6 Zen-like Habits To Inspire Success and Contentment

“Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it. ~ Ray Bradbury”

Very little separates the highly successful and contented people from the average. Every day you’re called upon to make lots of decisions. What you’ll use your time for, where you’ll focus your energies, what’s important to you, who you’ll spend time with, even to the simplest things like what to wear.

There’s nothing more important to the success and contentment of your life than these little daily decisions. They are the makers and builders of your life, the creators of your future.

Here’s some zen-like quotes to help make decisions that inspire your success and contentment.

1. It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it. ~ Dale Carnegie

Don’t make the mistake of saving happiness for some future time. When you have a great relationship, when you get that new job, when your bank account is full, when you’ve lost those extra pounds, when you publish your greatest novel, when you no longer have obstacles in your way…then you can be happy. That’s no way to live a successful, contented life.

Remember that 90% of happiness comes from how you decide to think about events and only 10% from the events themselves. Success is living your own version of happiness. Let your inner voice speak happy words and decide today to never look for someone or something to bring happiness into your life.

2. Letting go is the lesson. Letting go is always the lesson. Have you ever noticed how much of our agony is all tied up with craving and loss? ~ Susan Gordon Lydon

Don’t allow negative thoughts to run your life or ruin your day. Find a way to move them on, squish them, whatever works. Move into a more positive mindset and you’ll find success and contentment not far behind. There’s a secret to happiness…it’s called a selective memory.

Learn to find it easier to feel gratitude and to quickly let go of what ticks you off.

Still feeling annoyed…you haven’t let go.

When memories still stir up negative emotions…you haven’t let go.

When you keep talking about the situation mentally or to others…you haven’t let go.  If you’re struggling with letting go, try the release technique. You can read about it here and here. Make a choice not to let the misery from your past create an unhappy future.

3. Some men fish all their lives without knowing it is not really the fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Whatever the thing is that you currently want more than anything else in the world, you might be surprised to discover that it isn’t what you’re really after. It’s not that new car, it’s not that new body, or bigger house. What you’re really after is the feeling that having the thing gives you. It might be the feeling of success, or joy or even relief.

Never forget you’re a spiritual being with everything you need to overcome obstacles, rise to greatness, and live a generous fulfilling life. Wanting something is the fulfillment of a hunger that leads you to grow. Understand your desires are more about who you’ll become than what you get and then relax and LET them come.

4. You have to open up to the world and learn optimism…Contentment with the past, happiness with the present, and hope for the future. Learned optimisim. ~ Jennifer Crusie

Are your eyes drawn to the weeds or the flowers in the garden? Truth be told, all of us get hit by bad days when our optimism thermostats take a big hit. The overriding influence in how quickly you get over an upset is your attitude.

You can learn to be more naturally optimistic by creating good attitude habits. Practice expecting something good to come out of each experience. Understanding that you’re at choice as to how you view outside events will soon lead you to greater contentment.

Focus on what you’re moving towards, not what you’re moving away from…changing your perception has the effect of changing everything. Take credit for your success, it’s not about being lucky, it’s about having great habits. You deserve a big pat on the back.

5. Unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so. ~ Noam Chomsky

Don’t over think things. There are plenty of people who are more than willing to help you create hurricanes just to put out a match. Pay no attention to them.

When mentally predicting the future…instead of assuming the worst, assume the best.  Your job is to live in faith, be hopeful and keep showing up, remembering the Universe moves in mysterious ways.

Put a smile on your face. Scientists from Darwin to present day tell us that a smile triggers a part of our brain that leads to happiness and optimism; and right behind them are their cousins, contentment and success.

Make it your mission to pass on your happiness to others. Share a few kind words or smile at a stranger, allow someone to go in front of you in the grocery store, or in traffic. Shared happiness draws more things in life for you to be happy about. Leading you towards a happier future.

6. To Do Today…1. Sit and think…2. Reach enlightenment…3. Feed the cats. ~ Jarod Kintz

Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Practice not taking life so seriously and learn to laugh at yourself. Remember there’s life, there’s love and all the rest is just commentary. Laugh at yourself, but never doubt your capabilities.

Have a laugh even when you’re not feeling your best, when you’re sad, or when you’re tired.

Try to smile, even through your tears and that lump you have in your throat from trying hard not to cry.

Sing, even when others tell you your voice sucks.

Remember you became the person you now are because of heartache and sorrow and the challenges you’ve overcome. You’re stronger now that you’ve dealt with the ups and downs of life than you ever were when you started.  Celebrate that.

The saddest thing about taking life so seriously is you rarely have a mind at peace so you rarely experience contentment. As a zen monk once said, if you’re not laughing, you’re not getting it.

Your turn.

In the comments below share any habits, zen-like or otherwise that would make the biggest impact on your success and contentment. Leaving out the obvious like meditation.

Thanks a lot for reading and sharing and commenting…you seriously rock.

Encourage one another.

Love Elle