Over the last 30+ years, I have been privileged to work with some of the world’s most successful people. Within that group, there are a distinct number of them who are genuinely happy, while others feel as if they are on a hamster wheel they cannot escape.

What’s the difference between the two groups? I believe the key to the group who are happy have made a conscious decision to implement these 10 Lessons for Living Life with Mastery… not good, not great, but their very best life. I want to share them with you here.

The 10 Lessons

Lesson 1: Choose Your Career Wisely

Choose what you do for the intrinsic rewards as well as financial ones. Experts believe that the biggest career mistake people make is selecting a profession based only on potential earnings. A sense of purpose and passion for one’s work beats a bigger paycheck any day. Go for both, be smart. Leverage your talents and gifts. Live in your personal zone.

Lesson 2: Make Healthy Choices Hourly

Act now like you will need your body for a hundred years. Stop using “I don’t care how long I live” as an excuse for bad health habits. Behaviors like smoking, poor eating habits and inactivity are less likely to kill you than to sentence you to years or decades of chronic disease. An unhealthy lifestyle can cause the last decades of life to not be enjoyable or your best and can often mean the burden of others caring for you because of your choices.

Lesson 3: Pick the Best Spouse and Love Them

Choose a mate with extreme care. The key to finding a good mate is to not rush the decision, taking all the time needed to get to know your prospective partner and to determine your compatibility with them. Don’t rush in without knowing each other deeply. That’s very dangerous, but people do it all the time.

Lesson 4: Say Yes More

Say “Yes” to opportunities. When offered a new opportunity or challenge, you are much less likely to regret saying yes and more likely to regret turning it down. Take a risk and a leap of faith when opportunity knocks.

Lesson 5: Travel More

Travel while you can, sacrificing other things if necessary to do so. Most people look back on their travel adventures (big and small) as highlights of their lives and regret not having traveled more. Travel with your kids, parents, friends, and colleagues. Learn about other cultures and create memories that last a lifetime. I’m at 50+ countries visited and headed to 100. Travel can be a great refresher and motivator as well.

Lesson 6: Say it Now

People wind up saying the sad words “it might have been” by failing to express themselves before it’s too late. The only time you can share your deepest feelings is while people are still alive. Send appreciation notes and letters, emails, texts, etc. Be an encourager with your words, and be intentional about it. I write and sign cards daily in appreciation.

Lesson 7: Do it Now

Time is of the essence. Live as though life is short – because it is. The point is not to be depressed by this knowledge but to act on it, making sure to do important things now. Clarity and Focus don’t count if you don’t Execute. Make the time you have matter.

Lesson 8: Smile A Lot

Happiness is a choice, not a condition. Happiness isn’t a condition that occurs when circumstances are perfect or nearly so. Sooner or later you need to make a deliberate choice to be happy in spite of challenges and difficulties. Write down what makes you happy and keep it in front of you. (See my Wealth Lesson in the RESULTS Faster! Course)

Lesson 9: Stop Worrying

Time spent worrying is time wasted. Stop worrying. Or at least cut down and manage it as a smart motivator. Worry is a thief of joy and is counter-productive. Relax and enjoy each day you’ve been given.

Lesson 10: Savor the Moment

When it comes to making the most of your life, enjoy every day – enjoy the journey. Attune yourself to simple daily pleasures and learn to savor them now. Joy doesn’t just come in the big adventures or accomplishments, but in all the small things along the way. Savor the moment.

Bottom-line, living in Mastery requires your intention to live your life, not the life someone else is choosing for you. Your wants and needs are different than someone else’s, so don’t compare yourself. The things that are important to you are yours alone. You get to decide what living in Mastery means for you, but those decisions require action. I promise you, the result will be worth it.

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