Life is like business. It's 20 percent what happens to you, and 80 percent how you respond.

That secret to life I tweeted from Daymond John on Shark Tank.

It reminded me that 80 percent of success is showing up.

And that happiness is correlated with success. Additionally...

 "True happiness involves the pursuit of worthy goals," Csikszentmihalyi said. "Without dreams, without risks, only a trivial semblance of living can be achieved."

But how does a being discover worthy goals to pursue?

I have a vision...

Worthy goals come from enlightenment.

Enlightenment comes from living.

Life itself is a process of continual improvement.

It's 20% what happens to you, and 80% how you respond.

In 21 easy pieces. We begin each cycle by waking up.

1. Wake up.2. Breathe.

3. Let go.

4. Get up.

5. Show up.

6. Position.

7. Include.

8. Be here now.

9. Be excellent.

10. Dance!

11. Give.12. LOVE. 

13. Reflect.14. Empathize. 

15. Encourage.16. Be kind.

17. Connect.

18. Learn.

19. Simplify.

20. Nap.

21. Iterate.

At any point, be open to enlightenment...

See also:

What are some important and generalizable life lessons?

Life Lessons: What are important things and advice to know that people generally aren't told about?

What life lessons are unintuitive or go against common sense or wisdom?

Why is love so important in human life?

What is the most important teaching in human life?

What is the most important thing in human life?

Why do humans die?

What is the unique quality of consciousness of the human beings who have attained the Supreme Enlightenment?

(photo source: Keira Susan Dazi!)

Comments from the Posterous post...

Shelley Carlisle responded:

Adam, I have missed your wisdom. This is beautiful and profound. Can you please share yourself and your teachings more often? We need to hear it over and over and over again!!!! : )

Adam Rifkin responded:

Thank you Shelley!

I also like this:

http://www.quora.com/Life/What-really-matters-in-life

http://www.ted.com/talks/tags/id/209

What really matters in life?

Having Purpose. Following Passion. Doing what you love.
Being in flow. Eudemonia.
Connecting with people. Family, friends, loved ones.
Sense of Mastery. Achievement.
Moving your body. Walking around. Getting exercise. Dancing.
Life of Meaning. Making a Difference. Contributing.
Being aware. Taking in your observations and appreciating them.

The most difficult skill is mastering your own psychology:

http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/31/what%E2%80%99s-the-most-difficult-ceo-skill-managing-your-own-psychology/

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,	
And sorry I could not travel both	
And be one traveler, long I stood	
And looked down one as far as I could	
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,	
And having perhaps the better claim,	
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;	
Though as for that the passing there	
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay	
In leaves no step had trodden black.	
Oh, I kept the first for another day!	
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,	
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh	
Somewhere ages and ages hence:	
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—	
I took the one less traveled by,	
And that has made all the difference.

ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS IS FREE

by Author Unknown
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams,
before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the
greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing,
have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change,
grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

~ from page 147 of the book "Addiction by Prescription", by Joan Gadsby ~

What do you want meaning for? Life is desire, not meaning! ~Charlie Chaplin

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. ~Sir Winston Churchill

Attitude is so important.

http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/attitude-quotes.html

Does everything happen for a reason?

http://www.quora.com/The-Big-Questions/Does-everything-happen-for-a-reason

Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. ~Zen Proverb

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/before_enlightenment-chop_wood-carry_water-after/12746.html

I should invest in a luck factory. I'd make a fortune.

Be who you are, as hard as you can.

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live! ~Bob Marley (via Lezlie Alcaraz)

http://www.facebook.com/adam.rifkin/posts/10150305993030415

I find scars attractive.

http://ifindkarma.tumblr.com/post/12095644681/scars

If you write every day, you'll get better at writing every day.

http://pinterest.com/pin/217298750740262703/

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” ~Charles Swindoll (via @tinybuddha)

http://ifindkarma.posterous.com/be-lucky

The 12 Laws of Karma:

http://pandawhale.com/post/539/the-12-laws-of-karma

Are you more creative when a deadline is approaching?

http://pandawhale.com/post/1388

How can you live a life without regret?

http://pandawhale.com/post/1386/how-can-you-live-life-without-regret