Winners vs Whiners

It started out as a windy, rainy day. A tropical wave was moving through our area of the planet. It seemed like a planned beach barbeque was going to be washed out. By noon, it had cleared up. The barbeque went forward as planned. I am glad it did. I was introduced to a young man who inspired this article.

He was the epitome of 'young and earnest'; so full of questions and so eager for knowledge. We sat on the beach and talked for a couple of hours. I was impressed by how well read and how thoughtful he was. I was even more impressed by his desire to achieve something important with his life. He had somehow decided that I could provide him with some answers.

He kept at me, narrowing down his questions, forcing me to hone down my responses until he finally said, "What I want to know is... How can I create a happy, fulfilling and successful life?"

"That's all?" I asked with a smile. I suppose, at 19, it doesn't occur to you that is the same question most of us have asked at some point in our lives, perhaps repeatedly. I summarize below what I told him.

First of all, I said, you should know that what I have to say is only my opinion and you are going to have to decide for yourself what is true for you and discover for yourself what works for you. You can gain hints and clues, maybe even wisdom from others (maybe even from me); but ultimately, your life and its meaning, its purpose and its direction is up to you to define.

I believe it all comes down to the choices we make every day in each moment. The results that show up in our lives are determined by our personal choices about how to think, feel and believe. Sure, the individual circumstances we are born into have an influence. So does the education we receive from parents, schools and our culture; but the bottom line is we control the way our lives turn out by the choices we make.

Happiness is both the easiest and the most difficult thing to achieve. It is easiest because you do not actually need to have anything, do anything or become anything in order to be happy. You can simply decide to be happy no matter what is going on around you in life. It is hardest, because the world conspires to tell you that you cannot be happy unless you have certain things or do certain things or be a certain way. You have been trained to believe that your happiness is dependent upon your behavior or your attainment or your possessions. Stop buying into that crap. Simply choose to feel happy and you can be happy. Happiness, like Creator, can be found in your heart at any time you care to look.

Fulfillment is achieved when you are living your life according to a self-assigned purpose. You will feel fulfilled, no matter what you have or what is going on, when you are living on purpose. You will feel unfulfilled when you either have no identifiable purpose or when you are living your life according to a purpose that is not 'your own' or you are living your life in such a way as to be at odds with your purpose. The best way to create a fulfilling life is to discover and define what the purpose of your life is (free from the dictums or memes of society) and then to live each moment of each day on purpose or 'on your own path'.

Success is achieved when the results that show up in your life are in harmony with your ideals, whatever they may be. Since our choices of thought, belief, emotion and action create the results that show up, it is critically important to be able to get to a mental state where you can: first, become the observer of your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions rather than simply be caught up in the experience of having certain thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions; and then, to learn to take conscious control of your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions. (There exists a technology of success and I have written much about it, so I will not elaborate on it here.)

Finally, the attitude that each person chooses is a big part of being happy, fulfilled and successful. It really is a matter of choosing to see the glass as half-empty or half-full. Whiners see the glass as half-empty; winners see the glass as half-full. Choosing to adopt an attitude of gratitude at all times, no matter what circumstances or events occur, puts you into vibrational harmony with the ideals you desire to see manifest in your life. That vibrational harmony will attract more of what you desire into your life.

So there you have it, the short-form, beach-side chat on the secrets of happiness, fulfillment and success.

Leslie is the author of The DELFIN Knowledge System Trilogy: The Initiation, The Journey and The Quest plus many more success publications. He also the co-author of The End of the World with Hugh Jeffries and Alexandra's DragonFire with his daughter Ashley. Subscribe to his free and ad-free eZine at http://www.prosperityparadigm.com or http://www.prosperityparadigm.com

Reprinting and republishing of this article is granted only with the above credit included. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright.

affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..

In The News:

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

Winners vs Whiners

Positive Attitude Tips