single person deserves to be treated with kindness. I have come across so many people in life that not nice and unkind to people. It is our job to meet that unkind of behavior with kindness. Life is a lot easier when you do not hold grudges. Remember to always treat people with kindness and respect regardless of the situation Be the change…Be Kind.
The fifth key is to open yourself up to others. For years I kept myself closed off to so many people. I thought life was doable on your own. I was wrong. The past few years I have let myself open up to others, create lifelong friendships, and most importantly this key has given me Gabby. She has altered the direction of my life in unimaginable ways and has given me a kind of love you only read about. People are not meant to live life alone, there is and always will be strength in numbers. Find your people, fall in love, and share your life with others.
To sum up these five keys of happiness, do not be afraid. Sometimes we are afraid of the life and its challenges. Life can be scary. It is okay! If you were not afraid sometimes of the unknow and the challenges, it wouldn't be worth it. When we are doing something meaningful and important our brains send a reflex throughout our body to stop us from doing something scary or risky. The key is to push past that fear, push past that self-doubt and just get to the other side. Once you get through that pain, fear, struggles and actually make it to the other side you’ll open a door to the life you’ve always dreamed. Just do it for yourself! The Power is Within!
Life may be linear, but it is not a straight line. The line of life is filled with highs, lows, zig zags, squiggles and everything in between. Life is not easy and sometimes the best things in life are the hardest to achieve. Sticking to these keys has changed my life, it has given me a deeper appreciation for people the world around me. They have allowed me to love deeper and smile just a little bit bigger. They have granted me the absolute privilege of being part of something bigger than myself. One day these keys will ultimately bring me a family of my own and for that I will forever be grateful. In the end all we really have is each other so don’t waste your time on things that prevent you from the real happiness we all really deserve.
Smile Big, Love Unconditionally, & Eat the freaking Ice Cream!