Four Steps

I'm very interested in inspirational, thought provoking material, so I read that stuff constantly. But I also love movies. Perhaps the most consequential movie I've seen this year is one few people are aware of, called "Living Luminaries: On the Serious Business of Being Happy". One of the presenters in the movie is someone I'd never heard of before named Matthew Kelly. In the movie, he talks about four areas of the human experience that define us as a species:

1. Physical

2. Intellectual

3. Emotional

4. Spiritual

He suggests that there are simple steps we can take to cultivate each area, and, essentially be much happier. His recommendations include reading a good book for at least 10 minutes a day (intellectual), giving priority and focus to your relationships (emotional), taking a few moments each day in silent contemplation to reconnect with yourself and your source (spiritual) and, of course, regular exercise, healthful eating and adequate sleep. He says we all know how to do these things but we don't do them because we're too busy trying to be happy!

That makes a lot of sense to me.

So what does it take to actually follow these few simple steps? Discipline. That word may intimidate or even repel some, but as Kelly puts it "Discipline doesn't stifle us, it refines us."

Starting to apply that discipline in a single area that could use some attention in your life could make a real impact on your own sense of significance.

I know which one I'm adding starting tomorrow...