Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are nothing short of a relation to the three most important elements of our lives: health, career, and relationships.
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Centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson stated that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are unalienable, which the Declaration says has been given to all human beings by the Creator, and for which governments are formed to protect those rights.
That phrase alone has so much power that many of us still refer to it today. Not only is it true but it has a profound effect on the quality of our lives.
It is all inclusive. Every facet of our life is part of our life.
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I did not know Thomas Jefferson personally, but I sincerely believe that he was a great man. It is our job as men to live by those principles to not only display that greatness to others but, more importantly, to ourselves.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are nothing short of a relation to the three most important elements of our lives: health, career, and relationships.
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Life. Let’s take a look at it. It is all inclusive. Every facet of our life is part of our life. I do not think anyone would agree that point.
Liberty. To have liberty is to have freedom. The freedom to choose our relationships. The freedom to choose from a variety of health options. The freedom to choose our career path.
The Pursuit of Happiness. It is natural for everyone to want happiness in our lives. Happiness can be subjective for many people. However, there is no doubt that people who have a great career, excellent health, and an abundance of good relationships are often happier than people who lack those things.
Society has taught men for centuries to “man up” or “be a man” as a way to ignore and suppress their true feelings. Doing such a thing is not healthy nor a solution to deal with those problems.
No man would ever experience liberty and the pursuit of happiness as long as he continues to suppress his emotions.
So, how do we overcome this challenge? I think it is best first to take a deeper look and examine how it affects different parts of our lives on an ongoing basis.
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Health
No one would argue that health is the most paramount to ensure our existence.
Unless you are a recipient of a hereditary disease, bad health does not come by accident. You have full control over your health. I have even spoken with doctors like Ben Fuchs, who have found that some hereditary diseases can be reversed or prevented altogether.
With any disease, it helps to be more conscious of one’s dietary habits. Cancer is still one of the most prevalent diseases in our era. Furthermore, when you consider the different types of cancer in existence, it can be overwhelming to find an ideal approach.
Whether it is leukemia or mesothelioma, diet still plays an essential part as a form of treatment. Be conscious of your decisions because it will affect you in the future.
As Thomas Jefferson stated, we have the right to life, but it is up to us to make choices that serve us. We have the right to liberty, which gives the freedom to make our decisions. However, if we want to extend our right to life, it would be in our best interest to make better health choices.
The pursuit of happiness is available to all of us. Although, it is harder to pursue happiness when your dietary habits are not in alignment with your mission.
Career
Whether you are employed or self-employed, your career plays an integral part of your life. A recent Gallup survey has discovered that most Americans are working 47 hours a week. That is over a one-quarter of the total hours in a week!
Running a business (whether it is your own or not) has its stresses. However, some things are not worth stressing over. As an entrepreneur, it is in my best interest to outsource more to give me the freedom to work on other things.
As Thomas Jefferson stated, we have the right to life, but it is up to us to make choices that serve us. However, if we want to extend our right to life, it would be in our best interest to reduce our stress by making better career choices.
Again, the pursuit of happiness is available to all of us. Although, it is harder to pursue happiness when your career goals are not in alignment with your mission.
Relationships
Our health and career make up a significant portion of our lives. It also strongly influences the quality of our lives. When we are happy with our health and career, it is easier to enhance the quality of our relationships.
Your relationships with others will affect your relationship with yourself.
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I am aware that relationships also have its fair share of challenges. However, it is much harder to deal with those challenges when you are unhealthy and constantly living with work-related stress.
In my book, Reaching The Finish Line, I spent the first two chapters talking about the importance of our relationship with ourselves. Your relationships with others are important but it is not more important than the relationship with yourself. In fact, they are equal. I like to see them as fraternal twins.
Your relationships with others will affect your relationship with yourself. Moreover, that starts with living a healthier lifestyle to aid your personal and professional development.
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In Conclusion
Many men have their perception to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, I firmly believe that embracing this holistic approach will help you experience a happy and fulfilled life.
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Photo: Flickr/ Lucia Castillo