Joy is an attitude and we choose our attitude. 

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."  Richard Wagner - 1813 - 1883  German composer, theater director, polemicist and conductor, who is primarily known for his operas.

Why isn't your life better?  Maybe because you don't deserve a better life.  We reap what we sow.

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
Willie Nelson

Thinking and planning and even practicing will only get us so far.  At some point, we must do it.

"We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way."- John Holt, 1923 - 1985

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy, 1828 - 1910

Most people would like to think that they are original.  There are some who base their whole existence on being "original".  However, it is difficult to see how someone is truly original.  They may not be "normal" (or part of the norm) but there are probably a group of similar people out there.  Originality is unique and rare.  Originality takes courage and effort.  Originality allows us to blaze a new trail that others may follow.

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803 - 1882

It is natural to seek comfort.  Comfort is, well, comfortable.  However, success requires sweat and sacrifice and effort and risk and failure and ... a bunch of other stuff that is contrary to comfort.​

"Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream." Peter McWilliams

Opportunities don't generally happen for those sitting at home on their couch and waiting for an opportunity.  We must increase the probability of opportunities by "doing"!​  Do Something.  Do anything.  Even if you may fail, you put yourself in the position to succeed or in the position for a new opportunity.

"Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor." H. Jackson Brown Jr, American author best known for his inspirational book, Life's Little Instruction Book

"The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for." Zig Ziglar, 1926 - 2012 American author, salesman, and motivational speaker.

We all have a "Plan A".  Some have a "Plan B".  Few have enough forethought to have a "Plan C".  We all need to be willing to go beyond "Plan D".

"When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven't."  Thomas Edison, 1847 - 1931

The chef cooks the meal.  The baker makes a cake. The musician rehearses the piece.  The athlete trains and trains and trains until they are able to compete.  Unfortunately, we are exposed to the result much more often than the work that lead to that result.  This unfortunately gives us a false sense of how difficult it is to achieve success.  We will become much less frustrated with the slow progress or failures during our journey when we focus on the process, more than the product.

"If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful."  Michelangelo, 1475 - 1564