Secrets of the Good Life

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photo credit: -MONICA

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

-Charles Darwin

Evolution has been a controversial theory since Darwin first brought it to the forefront in 1859. However, looking at successful people, it’s easy to notice that they adapt to the ever-changing environment. People with apparent handicaps have learned to live great lives because they could adapt to their surroundings and situations.

It’s imperative that we change. In today’s world, ideas and society are evolving at a rapid pace. One of my old insurance agents summed it up nicely by saying, “If you’re doing the same amount of business you did last year, you’re falling behind.”

So if we believe that change is necessary, why is it so hard to do? The need for security, fear, and it seems easier not to change. I have found the best solution to getting past these difficulties is to change fast. How fast? As fast as possible.

When I was finishing up my freshman year of college, I had a job as an overnight grocery clerk. I stocked shelves four nights a week. Around that time, I was preparing to transfer to the main campus of Indiana University. Then I got the bad news. I was turned down by all of the scholarships that I applied for, and was $10,000 short of what I needed. Luckily, a short while later, my father sent me an email detailing a way for me to attend Penn State University. After shuffling piles of paperwork, I was enrolled for the fall semester of 2005.

So there I was, moving to a school in another state where I didn’t know anybody. I had no friends, no support network of peers, and a new campus with over ten times as many people. What did I do?

The first month I freaked out. I became sad and less outgoing; not my usual self. However, after talking to people and meeting two people, who later became my best friends, I came to realize that I needed to make it wherever I was living.

A year or so later, I reflected on this experience and decided that I wanted to change fast. I made a few choices which I believe helped me to change fast - without losing my mind!

1) Attack Fear Before It Eats Your Mind

When I moved, I let the fear of moving and making an entire new set of friends get to me. You can’t let a minor inconvenience rule your life. When you find yourself fearful of new things in your life, take risks and attack them with lots of energy. Fortune favors the bold, so be strong and believe in yourself that it will work out.

2) Decide You Want to Change and Then Seek It

I wanted to change and grow. I looked for change whenever I could. I volunteered for the job of webmaster in a club because it forced me to learn website design. I took a job in a library so I could learn to find reading material faster. I talked to people every chance I could get so I could experience different people and see their perspectives. By making change an intentional habit, I grew more comfortable with the idea of it.

3) Deal With the Consequences of Your Actions

You will make mistakes. Change fast, and it’s guaranteed. When something goes wrong, fix it as soon as you can. Ignoring it or sweeping it under the rug just sabotages your future growth.

Overall, my transfer to Penn State was a formative one, and has become the basis of my modus operandi. I like to try new things, adapt to crazy situations, and make them work. I sincerely hope this story encourages you change and grow faster than you ever have before!

Welcome readers to my first “post” on Secrets of the Good Life.  If you haven’t checked out some of our pages, here’s a few links to check out.

About Me- this is the page dedicated to a little bit about myself

Contact Me- this is where you can reach me (Facebook, Twitter, Email, Warrior Forum)

Want to Be Featured Here- this page shows what I ask for in guest columnists and posters.  Interested?

What Can You Expect- this is the basics of this website, how often I post, why you should read my blog, etc.

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With all that being said, I want to introduce to you the basic fundamental building block of “The Secrets of The Good Life.”  This fundamental idea (if you didn’t catch it already ) is integrity.

Dictionary.com defines integrity as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.”  It continues on to say integrity is “the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.”

In my “What You Can Expect” I say in #3 that integrity is the key.  And it is.  It is in so many ways.  Some ways include

1. Moral (first part of definition above)

2. True to yourself (second part of definition above)

A lot has been written about integrity in the moral sense.  I think a basic google search for “integrity” would reveal that fact.  But how much talk is devoted to being true to yourself.

For me, this is an issue I struggle with every day.  I think most people who desire success and are goal-oriented feel the same way.  In my life, I think “being true to myself” is hard because I’m growing so fast in my mind and I challenge my beliefs to the point where, at times, I don’t know what they are.

A few years ago, I wasn’t as tolerant of other people.  I never could understand why my college classmates could drink so much and why they would complain about having no time to do anything (except drink and make merry :)).  I noticed a lot of people would do things that others were doing.

Everybody (including me) goes through times like this.  What helped me deal with this was some alone time and asking myself tough questions.  When I realized what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be, it was much easier to accept others.  It’s still tough at times (I will never get people who are just assholes).

So I will leave you with a few questions to ponder wherever you may be right now.

1.  Do you know what you want the next day or two to be like?  The next month? The next 5 years?

2.  What would you rate your quality of life right now?

3.  Do you take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically?

4.  Are you honest in your dealings with others?

If these questions are hard to answer or you don’t feel comfortable with your feelings, a good “gut check” is in line.

With that, I will leave you to your thoughts!

What did you think of my article?  Send me an email with your thoughts!

Hey readers,

My goal for this blog is to become the site that you look forward to visiting each and every day.  I have a few expectations of you as readers.

1.  Please Think For Yourselves- I write what I feel is important and could be helpful.  However, I’m not God (whatever name you want to call him…insert that here).  Because of this, I will do my absolute best to challenge you as a reader and “get the ball rolling” in your mind.  Take each article as an exercise in thinking and improvement.

2.  Expect The Best Out Of Me- If I let you down, get in touch with me and voice your concerns.  I don’t want to waste your time so please tell me if you feel that I have!

3.  Integrity: The Key Piece Of Everything I Will Write- this isn’t going to be a “get rich quick” or “solve my problems today” site.  That’s not realistic.  It’s also not realistic to think that you can be a long-term success without integrity.  Eventually karma will kick your butt so just live right.

4.  Posting Schedule- I usually want to post at least 3-5 times per week.  I will have guest posts on days where I’m not posting and a link list on Fridays (Weekend Reading).

5.  Reader Ideas- I LOVE THEM!!!!  Bring them on.  Go to my contact page, twitter them to me, email, facebook message me, or visit me in Warrior Forum!

6.   Reader Ideas Part 2- Do you like to write?  Are you interested in being featured on this site?  Send Me An Email With Details
I propose a toast—”May you have the greatest ‘good life’ you can imagine”

Yours Truly,
Brad Spencer