3. Let Go of the Idea that Gentle, Relaxed People Can't Be Superachievers

One of the major reasons so many of us remain hurried, frightened, and
competitive, and continue to live life as if it were one giant
emergency, is our fear that if we were to become more peaceful and
loving, we would suddenly stop achieving our goals. We would become
lazy and apathetic.
You can put this fear to rest by realizing that the opposite is actually
true. Fearful, frantic thinking takes an enormous amount of energy and
drains the creativity and motivation from our lives. When you are
fearful or frantic, you literally immobilize yourself from your greatest
potential, not to mention enjoyment. Any success that you do have is
despite your fear, not because of it.
I have had the good fortune to surround myself with some very relaxed,
peaceful, and loving people. Some of these people are best-selling
authors, loving parents, counselors, computer experts, and chief
executive officers. All of them are fulfilled in what they do and are
very proficient at their given skills.
I have learned the important lesson: When you have what you want (inner
peace), you are less distracted by your wants, needs, desires, and
concerns. It's thus easier to concentrate, focus, achieve your goals,
and to give back to others.