Leading luminaries share their insights on how to lead your best life. By Bonnie Cleaver.
It may be the wise words of a friend in the midst of a crisis, the savvy insight of a colleague or the time-tested guidance of your mum. We've all had moments where someone's advice has impacted on our lives, changing our perspective and sometimes propelling us forward on a new path. To help your journey, we've turned to some of the best and brightest for their insights on how to get the most out of life.
Pay it forward
"I was hugely influenced by my maternal grandmother who would, of a Sunday, take food around to people who were sick or lonely. I watched the joy it gave her and others, and realised that this sort of service — making a difference in the lives of others — is the morally serious work humans can do.
"We all have the opportunity to serve others. Pay attention to what's going on around you and as soon as you do, you'll find someone who needs a listening ear, or to be told they matter."
Tim Costello — Chief executive World Vision Australia, officer of the Order of Australia.
Invest in your relationships
"Good relationships don't happen automatically, they require nurturing. I've been a working mother all my life, but my family have always been my number one priority. Most people agree the most important thing to them is their close relationships, but we tend to forget that on a daily basis and pursue other goals. You can't guarantee those important people in your life will still be there when you finish doing other things. It's about, on a daily basis, paying attention to what matters most
in your life."
Anne Hollonds — psychologist specialising in relationships and family issues, chief executive officer of The Benevolent Society.
Keep watch for signs
"We all have mysterious coincidences in our lives. We take
a trip overseas and run into our next-door neighbour. We begin to explore a new career direction, for example teaching, then find ourselves sitting on a train with someone who is a retired teacher.
"The frequency of these mysterious coincidences, many of which are life-changing, can
be amplified if we pay more attention and consciously expect them throughout the day. Allow yourself to be guided intuitively. If you just live in the analytical, left-brain side of yourself, you'll miss out on that spiritual intelligence."
James Redfield — author of the Celestine series, including most recently, The Twelfth Insight (Random House Australia, $34.95).
Embrace fear
"Fear is your friend. Sometimes, it shows you what you shouldn't do. More often than not it shows you exactly what you should do. The best results I've had in life, the most enjoyable times, have all been from asking a simple question: 'What's the worst that can happen?'."
Timothy Ferriss — entrepreneur, author of The 4-Hour Work Week (Random House, $29.95).
For the full story, see the February issue of Good Health. Subscribe to 12 issues of GoodHealth for only $59.95 and receive an Invisible Zinc Pack, valued at $34.90.
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