Picking the most beautiful apple is about making choices that give you happiness at work and help you thrive in everyday life. If you’re not quite motivated to dig into the day’s piles on your desk, then get yourself going by handing yourself a small win.
Two monks each tended their own apple tree. On each tree grew 20 apples, and every day the two monks went out and ate one apple from their tree. The first monk looked at all his apples and always chose the most beautiful one. The second monk couldn’t bring himself to eat the most beautiful apple. He always chose the ugliest one. That way he still had the beautiful apples to look forward to, he thought.
The difference between the two monks turned out to be this: after 20 days, the first monk had eaten 20 apples that were each, at that moment, the most beautiful one — while the second monk had eaten 20 ugly apples.
Do as the first monk did. Eat the most beautiful apple first. Do the most enjoyable task first. Then every task will be the most enjoyable one you can choose. When you plan your time, do the thing you want to do first, instead of saving the good things until you’re completely worn out and can’t enjoy them.
Here’s how —
At work. If you’ve got 5 tasks in front of you, always go for the one you most feel like doing. That way you end up having done 5 good tasks.
At the weekend. Don’t invite the people you haven’t seen in a long time just because it’s been a long time. Invite the people you most want to see. That way you spend your time with the best possible people.
On holiday. If you’re off to Rome for the summer, say, don’t choose by what you ought to see, but by what you feel like. Find the very best of Rome. If you know a truly unique restaurant, start your holiday by eating there. That way you get only the best travel experiences.
All the best
/Martin
