Achieving an extraordinary life begins with mastering two fundamental skills that influence both our external circumstances and our internal fulfillment. These skills, referred to as the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment, are pivotal in shaping our personal success and overall happiness.
The Science of Achievement
The science of achievement revolves around understanding and applying universal principles that govern success in any area of life. Similar to the laws of physics governing a bicycle ride, success in life adheres to specific rules. These rules dictate that consistent action, coupled with learning from results and adjusting strategies, leads to desired outcomes. Just as obeying the laws of balance and momentum ensures a smooth bicycle ride, following the principles of achievement guarantees progress towards our goals in finance, career, relationships, and beyond.
Achievement isn’t merely about taking action blindly; it’s about taking purposeful steps informed by feedback and results. This iterative process of action, feedback, and adjustment is a cornerstone of success, applicable universally regardless of background, age, or gender.
The Art of Fulfillment
While achievement focuses on external success, the art of fulfillment addresses our internal satisfaction and happiness. Fulfillment differs from achievement in that it is highly individualized—what fulfills one person may not resonate with another. For instance, the purchase of a multimillion-dollar painting might bring immense joy to one individual while appearing trivial to someone else.
The key distinction lies in recognizing that achieving external success without experiencing inner fulfillment often results in a sense of emptiness. This disparity highlights the importance of aligning our actions with what truly brings us joy and satisfaction. Tony Robbins illustrates this with the example of his friend Steve Wynn finding fulfillment in a Rothko painting, contrasting with Tony’s perspective of it being just a red square.
The Formula for Happiness
To live an extraordinary life, happiness hinges on aligning two crucial elements: your life conditions (LC) and your personal blueprint (BP). This equation, LC = BP, illustrates that happiness arises when our external circumstances align with our internal expectations and beliefs. When there’s congruence between what we desire and what we experience, we feel contentment and fulfillment.
Conversely, unhappiness emerges when there’s a dissonance between our blueprint and our life conditions. This discrepancy can lead to negative emotions such as sadness, frustration, or a sense of unfulfilled potential. If left unaddressed, this misalignment can escalate into suffering—a state where individuals feel powerless to change their circumstances despite feeling unhappy.
Choices in Adversity
When faced with situations where life deviates from our expectations, we have three fundamental choices:
1. Blame: This choice entails assigning responsibility for our unhappiness to external factors—other people, circumstances, or ourselves. However, blaming does not lead to genuine happiness; it perpetuates a cycle of victimhood and disempowerment.
2. Change Life Conditions: Taking charge of our circumstances involves mastering the science of achievement. By learning from successful models and persistently adjusting our approach, we can overcome obstacles and move closer to our desired outcomes. Progress in aligning our life conditions with our blueprint fosters happiness and a sense of control over our lives.
3. Update Blueprint: Sometimes, external circumstances are beyond our control. In such cases, updating our personal blueprint—the set of beliefs and expectations guiding our happiness—is essential. This process involves revising outdated beliefs that no longer serve us and adopting new perspectives conducive to our well-being and growth.
Updating our blueprint requires introspection and a willingness to challenge ingrained beliefs. For example, shifting from a belief that everyone must agree with us to one focused on learning from others’ perspectives can significantly enhance our happiness and interpersonal relationships.
Mastering the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment are integral to living an extraordinary life. By aligning our actions with our aspirations and continuously updating our internal beliefs to foster fulfillment, we empower ourselves to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and joy. Ultimately, happiness and success stem from our ability to harmonize our external circumstances with our internal expectations, creating a life rich in purpose, satisfaction, and meaningful connections.
