If you want to live your life to the fullest, there are five aspects of life that you need to balance: work, health, learning, social, and spiritual. Out of the five, here I’d like to take a closer look at the role of spirituality in optimizing life.

Spirituality plays an important role in our lives. In fact, I believe that it’s the most important aspect of the five. It’s the foundation upon which all the other aspects are built.

There are at least four reasons why spirituality is important:

1. It Gives You Meaning

You can only live a full life if you find meaning in what you do. Spirituality helps you find that meaning. Why? Because spirituality helps you see the big picture. It helps you see things beyond yourself.

Instead of just living for yourself, now you live for something bigger. You find your place in the world and do things with a sense of purpose.

2. It Gives You Hope

Like it or not, there are times when we have to go through difficult times. Spirituality gives you hope in such a time. That’s because spirituality builds your faith. You know that you are not alone. You believe that Someone is in control. This belief gives you the strength to keep going.

3. It Gives You Inner Peace

Spirituality gives you peace in your heart. Even in challenging situations, you can find comfort and calmness. Now you can face your challenges with a clear mind.

4. It Balances Your Life

Spirituality teaches that many things in this world are temporary. Money and fame, for instance, wouldn’t last. Instead, there are things that are more valuable in the long term such as your family and relationships. This perspective will help you live a balanced life.

***

As you can see, spirituality is important: it helps you live a meaningful life, it gives you hope, it gives you inner peace, and it helps you live a balanced life. For these reasons, I believe that building your spirituality should become a priority.

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As you might know, I’m a big believer in self-education. I believe that everyone should embrace lifelong learning and that it’s important to have a knowledge advantage.

A big part of self-education is reading books. For that reason, I’m always eager to know what good books are out there.

So here is my question for you:

What are the best nonfiction books that you have read recently and why?

Please share your answer in the comments so that everyone can read it. Thanks!

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Do you want to know whether you are in the right career? Do you want to know whether you are at a place where you can be your best?

I have been following many successful people over the years. These are people who have overcome great challenges to thrive in their fields. These are people who have made an impact on the world.

They come from different backgrounds, but somehow they give similar advice when it comes to career. It’s as if there is a key to success that these people have found.

In essence, this is what they say is the unmistakable sign of having the right career:

You are having fun doing it.

Yes, you are having fun doing it. And the fun doesn’t come from the money or the reputation you get but from the work itself.

This is the way Warren Buffett puts it:

“I had fun when I was in my twenties, my thirties, and now I am 86 and I am having fun.”

That’s a great way to live, isn’t it? That’s how our career should be!

Now, how can we find such a career? Here is Buffett’s advice:

“I advise students, as much as possible, look for the job that you would take if you didn’t need a job.”

Let’s pause and think about that for a moment: what job would you take if you didn’t need a job?

When you look at the way Warren Buffett works, it’s obvious that he is having fun. How else can you explain reading 500 pages a day for years? Remember, he is his own boss. Nobody forces him to do it. I can’t think of any other explanation of his intensity except that he enjoys doing it.

There is a good reason why having fun is essential for career success: it makes you go further at it than other people. What may feel like a chore to someone else is a joy to you, so you will do more of it.

Here is how Stephen King puts it:

If there’s no joy in it, it’s just no good. It’s best to go on to some other area, where… the fun quotient higher.

Again, similar advice, and there is a useful term here: fun quotient. I think that’s a good way to measure how good a career is for you: how high is the fun quotient?

Mark Cuban puts it this way:

It’s really easy to know if you are in the right job. If it matters how much you get paid, you are not in a job you really love.

I can give you more examples, but you get the point.

There is something you should be careful about, though. You could start what you do for the fun of it, but over time you could lose the fun and it would just become a job.

I know this because it happens to me. I started this website because of the fun of doing it, but over the years there were times when I worked on it simply because it’s my business. It’s no longer the fun that motivated me, but what I would get out of it. Needless to say, this isn’t good. Realizing this pushes me to get the fun factor back.

So here are two questions you should ask yourself:

1. Do you do your job because of the fun of it or because of an external reward (like money)?
2. If you used to have fun at what you do but not anymore, how can you get the fun back?

Take time to answer these questions. They can help you have a great career.

Recommended Book Summaries

• Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life
• How to Find Fulfilling Work: The School of Life

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There is an important principle you need to remember in managing your life: “What get measured, get managed.” It means that to get something managed, first you need to measure it. Only by measuring it can you get the facts to make informed decisions.

Deed Counter is an iOS app that helps you track your life stats. You can use it to count things in your life and store the stats for your future reference.

For instance, you can use it to track how many glasses of water you drink, how many push-ups you do, how many books you read, and so on. If you want to manage a certain area of your life and it can be counted, then you can use Deed Counter to do it.

Try it for free. If you like it, you can then upgrade the app to the full version.

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Note: This post is written by Nicah Caramba

Oh no.

They’re inviting you to a group outing again.

Gulp.

“Uh…” You’re about to break a sweat from nervousness trying to come up with an excuse.

“My parents are coming over this weekend. I’ll go next time.”

But you never do.

You scroll through your Facebook and Instagram feed while you don’t realize your eyes are turning green with envy.

Oh man, everybody looks so happy.

You regret your decision, but not really.

You wouldn’t know what to do or say with all those people anyway.

But you know you’re missing out.

This isn’t the first time this has happened.

But you’re so sick of it.

It isn’t easy breaking away from something you’re used to.

As multiple opportunities for a better life reveal themselves, you know you have to take them.

You have to decide that right now, you will start breaking free from your shell and make the most out of the one life we are blessed to have.

Here are three ways to do so:

1. Stop Saying No

Unless you already had plans for that day, don’t hesitate to join the social activities your group is inviting you to!

Even if it’s something you have never done before (as long as it’s not deadly or illegal), do it for the experience.

You never know who you might meet, what might happen, and what new memories you could create.

The last time I traveled abroad (a few weeks ago), we went to Universal Studios Japan and there was a ride called Hollywood Dream.

I looked up and the riders were screaming as they approached the drop.

It was a rollercoaster.

There wouldn’t be any problem…if I wasn’t terrified of rollercoasters.

I’ve ridden roller coasters before that were faster and taller than Hollywood Dream, so I didn’t understand why I was terrified whenever I see one.

Fear of lack of control? Maybe.

But that day, I promised myself I wouldn’t ride it.

My younger sisters rode it first, and they said it’s the best they’ve ever ridden.

Not enough to convince me, I said.

So they dragged me.

They dragged me about three meters until I finally said that I would go.

And I’m glad they did.

Hollywood Dream might not be the most intense ride, but it had the right pattern of loops and sharp turns that I enjoyed.

Did you know that you could choose your own music too?

There were speakers on the headrest of each chair, and I chose the song “On Our Way” by The Royal Concept.

I will never perceive that song the same way again.

The Hollywood Dream Rollercoaster in Universal Studios Japan is my favorite ride as of today.

After that short ride, it made me rethink my life choices.

How many times did I pass up experiences like this because of fear that I created in my head?

Most of our fears are irrational and have no logical basis.

We need to stop saying no, and learn to say yes more often.

We might not know the twists, loops and turns, but we never come out the same.

Say yes right now.

It could make all the difference.

2. Put Yourself Out There

You don’t have to go out every day, but you need to break off your routine of hiding yourself from the world, where everything is happening.

Also, this doesn’t only mean literally going outside, but putting yourself in the spotlight and letting people know what you offer.

Want to tell your boss you have a brilliant idea for the new project launch?

Go for it.

Want to speak at a conference about your advocacy in life?

Go for it.

You heard about a newly established hiking club not so far from your area. Interested?

Just go for it!

While it might be similar to stop saying no, putting yourself out there comes from your own decisions.

Nobody has to ask you.

You plan it for yourself.

If you do this, the more in control you will feel in your life.

You will feel better for taking responsibility for whatever happens.

It’s time to hear the cracks of your shell breaking.

Practice putting yourself out there.

You have more than enough resources to find out what you can do.

3. Cherish the Connections You Make

So you’ve stopped saying no, started making decisions for yourself and put yourself out there. It’s most likely that you’ve created new friendships and cultivated the existing ones.

At the end of the day, what matters the most are our relationships.

To make the most out of life, we also have to value the people around us.

The impact of human connection is more powerful than we think.

So start keeping the healthy relationships that are born from your adventures.

The more you surround yourself with people who lift you up and have similar goals, the more you are going to succeed in life.

When you are at the same phase in life or going through the same circumstances with the closest people around you, it gives you the confidence to share about your own challenges and breakthroughs.

And the more you’re going to break out of your shell.

***

These three ways might sound easy, but don’t take them lightly.

You will not transform if you do these only a few times.

They have to be done repeatedly.

Challenge yourself to do at least one of these a day.

Attend a co-worker’s farewell party.

Volunteer at a shelter.

Strike up a conversation with the barista you see regularly at the Starbucks you go to.

You never know what life might have in store for you.

It is through action that we can truly understand the essence of making the most out of life.

– About the Writer –

Nicah Caramba is an entrepreneur who is passionate about public speaking, travel and Japanese food. Aside from chasing the next adventure, she is constantly looking for ways to help people communicate their ideas better through her blog todayimchanging.com

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Are you curious about the world? Do you follow your curiosity?

A while back, there was a talk featuring Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Interestingly, when asked about an important trait they have, they both had the same answer. Their answer was curiosity. They both said that curiosity plays an important role in their success.

Why Curiosity Is Important

Why is that the case? Why is curiosity important?

They said that curiosity pushes them to keep exploring the world and updating their model of the world. The model then helps them make the right decisions that lead them to success.

To a much lesser extent, I can also attest to the power of curiosity. In my case, it usually leads me to new opportunities. I know that has been the case with many other people as well.

For instance, I was curious about computer programming when I was in high school. This led me to develop simple games and eventually have my own app business.

A few years after graduating from college, I was curious about blogging. This led me to start this website which eventually allowed me to leave my day job.

I often don’t know where my curiosity would lead me. I just follow it because it’s fun! But more often than not, it takes my life to the next level.

So there are at least three reasons why curiosity is important:

1. It helps you make better decisions by updating your model of the world.
2. It helps you find new opportunities.
3. It makes your life exciting.

How to Develop Your Curiosity

Now, what should we do? How can we develop curiosity?

Here are some tips.

1. See the World as Full of Hidden Treasures

If you aren’t curious about the world, that’s probably because you think you have already found all the good things. You don’t think there are still interesting things that you haven’t found.

Curious people see the world differently, though. In their view, the world is full of hidden treasures yet to be found. There are exciting things out there that they haven’t discovered. This belief makes them eager to explore the world around them. They want to find the treasures. And they often do.

If your level of curiosity is low, instill this belief in you: “There are a lot of hidden treasures out there. I should go and find them!”

2. Avoid Labeling Something as Boring

People who aren’t curious often label something as boring. But curious people don’t. Instead of labeling something as boring, they wonder what hidden treasures may lie behind it. Even if they don’t dig into it right now (because there are many other interesting things at the moment), they keep the possibility open to come back to it.

Labeling something as boring is just the opposite of what curious people do.

3. Follow the Lead

When you become curious about something, don’t ignore it. Instead, follow your curiosity. Read articles on the topic, watch videos on YouTube, find books about it.

I often do this when I come across something that seems interesting. Without planning it before, I could spend a lot of time digging into it.

For instance, I came across an article about Jeff Bezos a while back. I ended up watching videos and reading articles about him and his business philosophy. It was unplanned, but it was exciting and gave me new insights.

4. Create Side Projects

If you want to really grasp something, it’s not enough just to consume information about it. You need to do something. A good way to apply that is creating side projects.

This website, for instance, started as a side project of mine. I was taking my master’s degree at the time, but I got interested in blogging and personal development, so I created this website. Now, more than ten years later, this website is still alive and well, and has taken my life to the next level!

Not all side projects would become successful, though. I also have side projects that didn’t go anywhere (such as this game). But that’s fine. I did it for the fun of it, so I don’t really lose anything. Plus, failure is an option.

5. Be Prepared to Change Direction

This might not happen often, but if your side project becomes successful, you might consider changing your life’s direction. This happened to me in 2009 when this website gave me enough income. I decided to leave my day job then and that’s a decision I never regret.

***

What about you? How do you develop your curiosity? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resources (special offer)

• Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It
• Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life

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Note: This post is written by Daniel Carnett

The concept of a routine implies doing the same old thing over and over again. So, for many people, this may sound like something that drains the spontaneity out of life.

However, these people are seriously underestimating just how important a consistent routine is. By working a routine into your life, you’ll actually discover that you have more time and energy to be spontaneous. Securing this consistency can deliver you everything you need in life and a little extra.

A consistent routine gives you the power to control your own destiny, so it’s an area of life which is well worth investing your time and effort into. To demonstrate the power of having a consistent routine, we’re going to take a look at the benefits that this approach to life can bring.

Increases Your Efficiency

The old saying of “practice makes perfect” is never truer than when it’s applied to daily routines. After all, by constantly revisiting the same patterns and processes over and over again, you’re going to find that not only do you improve your ability to complete them, but they soon become second nature and you don’t even have to think about doing them.

This is a real bonus for your daily activities as it frees up your conscious memory to work on any new challenges that you may encounter. Therefore, you become more efficient and are able to increase your productivity.

Benefits Your Mental Health

Disorganization breeds chaos and, in turn, this breeds stress; this is the last thing that anyone needs in the 21^st century as life is stressful enough. However, once you begin to develop a consistent routine, you’ll find that this fog of chaos and anxiety soon lifts.

With a well thought out daily routine in front of you – and the luxury of knowing you can achieve it – you’ll discover that it provides you with the framework to plan your day and reduce the guesswork. If you think about it, every day is a journey and you need to know the best route to complete it effectively; a daily routine gives you the power to achieve this.

Brings Structure to Your Life

To be successful in life you need structure as it provides a fantastic foundation of organization to help schedule your day. Understanding exactly how your day is going to unfold is vital in knowing how to distribute your energies.

Once one task is completed you know where your next step will be falling e.g. your morning run is followed by a shower which is then followed by breakfast. This familiarity doesn’t just extend to the day ahead of you either; it can also help you plan several days at a time which, again, reinforces the control you can have over your own destiny.

Allows You Time to Relax

We all seem to be living increasingly busy lives, so the chance to sit back and relax is now a rare luxury. However, the opportunity to catch a breather and indulge in some quality ‘you’ time doesn’t have to remain a fantasy.

A consistent routine can help you structure your day in a manner which is so efficient that you can set aside time to relax. The beauty of being able to work in some relaxation time is a huge reward factor for sticking to your daily routine and motivates you to continue.

Improves Your Sleep Quality

To function effectively, we need to get a good seven hours sleep. But if your life lacks a consistent routine then there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to schedule in quality sleep. And the knock on effect of disorganized sleep patterns is that you become less productive in the day and your whole routine can be seriously compromised.

Backed up by a consistent routine, though, you’ll soon find that you’re able to schedule in a good seven hours sleep at the same time every night. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

No More Pile Ups

One of the benefits of a daily routine is that it allows you to dedicate a little bit of time every day to specific tasks and this ensures that certain duties don’t pile up. For example, if you spend 10 minutes every evening cleaning your dishes then, come Sunday, you won’t be confronted by a seemingly insurmountable pile of dishes in the sink.

A consistent routine gives you the power to break larger tasks into much smaller batches and ensures that no single task is neglected. And, once you have this sort of consistency in your life, you’ll realize just how much of a stress and time saving approach this is.

Enhances Your Self-Determination

Although daily routines can soon become a habit, it’s not an instant process; a lot of willpower and self-determination is required to make sure you get up at 6 am every morning to go for a three-mile run and then create a fresh and healthy breakfast.

However, once you begin to reap the benefits of a consistent routine, the reward circuit of your brain will encourage you to push your self-determination to new levels. The end result is that you achieve more than you ever have done before and it’s all thanks to the transformation a daily routine can bring to your life.

Bad Habits Become a Thing of the Past

The true enemy of a consistent routine is a life full of bad habits. After all, getting up early to get a head start on your daily routine may sound like a fantastic idea, but it’s a lot easier to stay in bed and hit that snooze button time and time again.

Bad habits such as this, though, soon add up and your life begins to revolve around the ‘easy’ option more and more. Whilst, in the short term, this may leave you feeling very comfortable and relaxed, in the long term it’s going to lead to a build-up of tasks which will cause you an almighty headache. A consistent routine, however, can help you break these bad habits and become more productive.

– About the Author –

Daniel Carnett is a 20-something entrepreneur and founder of the Art of Routine, a community focused on morning routines, productivity, success, and the lifestyle that is curated by waking up earlier and taking control of your life. You can connect with him on Twitter.

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I always like to see the big picture of something to understand it. Seeing the big picture helps me know the relationship between the elements. It also helps me see where I fit in. At the end, it helps me make informed decision or opinion. That’s why I like books such as Guns, Germs, and Steel that gives me the big picture of history.

Thank You for Being Late by Thomas Friedman is a book that fits that category. It gives me the big picture of how the world works today. It explains how different forces shape the way we live.

It’s also a bit nostalgic for me. One of Friedman’s previous books, The World Is Flat, is what inspired me to start this website. It talks about the power of individuals in the 21st century and how those from the third-world can compete with those from the first-world. I was very excited when I learned that and decided to start this website!

In The World Is Flat, the key word is flat: people from different parts of the world are now on a level playing field. In Thank You for Being Late, the key word is fast: we now live in the age of acceleration. Things are moving faster than ever before. Because of that, what’s critical today is the ability to adapt.

How can we do that? How can we stay relevant in this fast-changing world?

Here are four ways to do that from the book along with my thoughts.

1. Embrace Lifelong Learning

In the past, people could stop their education after they graduated from college. That’s no longer true today. Skills are becoming obsolete faster than ever before, so you need to constantly upgrade yourself. You need to embrace lifelong learning.

The Economist did a special report on this a while back. Here is an excerpt:

In many occupations it has become essential to acquire new skills as established ones become obsolete… A college degree at the start of a working career does not answer the need for the continuous acquisition of new skills, especially as career spans are lengthening… To remain competitive, and to give low- and high-skilled workers alike the best chance of success, economies need to offer training and career-focused education throughout people’s working lives.

Like it or not, lifelong learning has become a necessity. In fact, you might need to reinvent yourself every now and then.

Here are two questions you should ask yourself:

• Have I made learning a habit?
• What skill should I learn next?

2. Be Creative and Empathic

More and more jobs are being automated these days. This article explains that the main threat to jobs is not outsourcing but automation. Even jobs that seem safe, like accounting, are prone to automation.

There are two things that can’t be automated, though: creativity and empathy. Machines can’t do these two things. So aim to have more of these qualities in yourself. Be more creative at what you do. And try to put empathy into the mix.

3. Be a Part of a Healthy Community

Your life is like a tree. If you want to grow, you need to be planted on a good soil. That “good soil” is a healthy community. A healthy community gives you the support you need to face the challenges of this age. It also helps you find balance in your life.

So be a part of such a community. It could be a religious community, a club, a neighborhood, or even just a group of friends. The important thing is that you have some people who can support you.

4. Motivate Yourself

Thanks to the Internet, we now have an abundance of resources for learning and growing. So the problem is no longer the availability of resources; it’s the availability of motivation. What makes the difference between those who make it and those who don’t is their self-motivation.

Do you have the motivation to make the most of the resources available to you? The more motivated you are, the further you will go.

***

How good are you in doing the four things above? How can you improve yourself in each? Your answers can help you thrive in this fast-changing world.

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