Introduction

 

Intro

 

 There's a great George Carlin joke that goes something like this. You ever notice when you're driving down the highway when someone races past you yell “idiot!” and then when someone is too slow in front and you have to pass them you mutter, “moron”. Well, which one are you? And how does this tie in with a book poking fun off our culture’s current obsession with self-improvement? It doesn't, but it's damn funny. No seriously, if everyone is trying to be better than the guy in the next cubicle, but your boss is attending motivational seminars, but the CEO has a personal coach, then who has the upper hand. Self-improvement really levels the playing field. I mean why be an average Joe (sorry Joe) when you can be Super Joe! The caveat and intent of this book is let's do it as human beings not human doings-in a mad, frantic, competitive race. Gently, gracefully, outsmart, out centre, and out earn your best friend.

We all have the same basic needs, once they are met it is our attitude and mindset we take through the day that will ultimately make our days spectacular and successful or ordinary and mundane. Here we can learn something from Buddha’s teachings: He didn’t espouse poverty, but he did suggest living within your means by right livelihood. And if you are blessed with an abundance of wealth, find ways that their resources promote the well-being of others. If we follow the essence of Buddhist economics and the teaching of the Buddha on the correct approach to material welfare, wealth then becomes a blessing and a useful instrument for us to do good and to help other people relieve their sufferings.

Finally, let's think of self-improvement as an awakening to possibility, the awareness of a more intense, appreciative attitude towards health, wealth, and wisdom and quelling the constant desire for the new and latest for contentment, and acceptance that what you have is probably more than good enough.

I’m talking here about quality of life, and most importantly that this is a state of mind, not a standard of living: basically, spiritual abundance.