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Living
Boldly® e-Zine Archives
Are you
living a 4-star life?
April 02,
2005
So what IS a "4-Star Life™"? And why should you want
one?
Pretend you are going on a long journey. Along the way, you will
stop and see the sights, and have new experiences -- most of them happy ones,
but like any trip, sometimes things don't work out the way you plan and you
have to deal with the unexpected and even the unpleasant. On your journey, you
also form relationships, make decisions about what to eat, how to spend your
time, and when to give your body the rest and care it needs. When it's time to
"make camp", you find a hotel.
What kind of hotel do you choose? If
you had no obstacles, would you choose a 1-star hotel, or a 4-star hotel? You'd
pick the 4-star hotel, naturally! A 1-star hotel is functional, and can meet
your basic survival needs with bed and bath, but it's not attractive and isn't
a place where you want to spend a lot of time. You probably won't get the best
sleep, and it may not even be as spotlessly clean as you'd prefer.
Those 2 and 3-star hotels get increasingly better, of course. The more stars
you get, the more pleasant your experience, and the more amenities you can
enjoy. You feel a bit more pampered, well-fed, clean, and rested after your
stay. You have moved beyond mere "survival" needs, and are able to focus on
accomplishing more with your time and energy. The better the hotel, the more
energy you've got to work with when you're out and about, enjoying your
trip.
And the best hotels are the 4-star variety. In a 4-star hotel,
you would expect the most welcoming reception, the best care and service, the
most attractive surroundings, and to have the most enjoyable experiences.
Staying in a 4-star hotel allows you recharge your batteries and put your
energy and attention on what REALLY matters to you: creating fun for yourself,
doing interestings things, meeting fascinating people (and maybe even finding
ways to give something of yourself to others), and of course, having some bold
adventures. You are having the optimal experience!
No, this isn't a
travel story (and I have no specific 4-star hotel recommendations for your next
vacation!) It's a story about the journey of LIFE - YOUR life, the life you
have been choosing.
The fact is, we are ALL on a long journey, one
where we get to choose our destination, who we interact with along the way, how
we take care of ourselves, and how we will deal with the unexpected and often
difficult challenges that come up without warning. We all are travelers in our
own life journey.
Your "hotel" is just an analogy for the structure of
your life. How many stars would you give your life right now? Are you at the 1,
2, 3 or 4-star level?
Do you want to settle for the mediocre but
functional: the 1-star experience? Perhaps you're at the 2-star or even the
3-star level, having "done the work" on yourself over the years and continually
"upgrading to better accomodations" (and kudos to you if you have!) -- but do
you want to stop there? What if you were to make it a priority to go "4-Star"
in your life, all the way?
I'm not talking about the material luxuries
here. I'm talking about your vision for your life: what you're doing and who
you're being. If you could have it any way you want (and here's a clue: you
CAN), would you start upgrading yourself to 4 stars?
Would you treat
yourself better? How? In what ways?
Would you make different choices?
What would they be, and how would they reflect your personal vision of a 4-Star
Life?
Would you invest in better quality relationships with
others?
How would you spend your time more effectively and
productively?
How would you be using your specific gifts and talents
so that you can share them for the benefit of someone else?
Living a
4-Star Life may not be easy, and it may take you a while to get there. But with
that as your compass on the journey, I have no doubt you will reach your
destination more quickly, more enjoyable, and more boldly!
Bon voyage!
I want to challenge you to
come up with 5 specific things you can begin to "upgrade" in your life,
starting right now, to move toward your own 4-star life.
Here are
some ideas to get you started -- but feel free to come up with your own
creative suggestions!
What are you putting up with or tolerating that
you can "clean up"? (Elminate clutter; balance the checkbook weekly; replace
your dead plants with healthy ones - and keep them that way!)
What are
you putting off doing that you really enjoy doing, just for the pure pleasure
of it? (Playing an instrument; doing crafts or artwork; going to a museum or a
sporting event.)
How can you begin treating yourself at least as well
as you treat others you care about? (Spa treatments; regular exercise; speaking
kindly to yourself with your self-talk.)
How you can you become more
responsible and accountable for your actions and choices in your life? (Come up
with a plan to eliminate debt; pay back money you've borrowed from a family
member; ask a friend to support you in reaching a big goal.)
How can
you give back to someone else? (Volunteer; call a friend who is having a rough
time and let the conversation be all about him or her; work on your listening
skills.)
For permission to reprint this
article, please contact me.
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