More than a few people think that I am pretty good at what I do, that I am successful. I respect their judgement and thought about what contributed to my success. I came up with four that form a foundation for (my) success. Since it is possible that others will find them helpful, I have decided to share my Four Secrets of Success (book in the works, film rights sold to Branjolina Films).
Follow these four recommendations, and you will be more successful in anything and everything you seek to accomplish.
1. Drink lots of water.
if you are dehydrated, nothing about you is operating optimally. By the time you realize you are thirsty, you are depleted. You are tired and listless. You think about getting another cup of coffee but your stomach complains at the thought.
No problem. Just get yourself a big glass of water, room termperature, no ice, and drink it down. You will feel the very substance of life trickle into your body and bring you back to life. Then drink another glass.
Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
2. Work your abs.
What they say about a strong core? It’s all true. Strengthen your abdominal muscles and you will be amazed at the change in your life. I vouch for it from my own experience.
I’m not talking about buying an Ab-Roller or going nuts with crazy crunches. Just do something every day, and see if you can do a little more every day.
Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
3. Go outside.
Preferably amongst trees, in a forest.
We did not evolve to sit in front of a screen, typing. Our bodies do not like what we force them to do. Go outside and you will make your body happy. And seeing how your brain is inside your body, it will make you happy, too. Then when you get back to the screen, you will be energized, creative and ready to solve problems.
Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
How do I know these three things will make a difference? Because whenever I stop doing any of them for very long, I start to feel bad, ineffective, unfocused.
Oh, wait a minute. I said “Four Secrets of Success”. So there’s one more. This one’s different from the others. The above three are things I suggest you do. Number Four is, in contrast, something I suggest you stop doing:
4. Turn off your TV.
By which I mean: stop looking at screens for sources of information about the world. Rely on direct experience as much as possible.
Not only is television bad for humans physically, but you essentially turn off your brain when you watch it. If, instead, you turn off the TV, you will find that you have more time (objectively and subjectively) to think about things (and go outside, and work your abs, and...).
Couldn’t hurt to try, right?
Well, actually, you might find it kind of painful to turn off your TV. It depends on how comfortable you are living inside your own mind.
And if you are not comfortable, well, how does that make you feel?
Wishing you the best in 2015,
Steven Feuerstein
