There's a very old Sufi poem (by Rumi,
I believe) I like.

The gist of it is that if we step through
fire, we'll end up nice cool water.

But if we go straight to the cool water,
we'll end up in the fire.

This, of course, is a metaphor for life.

The things we think are easy are only
easy in the short term.

They generally build up into HUGE long
term problems.

That ice cream may taste good, but if
you eat it every single day, you won't
feel so great.

On the other hand, it may seem like
the worst idea possible to go for a walk
when you're favorite TV show is on,
but once you make it a habit, you'll
feel pretty good.

And that "good feeling" that comes
from doing things that aren't so great
in the now, but build up, is a much,
much different "good feeling" from
doing those things in the present.

Those "present only" good feelings
(like sleeping in, eating cheeseburgers
for breakfast etc) are pure pleasure.

There's no feeling of accomplishment
built in. These pure-pleasure feelings
come from the outside.

On the other hand, that feeling you get
when waking up early every morning
has become a habit, or going for a
walk at night instead of eating ice
cream is a good feeling that comes
from within, and is based on your own
accomplishments and actions.

One of the ways this paradox
manifests itself is when we want
somebody to "tell us what to do."

Sure we'd like to meet that special
someone.

Sure we'd like a much more fulfilling
career.

Sure we'd like to achieve self-
actualization.

If only somebody would tell us what to
do.

The only problem is that all the REALLY
good things in life, things that last, like
wealth, relationships, REAL happiness,
HAVE TO come from within.

Nobody can tell you any step by step
procedures or paint by numbers steps.

You HAVE to work it out on your own.

Sure, you can learn the basic structure,
just like you can learn how exercise
and healthy foods will help you get in
shape. But the SPECIFIC exercises, and
the SPECIFIC food, are up to you to
figure out.

Some things work for some people,
others work for others.

Creating relationships is the same.

Talk to enough people until you find
somebody that spins your propellers.

HOW and WHEN you do that, and
what you specifically say is up to you
to figure out.

The good news is that there are NO
shortcuts.

Why is this good news?

Because if there were, then
EVERYBODY would be on them.

Since there're not, every single path
you find to any kind of success will be
YOURS.

Your creation, your dreams, your
results.

Nobody else's.

mindpersuasion.com/prosperity/