Do What You Can't Not Do

How to find and do work you love

Scott Dinsmore

You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. - Jim Rohn

Learn what matters to you. Record what inspires you. What gives you energy?

http://strengths.gallup.com/110440/About-StrengthsFinder-20.aspx (not free)

Gratitude for Movement

A broken body isn't a broken person
Janine Shepherd

I hope to run, bike, and swim with gratitude for ever step and stroke of the way; with gratitude for being physically capable of movement and knowing, trusting, that the gratitude will continue regardless of how time changes what movement my body allows.

HOW MANY PSYCHOLOGISTS DOES IT TAKE TO SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB?

Creativity
John Cleese

Foster an Environment for Creativity

1. Space
2. Time (specific start and stop): should be 1.5 hours
3. Time (give your mind as long as possible to come up with something original) -- defer decision until decision date so you can be uncomfortable in creativity)
4. Confidence
5. Humor (it releases us)

Other Points

• Play
• Only accessible in the open mode
• Keep your mind returning to the subject at hand and you will get a payoff.
• More fun with others, but there is a danger that if someone makes you feel defensive, you could lose confidence.
• Generate random connections, and let intuition guide you to something insightful.

FINDING HAPPINESS AMONG A HAYSTACK OF CHOICES

The Paradox of Choice
Barry Schwartz

• More options does not equal happiness

YOU WON'T FIND GREATNESS. UNLESS...

You Will Fail to Have a Great Career
Larry Smith

• Excuses
• Family, relationships
• Imagine saying to your kid, "I had dreams once, but I gave them up to have you." No! Follow your passion!
• Fear of failure
• Unless...

REDEFINING MINDFULNESS

Be Your Own Therapist
Buddhist Monk

• Happiness is what you get when you give up the pursuit of things to make you happy.
• You can have your cake and eat it, too. Let go of the neurotic dependence on the money, girlfriend, and other beautiful things, but don't necessarily give up on those endeavors.
• By being in touch with the fact that things change -- the law of impermanence -- you can walk a more healthy balance of letting go when losing something you care about. You will miss "it" but it might not take your heart with it.

PROSOCIAL MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS

Michael Norton: How to Buy Happiness

• Prosocial spending increases happiness
• Selfish spending doesn't necessarily affect happiness
• Example: Dodgeball teams that spend money pro-socially end up dominating the league.