Hey guys,
Gail Lynne Goodwin who writes for the Huffington Post asked me the other day what my parting words would be if this were to be my last day on planet earth.
That’s a tough call.
I told her I had too many things to say so she was generous enough to give me a 500 word cap 
… and a little more.
Here’s what I wrote that was featured on her blog!
Let me know what you guys think of this concept of happiness…can’t wait to read your comments!
Today’s Brilliance by Vishen Lakhiani
featured on Inspire Me Today
If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I’d want to pass along to others…
As I’ve grown and matured I have noticed a recurring pattern in my life. Things move the easiest — business, family life, friendships, my goals — when I am in a state of Flow. What do I mean by “Flow”? It is a feeling of happiness in the present while having a positive expectancy for the future.
But let me break it down further. The state of Flow has been described in different ways by different people. Tony Robbins calls it “State”. Jose Silva calls it “Expectancy”. Donald Trump refers to it as “Positive Stamina”. I believe they are all referring to the same thing.
Flow is composed of two ingredients.
The first is being happy in the now. This means being happy and joyful in your present state. It’s about enjoying the journey and not the destination.
The next ingredient is vision. It’s about having a powerful, beautiful dream for who you want to be and what you want to accomplish and contribute to the world in the future.
All of us can therefore exist in 4 states of mind based on these two ingredients.
The first is being happy in the now. This means being happy and joyful in your present state. It’s about enjoying the journey and not the destination.
The next ingredient is vision. It’s about having a powerful, beautiful dream for who you want to be and what you want to accomplish and contribute to the world in the future.
All of us can therefore exist in 4 states of mind based on these two ingredients.
Without happiness in the present and a future vision, you’re what I call in a “Negative Spiral”. Things feel bad now and will continue to look bad in the future.
If you’re happy in the present but have no future vision you’re “Content”. But you’re not living your full potential. Two of our greatest spiritual needs are growth and contribution. Without a future vision of who you want to be and what mark you want to make on the world you’re really not living up to your true purpose.
Then we have a state that is very common with today’s entrepreneurs and workaholics. A solid vision of the future but no happiness in the present. This is a state I call “Stress and Anxiety”. You have a vision, but you’re unhappy in the now. This is not a recipe for success.
The final and ideal state is “Flow”. You’re happy in the now AND have a strong vision of the future. This is Flow. This is when the magic happens.
Remember that movie “The Secret”. In it, the recipe for the Law of Attraction was defined as “Thoughts + Emotions = Attraction”. Let’s think about that for a moment. “Thoughts” are really your desires and visions for what you want to attract into your life. And “Emotions” describe your current state. The movie advises that emotions should be positive and happy.
See the correlation? The recipe for “Flow” is the same as the proposed recipe for the “Law of Attraction”. They both fit together.
And perhaps this is why, when we’re in a state of Flow, so many things in our life just seem to go right. The right people step into our lives, the right opportunities fall into our laps. It’s as if the Universe is conspiring on our behalf.
I propose that we chose to live our lives in Flow. Set big bold goals, but enjoy the journey. Your happiness should not be tied to your goals. Live life in the moment and express gratitude for the little things that make you happy.
The most important discipline for me is to make sure I’m in that state of Flow every day. I call this “Blisscipline”. The discipline of bliss.
…
If this was your last day on earth,what would your parting words be?
FinerMinds is hosted by 
I think that this is an article that should be read over and over again till the essence sinks into and becomes a part of us. Thank you for the article.
I am a Romantic. I guess. But also a Classicist. I love dreaming of the destination. But I totally dig the journey too. You really need a balance of both. This is the “Paradox of Intention”. Your happiness cannot be tied to your goals.
Vishen– I think it was Mark Twain who said something like “The dictionary has all the words we need to be as brilliant as Shakespeare. It’s just a matter of how you arrange them.” Congratulations on arranging those 500 words into a concise, insightful commentary on being happy, being in flow, and living in the moment. I know those 500 words aren’t just nice-sounding bits of advice because I know you live from that space of Flow. The work you do proves it. So do the results. Thanks for inspiring so many to begin living in Flow.
Thanks. I wrote this in the Amsterdam airport while waiting for my flight. I think the words ‘flowed’ well from me due to the combination of boredom and the free Dutch beer in the waiting lounge.
I loved you take on “FLOW” I agree with it 100%. Everybreath I take will be a happy one because I choose it to be.…
another perfect example of the Universe conspiring on your behalf!
Hi Vishen-Your comment about free Dutch beer “flowing” in the waiting lounge of the Amsterdam airport took me back to the Seventies when I took free tour of the Heiniken Breweries in that city. My friend and I kept switching from table to table until we each had nine glasses of my now favorite brew. We wound up frisbeeing coasters down from the top of the brewery. So if this 500 word piece is any indication of future work, keep stockpiling beer and hanging around airports.All my best,Bob Zaslow (misterzee)
Vishen, that’s awesome the way you made what could be your final words into one last helpful thing to someone else. We usually would think of something selfish to say about ourselves and your words were how can I be helpful one more time.…
Powerful 500 words!!!
I’ve also found that one needs to write down the vision as goals/bullet points in a readily accessible place. This way when life happens, you have a quick check/navigation map:
Does this align with what I said I want/what is most important to me right now?
Simply beautiful and beautifully simple.
Lovelyjubbly.
I am living a life of love, joy and peace. Any day could be my last. There would be no fear. My soul shines bright and sends out love and compassion for everyone. This will not end if the physical body passes away. Yes, I enjoy the touch of a beautiful woman, the good times with great people, the bounty of this world but inside I am complete and whole. If it all went away and I was no longer here, I know the world would probably be a better place because of my love for everyone.
I am not a guru, not a spiritual leader, I am just an average guy leading a good life. And absolutely loving it.
Wow! Everything that I dream to be!
George, you sound exactly like another George that I know. Great attitude! Good for you! Big, big love back at you.
As another average guy who follows your formula for living, I know you must have noticed that everyone you work with or see on a regular basis has slowly but surely reflected your attitude over time. Even grumpy folks have come around to be less so since you’ve been around them, greeting them with your attitude and love every day. People who were negative when you first met them are less so now, no?
We are passing on the germ of a loving life, a joyous existance, and it is contageous.
We are each but one, but we are the seeds that will change the world. Carry it on, my brother.
Great concept, George! I enjoy the same benefits of life now, and I know we’re all writing our “great books” of life, and enjoying adventures the like that have never been seen before, and these adventures will only get better and better, because we ARE able to appreciate! Thank you for this wonderful and inspiring quote… While you may not lay claim on guru-ship, I think you’re one hell of a guy!
Right on George. I love the line you wrote about “I am living a life of love, joy and peace. Any day could be my last.” I try to live every month like it could be my last month on Earth.
This is very very interesting and very well explained. The state of ‘flow’ is what I try to be in or feel every day.
I do think that it is successful for me because it keeps me in the state of happiness most of the time.
Those words : happiness in the PRESENT– being happy in the NOW– POSITIVE expectancy for the future — VISION — CONTRIBUTION to the world .…are so important and I think we should always keep those in our mind.
I am french speaking and I was wondering what could be the french expression for ‘State of Flow’ ? So that is what I will be looking fo and try to translate in my own language, because I do love being in that ‘state’…
And I thank you for having described it in those words.
Hello,Vishen!
Thanks for the peaceful and true words…I believe that a clear thought becomes reality…always…
I had a very curious experience by talking to the Cosmos, a couple of years ago…
In that time I was wondering to spend one year in the United States,for free, as a studant…and I got it…in the easyest way it could be…My intention was to get a schollarship..and I did.…
The magic happened later…Do you believe that a College Director came to Brazil„ visiting the place I was working…and when I was been introduced to him, my boss said: Laydes got a Rotary Foundation scholarship and she is looking for an American University to study.…and Dr. Vaccaro, the director said: Why don´t you go to my Women College, in New Hampshire? Of course I went…
I really believe fate comes to you exactly how you strongly think about… A kiss, Laydes Pimenta
These 500 words go a long long way. I found everything in this article powerful and Iike Ash, I’ll read it over and over until your words leave are indelibly ingrained in me. Even your quote is filled with a powerful message. You are a true leader. I wish more people would adapt that mindset.
I’ve been trying to find my flow and I call it “my personal zen” (a state of calm but still full of energy). There are days when I’m in a different state and there are days when i’m in “flow”. I look back at different stages in my life and compare those times I was in “flow” vs. those times I was in the other states. What you wrote cleared up the fog for me. Now I understand why I achieved so much during certain times of my life and why I felt clueless at other times.
Your words just brought together my fragmented efforts at finding my “zen”. It all makes more sense now.
Thank you Vishen.
Vishen, How do you get your self in to “blissicipine” when you are not feeling it and things are out of your control? And how do you keep it?
Simple. Start gratitude logging. Use our free service GratitudeLog.com where a community will come together to support you. As you start appreciating the simple things you find more and more things happening in your life for you to appreciate. A you fall into a cascade of Gratitude.
so good you are sharing this to us all .…J.Pretlor
Vishen, your description of “flow” makes you sound like a “romantic” rather than a “Classisist.” Romantics place emphasis on the journey rather than the destination. Classisists emphasize the destination and miss out on the joy of the journey. Regarding the beer that helped your “flow” flow, you may remember the words to an old Kingston Trio song about the Three Jolly Coachmen. “Three jolly coachmen sat in an English Tavern…and they decided to have another flagon… here’s to the man who drinks dark ale and goes to bed quite mellow, he lives as he ought to live, lives as he ought live. He’ll die a jolly good fellow.”
I am a Romantic. I guess. But also a Classicist. I love dreaming of the destination. But I totally dig the journey too. You really need a balance of both. This is the “Paradox of Intention”. Your happiness cannot be tied to your goals.
Love the Poem
“Three jolly coachmen sat in an English Tavern…and they decided to have another flagon… here’s to the man who drinks dark ale and goes to bed quite mellow, he lives as he ought to live, lives as he ought live. He’ll die a jolly good fellow.”
Beautifully said Vishen, and being Happy in the Now is what it’s all about. Being in the Flow is a blessing next to being in a bliss…
Thanks, it´s just what I discovered as a singing teacher, I always put all my passion into helping my students to enjoy their learning from the first moment on, and not after 50 lessons of “hard work” and the results were amazing…but I noticed some of my students seemed to me to have a hard time after the workshops to keep up that excellence and huge fun they touched during the lessons, that was, I guess, because they had no solid future project with their singing, they enjoyed the wokshop so much but they did not have a proper project for the future owned by them to carry on that bliss on their own, it was more like holloydays for them.
I saw a lot of people doing amazing things out of the blue in my workshops.
And I know they enjoy even more if they would define their project.
Thanksso much for your sharing Vishen
Bliss you!
Boris
Vishen…you are friggin awesome! Once I find my state of “Flow” I am going to call you so that we can officially have a “Flow’ party together! Look forward to seeing you back in LA!
A “Flow” party is happening. It’s on Dec 2 — 5 on a beach in Costa Rica. See AwesomenessFest.com for details!
WOW!!!
Vishen on the Vision of Extraordinary Life..!!!
Thank you so much for the deeper truth of these words.…
Those words seems flow through you as you’re in the ZONE!!
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GIFT TO YOURSELF AND TO THIS WORLD!!
very inspiring words.. really enjoyed reading you..:)
Sandy Pearl ~ Thank you. for your positive words as well! For me-these things are “very” long over due
I can get that the universal energy is calling to me to get with it. Your web site is heaven sent. Thank you so much! Until next time lovely people……
Thanks Sandy!
I hadn’t been on this website in a few weeks, I’m so glad I decided to check back in today and find this article:) I know what you’ve writen to be true because looking back, I can see that all good things in my life happened when I was in a state of flow. Definetly haven’t been coming from a state of flow in the last few weeks though, and the results speak for themselves! Thank you for reminding me*
Hi Vishen, giving you love only.….…..
Have you ever been in a state of “stress and anxiety”?.….….….….….….what are the steps to move from a state of “stress and anxiety” into a state of flow.….….?.….….…giving you love only.….….…Bindhu
Vishen, you have remarkably put all the learnings and wisdom of ancient and modernworld into one wonderful article. The ultimate motto take it any teaching be it a “Think and Grow Rich”, The Movie “Secret” and other wonderful systems. All strives to achieve the same, You have the summarized the same wonderfully, I congratulate you for such a brilliant article. If everyone in this world were to embrace this, it would be literally turn out a heaven to live in. God Bless You.
Hi Vishen, actually what I meant to ask was.….have you ever been in a state of “Negative spiral”?.……and what are the steps to take to move from a state of “Negative spiral” to the state of “flow”?.….….….….thank you.
Yes I have. The easiest way is practicing Gratitude. And having support from family and friends.
Ideas are quite interesting.…..
Blissipline.……I had heard several times from Brian Johnson et.al. that Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith uses that line.…… Who got there first?
Brian Johnson spoke at my company team retreat in Bali. He used the word there. And it sorta ended up permeating our language from there. But I do believe Beckwith used it first. Although Beckwith’s definition is different from mine.
Hello, Vishen,
I find that people are talking more and more about similar things. And that’s just wonderful. Myself, not so long time ago I finished a book about being happy, having positive thoughts, and it actually came exactly in the period of my life when I needed it. I learned a lot of things from it, and it actually works!
Thank you for an article!
Best!
Hi
Do you have any meditation for this bliscipline? Metta bhavana?
I use the Silva Method audios. You can get it free from SilvaLifeSystem.com
If this were my last day on earth? Well, of course I would tell my loved ones, my mom, sister and grandparents that I love them. Tell the love of my life that I loved him til my last day, and would continue to. I’d forgive those that deeply wronged me, made sure they knew that. And I would apologize those I had hurt in the past.
And because I think actions speak louder than words, I’d try and do this all in person, whether it meant driving across town or hoping on several planes to do so. Of course there would also be bungee-jumping and sky-diving squeezed in there too.
But if I were to leave a note, a legacy for others to follow, it would say this:
Love all, like they were family, and especially show love to those that insist on showing Hate.
Give to all that have less than you, as if they were a son or daughter, because we are all One Human Family, and one suffers, we all can feel it.
Laugh, in the face of adversity. Why? Because it sure beats crying
Enjoy this Life, because it is the Ultimate Gift from God. Every sunrise brings new opportunity.
And I think that’s what I’d say on my last day
Wow. Very inspirational ideas to wake up to. Thanks Vishen. What’s funny is that there’s a lot of personal development resources like The Secret and Silva and Tony Robbins and so forth –and while they each have their own ideas, almost all of them use some type of mental alchemy to achieve positive feelings in the now. I’ve gone through lots of ups and downs in my own life but every so often I hit a state of Flow for a while and it feels so good. Things just effortlessly fall into place in such a way that couldn’t have been planned better. My final words? “Don’t try too hard. Just feel good now.”
Thanks again Vishen
Hey Vishen–clearly stated. This fits with my re-reading The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. Everything is about where we put our focus. Focus on the NOW, be happy, choose happiness and good feelings, AND envision a FANTASTIC future filled with all that you want in your life. YOU reminded me that having joy NOW is part of the equation. I go in and out of that and you reminded me that whether I have joy now is a CHOICE. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent Vishen, your words are after my own heart. Forgiveness and gratitude are the pillars of life
My Gurudev Paramhansa Yogananda being a realized spiritual leader preached about savings for the future.
Hi Vishen!
I enjoyed reading and then I could diagnose my situation currently somewhere between “Negative Spiral” and “Stress and Anxiety”.
I know that I should start with feeling my gratitude towards my supporters and teachers (one who bothers you are actually trying to each a very important lessons in life) and work on building firm vision. Once that is done I should start enjoying my journey towards achieving those goals.
Am I right Vishen?
Can you tell me what one should do if one has multiple interests and therefore finds difficulty in creating a firm vision?
I would love to hear from you.
Thanks a lot to write such an inspirational article.
I here pay my gratitude to you.
It reminds me of the Enoch story in the scriptures. Genesis 5:24 tells it, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” When we’re completely caught up in walking with God, there is a full sense of contentment, which is a process of living. Satisfaction, or the state of being sated, is just a process of existing. The best any of us can hope for is when our weary feet come to the end of life’s toilsome journey, God will turn to us and say: “It’s a whole lot closer to my place than it is to yours. Why don’t you just come on home with me? And, as a fine preacher once said — “Do yo’ homework, cause de final exam is a pot quiz!”