An enriching lifestyle is a matter of awareness, values, education, and disciplined taste. It is an art that brings joy as it is practiced; it’s not just a subject to be studied. It is the deliberate decision to savor and enjoy all the experiences and possibilities of life. Having an enriching lifestyle means expanding your knowledge and experience with books, people, films, and new adventures. So appreciate everything and everyone with whom you come in contact. You can begin expanding your lifestyle today.
Think of something you can do today to make yourself feel richer and better about your life. Make a phone call, reserve tickets to a concert, send flowers, write a thank-you note, plan a trip of new discovery, or begin to read a classic. I (Jim Rohn) would bet that within fifty miles of where you are right now there are some places you have never seen, some foods you have never tasted, some experiences you have never had.
I grew up in Idaho, and I’ve never been to Yellowstone Park. And part of it is in Idaho! Thousands of people from all over the world have traveled to Yellowstone–doesn’t everyone know about Old Faithful? I’ve been to Africa, but not to Yellowstone. Isn’t it easy to miss something? Isn’t it often easier not to do something, see something, or experience something?
Let’s all set a new goal not to miss anything, especially the things within our reach. Remember, all good things take effort, a conscious act from a unique thought. The act serves as a bridge between dreams and reality. So improve your lifestyle–your style of seeing, giving, sharing, enjoying–bit by bit. It’s not the amount that counts, but the experience of choosing to live with style.
I remember once saying to Mr. Shoaff, “If I had more money, I would be happy.” And he gave me some of the best words of wisdom when he said to me, “Mr. Rohn, the key to happiness is not more. Happiness is an art to be studied and practiced. More money will only make you more of what you already are and send you more quickly to your destination.”
He continued, “If you are inclined to be unhappy, you will be absolutely miserable if you get a lot of money. If you are inclined to be mean, you will be a terror if you get a lot of money. If you are inclined to drink a little too much, you will be a drunk when you get a lot of money. More money will only make you more. But the good news is that more money will amplify your happiness if you are inclined to be happy.”
Style is not more. Style is an art, a genius, a design. Lifestyle is reserved for those who are willing to study and practice the higher arts of life.
Lifestyle is culture, music, dance, art, sculpture, literature, plays, and concerts. Lifestyle is a taste of the fine, the better, and best. The philosopher Mortimer Adler once said that if we don’t go for the finer tastes, we will settle for the mediocre ones. So develop an appreciation for the finer things in life. That is a worthy purpose–developing an appetite for the unique things in life. Remember, it’s not the amount, it’s the quality.
* Source: Leading an Inspired Life by Jim Rohn