Keys to Leading a Happy and Fullfilled Life

Some of you may believe that if you just had more money, or a better job, or another degree, or some other external “thing” that life would be better. Like there is a nagging feeling that you shouldn't have to be dissatisfied with your life- that you don't have to just 'put up with it'

Maybe you don't know what to do to make your life more fulfilled, or don't know where to start. But if you did, you'd be able to confirm those nagging feelings. It may even seem sometimes like there's simply nothing you can do. You hope and dream of living a fulfilled life, but it still feels as if it is simply out of your hands.

But living a fulfilled life doesn't have to work that way. Not only is it possible to live a fulfilled life, but the more you work at it, the easier it becomes.

How? By cultivating these 8 keys to living a fulfilled life.

1. Passion
   
   
   

   “We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” -Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

   
   Everyone has the capacity to be passionate about something, even if you feel like being passionate is “not your thing.” When you are passionate about something, you have a great drive and devotion to it. You passion reflects your interests, it's what gets you excited, and what makes you come alive.
   
   So the first key to living a fulfilled life is to have passion and something to be passionate about. Passion releases a great energy within that propels you toward a fulfilled life.



2. Energy
   
   
   

   “And what is a man without energy? Nothing – nothing at all.” -Mark Twain

   
   Oftentimes when we are passionate about something, energy flows freely. So it's natural for them to go together. But it is also important to cultivate energy as a habit every day.
   
   In David Hawkins' book, Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, he describes energy as being on a map of consciousness where low energy levels manifest themselves as emotions like shame, guilt, and fear, and high energy levels manifest as love, courage, and acceptance.
   
   More importantly, he mentions that positive jumps in energy are possible through choice. Here are three tips you can use right now to start cultivating more energy:
   
   
   
   
   • Meditate- Many spiritual disciplines of the world are interested in meditation, and for good reason. Meditation can be very useful for cultivating that daily energy you need.
   
   
   
   • Act like you have more energy Jump, run, or smile like crazy. You might be surprised at the positive effects it has. It's sure to give you a boost.
   
   
   
   • Take a power nap Set a timer for 20 minutes, close your eyes, and get comfortable. Even if you don't fall asleep right away, it just might be the rest you need. Try it, it works.


3. Drive
   
   
   

   “A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, ...it can be done." -Vince Lombardi

   
   Drive and determination mean a lot when it comes to living a fulfilled life. So if you're going to accomplish something, you're going to need to spend some time cultivating your drive.
   
   The good news, is that drive also works hand in hand with passion and energy. Once you start focusing on it, it becomes easier to do the same for others. So take a minute to think about what drives you. What lights you up and fuels your fire when you feel like nothing else does? Tap into that energy. It may be the only thing that keeps you going when you need it most.



4. Resilience
   
   
   

   “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Confucius

   
   Resilience is indispensable for living a fulfilled life.
   
   Perhaps one of the most famous examples of resilience is Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent electric light and a lighting system that make it safe and practical for home use. Even more impressive was the fact that he had to invent seven new elements to make it work.
   
   Essentially, through thousands of failures came a very big success. Nearly nothing great is achieved without failing at something along the way. And if you give up, you'll never know what great things might have happened.



5. Curiosity
   
   
   

   “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

   
   Curiosity to explore, to discover, and to be open to world propels your life forward. Exploration strengthens curiosity, and curiosity encourages exploration. People who are curious boost attention and interest. New doors are opened.
   
   Just like following your passion, move in the direction your heart pulls you. If you're not used to allowing your curiosity to lead, start small. It may take time to get used to it. The more you get used to allowing your curiosity to lead you places, the easier it will get. Start today.



6. Optimism
   
   
   

   “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller.

   
   People with the 'glass half full' outlook are able to see things from a fresh perspective. It makes a big difference if you look at obstacles as being a dead end, or an opportunity.
   
   When you have a can-do attitude, so much more is possible.



7. Confidence and Self Esteem
   
   
   

   "Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself." - Robert Collier

   
   Believing in yourself and being confident in your abilities can sometimes mean the difference between taking action or doing nothing at all, and can make all the difference.
   
   Here are three ways to quickly boost self confidence:
   
   
   
   
   • Remember past achievements- Think of it like sailing on the ocean. Instead of looking out into the ocean and thinking of the vast distance you haven't traveled, look back and see how far you've come from the shore. Sometimes we forget the things we achieve and focus on the things we believe we can't do. By taking a moment to focus on all that you have accomplished you may just get the boost you need.
   
   
   
   • Practice good posture- Just like how smiling or acting like you have more energy can give you some extra pep and make you feel better, practicing good posture can too. Stand or sit up straight, keep your head up, and make eye-contact while speaking. You'll not only make a favorable impression on others, you'll feel much better yourself.
   
   
   
   • Compliment other people- Have you ever noticed how saying good things about other people make yourself feel better? There isn't exactly a huge body of scientific evidence for it, so you'll have to go with your gut. Have you complimented someone today? It's definitely worth a try.


8. Balance
   Our lives work together better when things are in balance. Work, sleep, play, everything.
   
   The same applies for the 8 keys. For example, having too much curiosity and not enough confidence will probably leave you spinning your wheels and being overwhelmed with the endless things to explore.
   
   As the famous saying goes, "everything in moderation."

What can you do today to start living a more fulfilled life? Share your story in the comments below.

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Nine Easy Tricks to Cut Your Spending Today

How often do you resolve to spend less?

And how often do you actually manage that?

We’re constantly faced with opportunities to buy something – as we walk down the street, as we drive past stores, even at work with the vending machine or canteen nearby. And with online shopping, we can buy at any time of the day or night, with just a few mouse-clicks.

If you’re spending more than you want to, though, these are a few simple ways to cut your spending – without having to do any complicated budgeting, and without having to rely on willpower.

1. Write a Grocery List
   Simple, yep, but this one trick can make a big difference. If you often find yourself buying groceries that end up being thrown away, or if you get lured in by the cookies or ice-cream, then having a list will help. It also prevents repeated trips to the store to pick up that one thing you forget...
   
   A list lets you buy exactly what you need: no more, no less. It takes just five – ten minutes to write a grocery list, and you’ll easily save that much time in the store.



2. Leave Your Credit Card at Home
   If you often find yourself spending more than you should when you’re out shopping, then leave your credit card at home. Take cash, or a debit card: that way, you can only spend what you actually have.



3. Record What You Spend
   Just as keeping a food diary helps you lose weight, keeping a spending diary helps you save money. If you have to write down that bottle of cola and candy bar, you’re more likely to resist buying them.
   
   A spending diary will also highlight patterns: any areas where you’re spending more than you realise, and where you might be able to cut down.



4. Try the Store Brands
   If you normally buy branded products, try the store’s brand instead, or even a value range. You might be pleasantly surprised – sometimes, there’s little or no difference in quality (the products may even be produced in the same factory, by the same methods, and simply packaged differently).



5. Take a Packed Lunch to Work
   It only takes five minutes to make sandwiches in the morning – probably much less time than you spend heading out from work to buy your lunch. A packed lunch will cost you far less than getting food from a store or restaurant – and it’s often better for your health, too.
   
   You can find more tips on packed lunches here.



6. Add Items to a Wishlist
   When you’re browsing an online store, add any items that you like to a wishlist – don’t buy them straight away.
   
   As Trent Hamm explains here on The Simple Dollar, adding items to a wish list “takes the edge off of the immediate desire. I can also return to those ‘wish lists’ at a later time and determine if it was a ‘whim of the moment’ desire or something I actually have a use for.”



7. Block Online Shopping Sites
   If you’re really struggling to control your online spending, then try blocking any problem sites for your browser. When you really need to make a purchase, you can unblock them – but the extra step involved will help prevent you from going onto those sites “just to browse”.



8. Use Coupon Codes
   Any time you’re making an online purchase, search online for “coupon code” plus the name of the product or store. You might not find anything – but you might save 20% or more, with just a few seconds’ work.
   
   Many sites offer regular roundups and emails of coupon codes – try Retail Me Not for starters.



9. Ask “Do I Need This?”
   Any time you’re thinking of making a purchase, ask “Do I need this?”
   
   Of course, there’ll be times when you want to buy something that you don’t strictly need – but asking the question can help you to become more self-aware about your purchasing habits. If you’re considering putting money down for something which you don’t need but which you think you want, then give yourself a day or two to mull it over. Often, that initial impulse to buy will just vanish overnight.

There are nine tricks here for you to try – but do you have a tenth to add? Share your ideas in the comments below.

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6 stories of life-changing social media connections

When we think about social media, it’s very easy to keep it sectioned off into nice, little containers. A thought passed along on Twitter might elicit a response, perhaps even a retweet. A Facebook status message is passed along and it gets a like or two.

But what about when it becomes something much more than the sum of its parts? What happens when lives change because of social media interaction? That was the question on my mind this week, so I turned (naturally) to social media in order to find some answers.

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Apple’s Eddy Cue gets 100k share stock bonus worth $37.4 million today

Earlier this week Apple announced that it was promoting Eddy Cue to Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, a move that appears to be placing Cue in charge of the new iCloud and the flagging iAd products. Now, Cue has been given a 1000,000 restricted stock unit bonus worth $37.4 million at today’s stock values, reports Macrumors.

The shares of stock are not vested immediately, instead, half will vest in 2013 and half in 2015, as long as Cue continues to work for Apple.

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