Be The Change ...

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory." -- Mahatma Gandhi 

When you hear a song you like on the radio, do you check other stations to see if something better is playing? Do you have trouble settling for second best? If so, you may be a "maximizer": someone who is always seeking the "best" in life. However, striving for the best doesn't guarantee happiness -- in fact, sometimes it runs counter to it. How to balance the pursuit of what's "best" with a healthy appreciation for what may be "good enough"?

If you care about your happiness, not only your success, there’s wisdom in aiming for good instead of best. This is especially important for those of you who cried when you got your first A- or wallowed in despair when you graduated with “only” a 3.99 GPA. (Really?)

So my advice to you is this: every once in a while, set your sights a little lower, and settle for good enough. When you hear a song you like on the radio, keep listening to it. When you find a great restaurant, go there more than once. When you fall in love, don’t keep looking for someone better.

Granted, sometimes you’ll sacrifice a bit of success. But here’s the punch line, the most valuable advice I ever received on choices:

"Don’t make the right decision; make the decision right.”
-- Ellen Langer

You’ll face plenty of win-win choices in your life. The quality of the decision you make will be determined not by picking the right one, but by the actions you take post-decision to make the most of it.


Be The Change ...
If you're faced with a win-win decision today, be decisive! It could be ordering a sandwich, picking out a gift for someone, or deciding what to wear. Don't worry about making the right decision -- make the decision right by committing to feel satisfied with your choice.