No, this is not a quick fix guide. Rather it is an essay of my research on the foundations and principles of successful living and how they are largely more effective that the 'band aids' of quick fix tips. It doesn't make sense to keep spending resources on prettying up a field when the roots are drying of neglect. If, by now, you have made up your mind that you are going to read this article then prepare for some quiet introspection and most of all don’t be afraid! The world might look scary to you reader. But its not ,because you are strong enough to fight back ……………….

As the United states, wheels from a recession. A lot of people wonder what went wrong? Greed in wall street, the War in Iraq and the unprecedented rate of change overlapping the world today thanks to globalization leaves many confused with lack of dircetion. Bank of America recently announced huge job cuts and Chrysler has decided to shutdown production at all 30 of its plants while it waits for the US government to lend it a helping hand.

With the dizzying array of information in the news today, an individual cannot be blamed for having a pessimistic outlook of life. Mortgage Payments, Car payments, College fees and even bread & butter constantly occupy the mind of individuals such that many people are looking for 'quick fix' solutions to today's problems, the presidential race highlighted the contrast as people demanded 'immediate change', there was not going to be any two ways about it.

The root of the problem :

People fail to realize that the amazing success of the country that is America is a consequence of the hard work based off the guiding principles of individuals who had a vision for this country and strived hard to make it happen; From the founding fathers to Industrial Age entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley jocks; not all of them spent the best part of their money on activities that they felt were their 'due' because 'others' had or partaked in them. Instead, they possessed a burning vision and a steely integrity to bring their visions forth and thus live happily while acknowledging that their life on earth had a meaning. From Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to Farmer Joe who has enough money saved up to live what he deems as a comfortable life. Movie Stars, Actors, Singers, these people lead wealthy lives but they also work hard to exploit their unique talents and adapt to the changing environment around them.

The meaning of 'pleasure':

You work hours on a project that drives you, you have nothing to lose and you work on it with as little stress as possible with no material expectations of the outcome. Just a steely determination to see a great result that benefits people other that yourself. Suddenly you start getting accolades, fame, recognition and maybe even money. You find yourself in the company of other people who have acknowledged you as their equal and thus you begin to ape their lifestyle and spend lots of effort in that direction, while still enjoying the fruits of your labor. Actions breed habits and pretty soon somehow your inner compass has shifted into the direction of materialism as opposed to the vision for yourself that had enraptured you when you worked on that successful project. Hungry!! You stress, work hard and crave for the pleasure that you 'experienced' only to find your subsequent works largely lacking of the quality and substance that you had initially put into it. The reason? You were relying too much on others opinion on you, as such it played a large factor on your cognitive processes.

Sound familiar?

Viktor Frankl, the eminent philosopher and psychiatrist ,clearly remarked in his book "The doctor and the soul" that "Pleasure is not the 'goal' of our aspirations, but rather the consequences of attaining them". Think about the 'joy' felt by a quarter backer when he wins a football game FOR his school/college/state as opposed to the player who can only think about the fame, adoration and prospect of amazing parties as the goal of his actions. The latter becomes wholly narcissistic and his values become apparent through his actions and soon these 'false' values soon envelop him and their malleability engulfs him. The former takes criticism constructively rejecting those that he feels is not a true measure of his less developed talents.

As a human species we know in our gut that a principle centered individual is the one most likely to succeed. It is time for us to now look back at how 'we' were affected by the current crisis and how to modify our goals to attain them. Patience…….. I can't tell how long this process will take to generate results. But here's the catch, the process will soon become as pleasurable as the goals and soon the 'goals' transform into 'consequences'.

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