By Tim Kitching, High Performance Coaching Specialist. The famous quote by Henry David Thoreau of “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them” is still as relevant today as it was Many people live lives of quiet desperation. Working jobs they loath, socialising with people they don’t really like; being unhappy but not really knowing why. Sadly, most of these people die this way! Some, however, change the lives that they lead. They get up every morning and they punch the air in anticipation at what life will bring. They are self-aware and make decisions every day that are consistent with the lives that they want to lead and the sort of person that they want to be. How do these people do this?  What is different about them and how they view the world? Over the past 20 years I have coached, mentored and been friends with a range of people who have decided to live remarkable lives and they have a few things in common….

1. They live congruent lives, this means that their personal, social, family and work lives are all consistent in their values and behaviours.  They are authentic.
2. They choose to have a good day, every day.  In this manner they can approach the daily challenges of life with a positive mindset.
3. They are curious and open, they are interested in everything and are open to different ideas and opinions, even if in time they choose a different path,
4. They work every day to have a healthy mind and a healthy body because it enables them to live the 3 things above.

It does not matter if you would use these words or slightly different ways of saying the same thing.  Nor does it matter if you consciously live this way or if it is automatic. What matters is that you don’t live a life of quiet desperation. Most of the people that I know who live fulfilled lives don’t do it on their own.  They are surrounded by people who help them to be who they want to be, who support them in their goals and aspirations and respect them for who they are. Tip number 1: First steps to a fulfilled life. Start each day with 5 minutes of meditation and finish each with 5 minutes of journal writing. Begin and end you days the way you wish the period in between to be.  Calm, deliberate, in the moment and mindful. Tim Kitching is a Speaker, High Performance Coach and Facilitator with the KONA Group who works with people to help them live a congruent life.  If you are looking to make changes to wither your, or your team’s lives, please call Tim on 1300 611 288 or via email at info@KONA.com.au