If life is a gift, then we’ve been granted an ongoing membership to a local gym. Looking back, my tribulations seem more protracted and vivid than the seemingly brief periods of genuine happiness. Perhaps it’s simple psychology. As a species, humans tend to experience heavier doses of pain while facing headwinds than joy while riding waves of success. Exercise is a great metaphor for life because our time is mostly spent in training. As our bodies develop and then regress with age, we exercise our minds through experiential learning. This is why we desire to venture back in time to teach our younger selves the lessons we learn in the school of life.

If we are living a decathlon, like athletes relying on high-grade nutrition, we need to feast on positive emotions to survive the race. Being selective about the people in your life is an essential component of that diet.

Rule Number One: Life is too short to deal with people who make you feel bad. 

Rule Number Two: Don’t rely on people for your happiness.

As our weeks feel more like laps in a high speed race, it’s important to care for the vessels carrying us through life. Happiness is the steroid that provides an edge in the slalom of existence. This drug is not only legal, but it’s also free. Discover it and get addicted.