The Eight Essential Keystones of Happy, Successful People

Keystone #3:  “Look 6 Directions Effectively”
Overview of The 6 Directions

The 6 Directions are powerful and life-changing; therefore, seek to master them! Before we thoroughly examine Keystone #3, Look 6 Directions Effectively, let me give you an idea of how exciting the 6 Directions are with a brief and quick overview of each direction.

Direction #1:  Look Forward

Look Forward and sail into your desired future. Looking Forward effectively is essential if you are going to achieve your desired future. Since your future is forthcoming, you must first clearly define your dreams, goals, objectives, and desired outcomes or results. Without purposes, one drifts aimlessly through life. To feel love, enthusiasm, and ambition, go after what you want. Look Forward with faith, hope, confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, steadfastness, expectation, joyful anticipation, and then sail into your desired future. Seriously, take an interest in your future, because the rest of your life is there.

Direction #2:  Look Backward

Look Backward and propel to new and loftier heights. Suppose your favorite athletic team has just won a vital game that went down to the last second in determining the winner. The players, coaches, fans, media, and others are all standing around talking with each other: evaluating the game, asking questions, expressing opinions, analyzing situations, reviewing statistics, comparing notes, saying “if only....”, and offering suggestions. You hear praise and criticism. Soon the coaches and players will view a video of the game. While viewing the video and discussing the game, what direction are they looking and thinking? They are Looking Backward, back to the game that just ended because it is now in the past. Why Look Back? To evaluate the game, to see what went right and what didn’t, to learn ways to improve performance for the next game, to make new discoveries, to appreciate individual and team effort. Inevitably after Looking Back long enough, their thoughts become more focused on Looking Forward to the upcoming practice sessions and the next game because these practices and games are in the future-they are forthcoming. In every aspect of life, whether it’s an athletic event, a family activity, a business program, a trip, an adventure, a reunion, an executive board meeting, a class lesson, a dance performance, a piano recital, or a public speech, Looking Back effectively is a prerequisite to propelling to new and loftier heights.

Direction #3:  Look Inward

Look Inward and enjoy peace of heart and mind. “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Look Inward to your heart, your conscience, and do what it speaks to you. You will enjoy peace of heart and soul. Look Inward to ponder and reflect, to resolve and internalize, and to make commitments. By looking deeply within, you can discern your utmost needs and solutions. Look Inward to learn and discover. “I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things” (Ecclesiastes 7:25). Look within yourself, your home, your family, your school, your community, your job, your city, your state, your country, and your interest group. Look within and overcome any obstacle or challenge facing you.

Direction #4:  Look Outward

Look Outward and feel love deep in your heart. Be the best altruist you can be. Always Look Out for the welfare and blessing of others. Be selfless instead of selfish. Looking Out will change your outlook. It is only in giving can we really enjoy living. Give to others and your love for them will increase. Demonstrate altruism each day. 

Look Out for danger signals and warnings. Looking Out for the road signs of life is like Looking Out for road signs on the highways...they give you warnings, information, and direction. You become aware.

 Look Out for the good in others and in things, and you will most certainly find that which is good. Look Out for opportunities. Look Outside yourself. “A man all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package,” leaving little room for happiness and joy. Therefore, Look Out and Reach Out.

Direction #5:  Look Downward

Look Downward and cross the bridge to your success. From heights above, Look Downward below and be renewed in body, mind, and spirit. Experience inner strength and calmness of heart. Look Downward upon those things that pull you downward. Things and attitudes like doubt, pessimism, hypocrisy, idleness, mediocrity, slothfulness, cynicism, notoriety, can’t, monotony, manipulation, indolence, and worry, all inhibit your creative expressions. Look Down, shun and starve these destroying characteristics, and replace them with ef