Daily Gratitude: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

Can you come up with a better definition than this? I doubt it.

I’ve talked about success before and have always said that you define your success. Well, Maya has made it easy on you because if you embrace her definition, it shows you that it is all about you.

What else does this mean? It means that you are responsible for your happiness. You can’t blame lack of it on anyone else or anything else.

The first part is key liking yourself is the most important thing you can learn to do. It took me over 70 years but I finally like myself. Sometimes it still shocks me. And then I laugh. You have to laugh at your path. It isn’t accidental so you need to have fun tracing it and seeing all the twists and turns.

I think that once you really like yourself the other two aspects will come naturally. You will know what you want to do and part of that path you’ve been on will lead you right to the door of what you like to do. You have to keep your eyes open though or else you might just walk by that door.

Once you stop and open the door to what you like to do, it will be natural that you do it well. Maybe not at the start but you will strive to do it better and better. Do you know anyone who really loves tennis and is satisfied with being mediocre? No. They continue to learn about different techniques and they practice because they want to improve. They may not be the best Wimbledon winner but they don’t stop learning and practicing.

What, then, is holding you back from success? You have all the elements. What are you waiting for?

Daily Gratitude: “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”

It’s important to read this several times a day. And then follow its advice.

Does this work? Yes.

Why? We are all about vibrations. We are energy and energy doesn’t exist alone. It vibrates and interacts with other forms or degrees of energy. Dolly Parton had such positive energy that as soon as she walked in a studio the atmosphere changed. We all have had an experience at a party or meeting and someone is really down (or up) and we immediately sense it. It’s because vibrations emanate out and are picked up by sensitive beings around it. Think back and I’m sure you can find at least one example in your life.

When you get a present and it’s something you like doesn’t that feeling stay with you? All you have to do is think about it and a smile will pop up on your face.

Imagine how you’d feel if you were constantly thinking about all the good things in your life. It would be hard to feel down. Especially if you take the time to see how those “bad” things that happened really weren’t so bad after all. Praise adversity for what it taught you and what you learned (they aren’t always the same thing). See everything as good in some way.

Be thankful for all you have. Dwell on that, not on the bad things because remember what I just said – in a year from now they won’t be “the bad things”.

Celebrate your life. Be happy.

Remember most of all – be like Dolly!