By Barry Farber, Diamond Minds
I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to write for so many years and I wanted to thank all the readers for your inspiring letters and continued support.
I do hope my column lifts you up and makes you look at life a little differently. Sometimes we just need reminding of the basics and simple things that make us appreciate what we have and live life to its fullest. Here are some of those reminders…
- The founder of Ralston Purina said, “Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life comes back to you.” When your focus is on elevating others, you in turn elevate yourself. We are at our best when we are providing a valuable service to others. As the late great Earl Nightingale said, “Our rewards in life are in direct proportion to our service.”
- In every martial art, breathing is one of the most critical factors for control and power. Yet it is one of the last things we think of when confronted with conflict. Breathing calms you, brings oxygen to your blood and heart, improves mental observation and concentration, and ultimately reduces stress.
- One of my favorite quotes by Winston Churchill goes, “A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” There is always something valuable that can be derived out of difficulty, adversity, or change.
- Learn your craft well. Study everything about your profession so you attain deep knowledge. That deep understanding gives you great confidence which is one of the greatest assets one can possess when faced with adversity and a challenging environment.
- Transparency… Be comfortable in your own skin. Many years ago, a good friend of mine told me that your potential increases tremendously when you stay true to who you are. Never underestimate the power of being yourself and connecting with people on a whole different level.
- One of the strangest secrets that has been discovered is that we become what we think about. So be selective in what you read and who you surround yourself with. Our thoughts become our actions and it all starts in the mind.
- Constant learning = Constant action. Both are equal-both are necessary. We learn from our actions-we act from our learning. One without the other suffers. Both together provide depth and clarity in truth.
- Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people don’t like to do.
- When changes come your way, keep an open mind and look for ways to take advantage of the situation by not being so rigid in your approach. When we get set in our ways that is what seems to get “in the way” of new opportunities.
- No one cares how much you know until they see how much you care. Learn to listen more than you talk.
One of the most inspiring thoughts ever written was produced some 4500 years ago in Sanskrit; I am sharing it in translation:
“Look well to this one day, for it and it alone is life. In the brief course of this one day lies all the verities and realities of your existence— the pride of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. Yesterday is only a dream, and tomorrow is but a vision. Yet each day, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life.”
And to the husband and wife in Whole Foods the other day…thank you for your kind words!