Joy: An Olympic Sport?

My wife and I were watching America's Got Talent the other night.  Out on stage comes Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.  Asked if he had any any advice for the contestants, he basically said that they've put in all their hard work to get to this point so ENJOY THE PROCESS.

Olympic athletes seam to be telling the same story:
They CHOOSE the dream of gold, craft an ACTION LIST, utilize RESOURCES,  are PERSISTENT in their practice, EVALUATE their progress along the way and adjust DIRECTION if need-be, striving for continual IMPROVEMENT, and...

It seems that elite athletes have not only mastered the art of pursuing gold, they have mastered the art of ENJOYING THE PROCESS!

According to Caroline Miller, author and psychologist,  in a an article on Olympians and Happiness in Live Happy magazine (September 2016), "It used to be thought people become happy by having success.  But pinning your happiness on a gold medal isn't how it works.  People succeed by being happy first."

The pursuit of happiness is so critical, that you'll find the language in our U.S. founding documents -- with one important Carpe Diem Life catch:

"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it.  You have to catch up with it yourself." -- Benjamin Franklin 

As you move along on your Carpe Diem Life journey, be grateful for all that you've accomplished and remember to ENJOY THE PROCESS.  After all, it's critical to pursuing and winning your gold medal.

Carpe diem!