Open Your Mind, Fill 6 Areas of Your Life to Be Happy
Many of my clients, friends, and relatives define their level of happiness by just a couple of aspects of their lives, maybe three. They usually talk about the money they have, their relationship with their partner, and sometimes their job. I spend my time reflecting on those aspects of my life. For a long time, ever since I was a kid, I have felt a void in my life. I was happy, BUT…
But I wanted something more, but I could feel better, but I could do more, but I see people happier than me, but… an endless list. When I started writing and reviewing those texts from when I was 11 onward, I realized that the characters in my stories always had something I did not. That is how I discovered there are 7 important elements to consider, analyze, and change if you want to feel fulfilled. Rate them from 0 to 10, and make the changes needed to get closer to 10 if you are not there yet. If you reach 10 in every area, you are a successful person in life.
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Health and Vitality
I learned this from my friend and mentor Alan Burak. When I met him I was in a stage of life full of problems, and I had neither the energy nor the motivation to take care of myself. Once I started spending time with him and saw how he lived, something shifted inside me. I realized many of my personal problems came from lack of exercise, poor food choices, and habits that hurt my body. I am not saying you need a six-pack or to look like Captain America. You simply need to feel good in your own skin and body.
Mind and Meaning
I have always been a lover of books. I have cultivated a creative and strong mind that has allowed me to feel in control of situations. That is part of emotional intelligence: running your life instead of letting life run you. As A. Robbins says: “Life happens for you, not to you.” That means you take charge of every situation and never let life dictate how you live. Reading also helps you discover passions and a clear path. Meaning matters for everyone: knowing your life has purpose, knowing where you want to go, and knowing how to get there.
Productivity and Performance
This is about your personal and professional productivity. How satisfied do you feel with your output and results in both areas? Very few people feel good about both, and not many feel good about even one. Learn to divide your time, drop endless to-do lists, and create a map of the challenges you must clear to hit your goals. If you believe you could achieve more in your personal or professional life, you do not have a 10 here yet. Remember: even people who rate themselves a 10 do not have perfect lives. We all face problems. What raises your level is how you handle those situations and still deliver on your goals.
Career and Business
Not long ago a worker from Guatemala wrote to me. In Mexico they would call him a “godín,” the classic 9-to-5 employee who cashes his check and spends it on the weekend while waiting for the next paycheck, next vacation, or next party. He told me something that stuck: “I do not feel happy with my life.” That caught my attention, so I asked what he expected from me and my team. He said he could not afford our coaching service but still wanted a way to improve that part of his life. He had no capital to start a business, he disliked his career, and he rated himself a 3 out of 10. In a few messages I helped him open his mind to different opportunities, even though I could not help him further. It seems that was enough.
Your job or your business is a core part of your life. You usually spend more time working than relaxing, so raising your satisfaction in this area is essential.
Wealth and Lifestyle
Not everyone wants to be a multi-millionaire. In fact, I have family and friends who feel very happy with a 9-to-5 job, a biweekly paycheck, a house, a car, and a couple of vacations a year. Not everyone aspires to own 10 houses, a collection of luxury cars, or a private jet. What matters in this area is simple: every person I know who scores 8 to 10 (on a 0-to-10 scale) here has financial freedom. They know how to manage money, whether they earn millions or not, and they do not constantly worry about covering bills at the end of the month. They feel content at the financial level they have because it matches the lifestyle they want. Unfortunately, few people find that balance. I also know many who spend on a lifestyle they cannot afford and live every day under the fear of debt and bills.
Leadership and Impact
This one is very important to me. If you are happy with your life and have more than others, even if you do not have millions, it is not about the number in your bank account. What matters is giving. Someone with a leader mindset knows that giving is more important than receiving. Giving lets you impact lives that no one else might have helped. It can be a donation, inspiration that helps someone improve, a job opportunity, or help with no strings attached. There are thousands of ways to lead and create impact around you, yet far fewer ways to feel the way you will feel once you develop that mindset.