1. Lower your standards. The lower your standards, the more problems you'll likely encounter. But hey! At least you won't be disappointed.
2. Tolerate everything. Put up with things that drain your energy and slow you down. You know what I'm talking about...being rushed, people who don't treat you extremely well, noise, feeling obligated, poor service.
3. Ignore your values. Don't bother to identify what's important to you. Give up on ever looking forward to going to work or doing a good job while you're there. By all means, don't pay attention to any thought of serving others. These are dangerous thoughts that could lead to taking action, risk and possibly changing. Whoa!
4. Use your power to isolate yourself. Intimidate others so they no longer speak the truth to you or around you. If you work it right, you can arrange to hear only what you want to hear and already believe to be true.
5. Ignore physiological symptoms and signals. Just because you've had chronic diarrhea since you started that job doesn't mean it has anything to do with the job. If it meant you were upset about your job, well, that would mean you're a sissy, so avoid connecting with your feelings. Remain strong! Appearances count, you know.
6. Apply distractions liberally. Why experience those emotions that are so disturbing? Medicate them! Options include, but are not limited to: prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol, a cult, and obsessive exercising, gambling, internet surfing or shopping.
7. Quit thinking for yourself. Advice is plentiful; just ask someone else what to do. Why struggle? Pay them for their opinion if necessary, but avoid the hard work and introspection of developing your own wisdom. For extra credit, keep "thinking" and "feeling" totally separate. Compartmentalize everything you can. Bonus points: If something goes wrong, you can blame someone else!
8. Take no risks. If you take a risk you might fall flat on your face. It's much safer to maintain the status quo. Just remember Number 5.
9. Stick with what you know. Stay where you are. Make sure everyone you interact with feels and thinks the same way you do about things. You've already made up your mind, so why confuse yourself with new data, or, worse, stirring feelings? Don't rock the boat.
10. Starve your brain. Avoid new playmates and new toys. Why learn something outside your field when you're 40, 50, 60? Accept that you can't teach old dogs new tricks.
Thank you for taking time to read and respond to my newsletters!
Beginning in 2007, I will be publishing them each quarter. If you need a dose of "Lee's Top Tens" in between, please visit my newsletter archives.
I appreciate your loyal support and always love to hear how your life is unfolding and what you're teaching yourself.
Here's to falling awake to your best life ever in 2007!
