Life, it has its necessities and imperfection as does any healthy, functional system or organization. So, as my own system and organization, the trouble I have found, is not in acquiring such, it is in realizing what is necessary and what is not. For this reason, the things we need the most, quite often seem to be the hardest to come across. It is only upon losing said “necessities” that we truly acknowledge how fortunate we were to have them. There must be a distinction, I argue, between the necessities of a “worthy” lifestyle and those of someone merely interested in surviving. If you have not already worked out the latter, I’m afraid my thoughts will be of little use. What is needed in living a worthy, successful, and fulfilling existence?

Our own personal life coach is really what we all need isn’t it? My very own Dali Lama would do nicely, or just an ordinary monk; that would be fine too. Someone to guide your every action, challenge and better your every thought, provide you the answer to your every query, qualm, question. Well, assuming the Buddhist monks of the world are not in fact open for PA careers, and considering there aren’t in fact enough for each how many billion of us, let us suppose what a PA monk might advise on how to reach success:

1) Honesty: the truth in the need for commercial comfort

Who couldn’t use some more honesty ? Our personal sense of right and wrong, balanced and unbalanced, healthy and unhealthy; it all needs consistent revision. Through being aware of our thought process and considering the extent to which we will “justify” of our actions, one might gain a purer form of honesty. The lesson here is not “lying is a no no;” it is the importance of the need to be conscious and active in reevaluating the truth in our desires and supposed “needs.” You don’t actually NEED that dress or that new model Porsche or Porscha, what ever takes your fancy. By simply distinguishing between our wants and needs, one might achieve a level of honest that will actually increase one’s sense of fulfillment.

2) Happiness

Happiness is not a new one, and yes it is harder than it seems to secure. Everyone struggles to be truly happy. However, what is this myth of “true and everlasting happiness” - - as if it can be bought or discovered as haplessly as the caveman did fire? Spending one’s existence awaiting happiness is futile; an excuse not to search and feel and experience. While I do not agree with what contemporary self help has done to the term “happiness is a choice,” I will admit to you readers of supreme intellect, that it is essentially the truth. Denying your feeling wont lead to happiness, but resolving or realizing them will. The choice is life; it is happiness. Choose to take control and see the truth of what you do have.

3) A goal

Human beings exist with the sole purpose of learning. To live a life of ignorance is to waist a life. Spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth is our reason for being; to learn, love and experience. Beyond this inherent aim, there is the all important necessity for the individual to strive. Through pushing ourselves to reach “the impossible,” one embarks on a journey of success, happiness, achievement, and thus fulfillment.

4) Spiritual and self awareness

As vital as all of this is to one’s existence, it all means nothing if we are not spiritually aware and thus have a greater self awareness. You are your own life long partner. You cannot escape you; therefore why not take these ninety odd years to discover who you really are? How do you feel you are rejected? What is your true feeling when your heart races? Fear? Really? The greatest, saddest, shame in life is to live it as a false self; completely unaware of who we are and why we act and feel the way we do. Success cannot be recognized without self awareness.