| According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, this is exactly what you should be doing. He argues that the quickest way to increase your life satisfaction is to stop seeing your problems as difficulties and start viewing them as an enjoyable challenge. (He isn't the first to articulate this notion, incidentally. For centuries, Buddhists have embraced difficult people and situations as opportunities for spiritual development. Without them, what chance do you have to practice compassion, tolerance, or forgiveness?) Facing your problems requires two things: a bit of imagination and a positive attitude. The payoff, in turn, can be huge. Whether you want to start your own business, get out of debt, or start down the path to financial freedom, you can begin by relishing the opportunity. You might surprise yourself, too. Not only by achieving your goals, but by seeing how much satisfaction you get just moving toward them in a disciplined way. I'm not saying it will be easy. It usually isn't. You will need to do whatever you can to increase your income and decrease your outgo. But the size of the challenge is what will give you the greatest sense of satisfaction when you look back at the end. Success - or the pursuit of it - validates your life. It gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It also makes you feel good. Neuroscientists report that challenges light up your left prefrontal cortex and give you a rush. Competition - for love... for knowledge... for achievement... for financial security - ignites our passions, releases dopamine, and delivers a natural high. It is when we are competing that we learn, grow, and feel most alive. That's why you should star in your own reality show. (One that, not coincidentally, actually deals with reality.) The obstacles in front of you will give you the opportunity to show the world - and yourself - what you're made of. Be forewarned. Your financial situation will not change next month. But if you endure, your problems will not be able to withstand the onslaught of creative thinking, positive action, and persistence. Moreover, you'll enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures: the feeling of earned success. Why? Because you've completed "The Hero's Journey" - which I'll describe in my next column. Good investing, Alex P.S. The American Dream: Why It's Still Alive... and How to Achieve It, contains all my best thoughts about how to succeed in business, the financial markets... and in life. The publication date is November 11, but the book is available for presale on Amazon now. | 
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