Imagine a world where there are no deadlines, no bills to pay, no mistakes and stress is just a thing of the past. Sounds like perfection, right? The truth is that we are becoming a world filled with overwhelmed, overstressed, over stimulated, and under motivated inhabitants. The combination of these elements are not conducive to success, instead these things contribute more to our failures and the anxiety that every person feels. Essential 5 encourages us to maximize our peace and relationships so as to create a supportive environment for us to succeed.

The first step to achieving the Fifth Essential is gaining a new perspective on life management. Changing your vantage point in life will help you begin to see and handle life and stress much differently than before. When Victor Frankl was brought to a concentration camp as a young man he was forced into a life that is filled with much more stress than yours or mine. Years later the experience prompted him to write “Man’s Search for Meaning,” detailing his life within the walls of a concentration camp. There he marched for miles with no nutrients to support him, wearing wooden shoes that pinched and cut his feet with every step. His clothes no longer smelled of linen and home, but instead were unwashed and blanketed with the stench of death. The frozen temperatures outside accompanied with the lack of food meant his efforts toward menial tasks caused overexertion and dire exhaustion. The mental pain and anguish he faced was exacerbated when he watched numerous friends fall victim to the Nazi’s, and looked on as his own beloved family were murdered.

Yet, Dr. Frankl realized that once the inhabitants of the camp focused only on their impending doom, overwhelming pain, and indescribable suffering, they died. From that moment on Frankl adopted a victorious outlook. He saw that even stripped of every freedom, he retained his right to choose his perspective and attitude toward circumstance. You can achieve this goal and improve your perspective on life by:

Recognize your value. Whether it seems like it or not, you matter.

Discover your UTP: Unique Talent Proposition. Discover your natural talent!

Find a Higher Purpose. Recognize the object or reason for which you exist. This purpose will keep you on course to success.

Create a personal value system. Identify your ultimate needs and uphold your personal values.

Dismiss the results and the reactions. Identifying your talent, value, and morals you will become enlightened on who you really are. Do not allow mistakes or daunting tasks knock you off course.