Be happy now. It's a great Western disease that we'll be happy in the future - when we get higher status or that BMW or that promotion or this project finished. Instead, be happy now.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of finding happiness in the present rather than postponing it for future achievements.
Marshall Goldsmith's quote highlights a common mindset in Western culture where people often believe they will find happiness in the future through external achievements and possessions, such as status or wealth. Instead, Goldsmith urges individuals to embrace happiness in the present moment, advocating for a proactive approach to joy rather than a future-dependent perspective.
In practice
This quote can be shared at a personal development seminar to inspire attendees to focus on present happiness.
Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your best to set clear goals for yourself?' The former is trying to determine the employee's state of mind; the latter challenges the employee to describe or defend a course of action.
Treat every piece of advice as a gift or a compliment and simply say, “Thank you.
The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is timing.
Life is short. Do whatever you can to help people - not for status, but because the 95-year-old you will be proud if you did help people and disappointed if you didn't.
If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. You begin to control your world more as opposed to the outside world controlling you.
A leader who is self-aware enough to know that he or she is not adept at everything is one who has taken the first step toward being a great leader.
A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can’t see--that’s my idea of happiness.
I would challenge anybody in their darkest moment to write what they're grateful for, even stupid little things like the green grass that made them feel good, the friendly conversation they had with somebody on an alevator. You start to realize how rich you are.
If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.
That's right," said Eeyore. "Sing. Umty-tiddly, umty-too. Here we go gathering Nuts and May. Enjoy yourself." "I am," said Pooh.
When once a man has made celebrity necessary to his happiness, he has put it in the power of the weakest and most timorous malignity, if not to take away his satisfaction, at least to withhold it. His enemies may indulge their pride by airy negligence and gratify their malice by quiet neutrality.
It turns out that the process of working toward a goal, participating in a valued and challenging activity, is as important to well-being as its attainment.
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