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Eight “L” Words for a Contented Life by Tim Connor I thought I would keep things simple with this article since the average adult attention span is less than 15 seconds. And yes, there are many more than eight words or concepts that, when interpreted cor- rectly and integrated into our activities, decisions, behaviors, and life in general, can have a significant positive impact on our life outcomes and consequences. Here are a few I believe are an important foun- dation: 1) Learn - If you are not learning, you are stuck. It doesn't matter whether you are 25 or 70 years old. We were not put on earth for a few years to learn in high school or college, then just float through the rest of our lives. Learning today is be- coming easier and harder for many reasons, but in the end, if you don't make it a life mission to learn something valuable every day, why are you still here? Learn something new today. 2) Love - I'm not referring here to romantic love, but the mindset of love. We have two basic emotional states which deter- mine the quality of our lives - love and fear - that's it. Both of these have many subemotions they support - whether joy or anger, peace or hate, forgiveness or jealousy. So the question is: Which determines your actions, decisions, behavior, and consequences today - the negative or the positive ones? 3) Let go - Sooner or later we all need to let go of something - regret, pain of loss, skills, activities, dreams, goals, success, good looks, people, etc. Whether it's giving up skiing or crossword puzzles, your high school sweetheart, or a lost loved one - holding on for too long causes unnecessary ongoing emotional pain which will impact other current circumstances, abilities, or relationships in a negative way. Letting go isn't easy, but it is necessary if you want to move on with peace, success, happiness, contentment, and less stress. 4) Listen - Do you talk too much? I know I do. As a global professional speaker I get paid to talk, but you know what I learned a long time ago - I can get paid more if I listen better and more. I don't care if it's a spouse, customer, employee, one of your kids, or a total stranger - you learn nothing while you are talking that can help you become wiser, get smarter, or improve a relationship. You can only do these when you listen. 5) Lighten up - Most people take life far too seriously. I recall a quote many years ago by one of my mentors, Og Mandino. He said, "Take what you do seriously, but who you are lightly." I asked him what he meant, and his response was classic: "Tim, you're here for a little while and then you are gone. Your legacy will be who you touched with your life while you were here, not what you did." I miss you Og. 6) Laugh - It's a proven medical fact that people who laugh more live longer and get sick less than people who don't. Know anyone who can't or won't laugh? Walks around with a constant frown on their face? Or is always critical and com- plaining about something? Well, guess what? All their frowning and complaining doesn't change anything. What it does do is shorten their life. I'm not talking here about constant joke telling, but a light and playful spirit which sees the good rather than the bad, positive rather than negative, and hope rather than despair. 7) Lead - Leadership or leading is not being the school principal, company CEO, or state senator. Leading is setting an example. Yes, during history there have been many negative and disruptive leaders, but there have been, thankfully, more creative and positive ones as well. The answer to a better organization, family, church, school, or government is not a bunch of elected leaders, but an entire group which takes seriously the simple role of setting a positive example and living congruently with what they say - for the all and not the one! 8) Labor - I'll close this one with a simple concept. Nothing worthwhile is free, easy, or fast. If you want something in life - a better relationship, career, business, health, better anything - it takes effort and not mindless effort, but effort grounded in wisdom, patience, and integrity. And your thoughts are? What words (with the letter L) would you add and why? In His service, Tim To receive Tim’s weekly FREE motivational booster articles, contact him at www.timconnor.com with “please add me to your free booster e-mail subscriber list” in the subject line. Or contact him via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 28 NOVEMBER 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®