A lot of people are constantly reading up, on how to be more efficient, how to have more self confidence, or how to attract more success into their lives.
Not that there is anything wrong with any of those things, at all. But more often than not, people have the tendency to become too immersed in the concept. They start trying to implement a lot of different things all at once, because it is supposed to make them “better”. They stop laughing a certain way, because it breaks the “looking professional” facade, they stop reading fiction books because it is a waste of time, and so on and so forth.
Before you know it these tips of self improvement and advancement, become shackles keeping you from living the life of freedom you were meant to live, the one that makes you happy.
I have read many of those books. And from first hand experience, i can tell you that they contain a lot of useful tips, and information. There is one thing that none of them teaches you though, which is where you should draw the line.
You cannot – actually let me rephrase that, you should not structure your life and center it around “being most effective” and “best practices”. And that is for one small simple reason: you are not a machine.
While the world appears to be progressing rapidly from a humane society where people care for on another, into a group of global interconnected corporates, it is most surely not how we were intended to live.
There is nothing wrong with being spontaneous, or doing things your own way simply because you enjoy doing them like so. It is a part of who you are.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with self improvement either. God knows we are all far from perfect, and could benefit from many life enhancing changes.
But these changes, should serve us. Should enrich our lives, and make us distinctively happier people. Not just “more efficient” ones. And where exactly does it all end, anyway?
The more you do, the more you feel you could still be doing. It is a vicious cycle.
You have to remain true to yourself, to who you really are. Because at the end of the day, that is the only way you will ever truly be happy.
Happiness, cannot be measured or calculated. It can only be felt.
Just look at the picture above, exactly what self improvement book alone can give you that kind of overflowing happiness?
So how happy are you feeling today? What about yesterday, and the day before that? And what can you do, to be happier?
Start there… The rest will fall into place.
I promise.
Ahmad Al Charif 
I so agree with you! I am a very sensitive person, and I get emotional very easily. Once a lady (who claimed to be a spiritual teacher) told me that if I cried from feeling sad then I was mocking God because I did not trust in “Him”. I was so hurt, and I felt that she could not be right. I think we all have to listen more to our own souls, instead of always looking outside of ourselves. Sometimes it is enough just to follow our hearts and the whispering of our soul.
I am so sorry you had to go through that, sometimes the people who we trust; and let in, end up hurting us without even understanding why, or how.
and i couldn’t agree more with you, our hearts always know the difference…
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration and wisdom to us. It’s quite a job to get through our daily lifes, and it’s easy to lose focus if you’re under stress and pressure.
What makes me happy? It’s not the money from my job (but I do need that money to pay the rent)…no it is moments in life, instant moments when I’m sitting besid my children and we’re just being togehter. Like when I took the train to bury my mom. I sat in the trainseat, watching my to boys who were sitting on the other side – and I felt that everything was right. That is happiness for me.
Thank you for passing by, and for your kind encouragement 🙂
i couldn’t agree more with you, happiness can always be found in the simple things that we have, in the smile of a loved one, or the memories shared…
You’re so welcome! 🙂
Hmm it looks like your website ate my first comment
(it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your
blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still
new to the whole thing. Do you have any points for novice blog writers?
I’d certainly appreciate it.
Thank you for stopping by Uma, and i apologize for that, must have slipped through the spam…
I would say the most basic and solid advice i can offer you, is to write about something you are really passionate about, and to focus on quality NOT quantity.
hope this helps 🙂
Hey there! I’ve been following your website for a while now and finally got the courage
to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the good job!
Hey visitor!
Thanks for stopping by, glad you are enjoying the visits! Never been to texas, hopefully one of those days… 🙂