The more purpose you have, the easier life will be. You have to have a purpose, and put it in writing. My personal purpose is to grow and learn, and universal purpose is to make a significant contribution, somewhere, somehow. Having a purpose will help you handle and appreciate life.

I have found six fundamentals that help me find that contentment. I try to review them and practice them every day and incorporate them totally into my life.

1. Faith: It's the source of everything significant in our lives. Faith is a firm belief without solid evidence. Spiritual faith is trusting God. One of my daily affirmations is that with a sincere faith in God and myself, I will have the confidence, courage, and conviction to go about my daily life and accept the bad and the good. I believe that healing depends on faith. It is my faith that convinces me a cure will be found for Parkinson's in my lifetime. And it is my faith that gives me that positive attitude to battle this thing all the way. From my Catholic religion, I have learned the importance of prayer and how it can have a calming effect in times of stress.
    

2. Tolerance and Patience From Pain and Suffering: The Dalai Lama writes about this in the Art of Happiness. He has a set of beliefs that function as a substrate for all of his actions. A belief in the fundamental gentleness and goodness of human beings, a belief in the value of compassion, a belief in a policy of kindness, and sense of commonality among all living creatures.
    

3. Happiness: Both the Dalai Lama and Rabbi Kushner have said that happiness is an emotion that comes on a moment-to-moment basis. As much as we'd like happiness to be a permanent condition, it doesn't work that way. But it's important to appreciate that happiness is determined more by one's state of mind than by external events. Happiness certainly isn't derived from material things. Witness the beatific expression of contentment that never left the face of Mother Teresa, who lived in utter poverty but was uplifted by the great feeling of knowing that she was helping others; and the look of discontent that exists on the faces of many very wealthy people who are miserable because they are consumed by greed and money. I can honestly say that Parkinson's disease has in many positive ways transformed my life. I appreciate much more just waking up in the morning and seeing what the day will bring. True happiness comes not from merely having what we want but from appreciating what we have.
    

4. Inspiration: It is all around us if our eyes are open to it. I gain inspiration from Christopher Reeve, who rather than wasting time on self-pity has chosen to use his mind and his celebrity to increase awareness and to educate the public about spinal cord injuries. His infinite determination to walk again and his unwavering conviction that it will happen serve as inspiration to thousands of people who have suffered similar injuries. His faith is absolutely unwavering. I'm also inspired by the fact that he hasn't given up his occupation of writing and directing films.
    

5. The Power of Now: Eckhart Tolle wrote a book called The Power of Now, which is a guide to spiritual enlightenment. The essence of the book is that "now" is all-important and that living in the present is much healthier than dwelling in the past or worrying about the future. I know that great golfers like Tiger Woods emphasize the importance of playing the sport "in the present tense." The typical weekend golfer like myself tends to fret over bad shots and let them affect the next ones. Tiger has learned, probably through the influence of his Asian mother and her belief in Eastern philosophy, how to block out the previous five minutes and the five minutes to come and give his full attention to the shot he's hitting at the moment. If we can channel our own thoughts toward contentment and living in the "now," we will keep our mind more quiet and content.
    

6. Positive Self-Talk or Learned Optimism: When something bad happens, pessimists perceive it as permanent. Optimists perceive it as temporary. Finally, a short list of watchwords that I use myself, and encourage others to use in search for a better life. Have a clearly defined sense of purpose for your life that you write down and refer to daily. Integrate into that sense of purpose your faith, and make certain that your life goals always stay in harmony with your larger beliefs. Build a philosophy of life based on common sense and your everyday experiences, and always live by it. Keep a positive self-image. You will be far more attractive to others and set your own bar higher if you don't get down on yourself or diminish your self-importance. Search for 10's in your life, those moments that you will celebrate with your friends and loved ones and cherish forever. Hone your talents constantly. Acknowledge your gifts and areas in which you excel, and work at being even better at them. Endeavor to create a satisfaction and contentment wherever you go; leave people smiling, not frowning. Savor the richness of life and never take the wonderful people and moments you share with them for granted. Always remain in the pursuit of happiness. I am convinced that if you follow these guidelines, you not only will find more happiness and fulfillment in your life, but you will inspire others to do the same and "pay it forward."

TESTIMONIALS

"On a scale of 1 to 10 – Bruce's attitude toward his illness is about an 8. He's not a blurry-eyed optimist, but a realist and will treat this battle with courage and intelligence. And like any great friend that you have been around all your life, he's just neat to be with, always reliable and always great fun."
TITO TIBERTI

"Our friendship has many layers and just gets richer through the years."
FRED ALBRECHT

"When Bruce found out that he had Parkinson's, I found out through the rumor mill about 90 miles per hour. My first thought was to feel sorry for him, but I quickly realized he wasn't looking for sympathy, but rather saw the disease as a blessing. His inner drive to succeed, to excel at whatever life throws his way, resurfaced very quickly."
MIKE BENJAMIN

"Bruce is more than just my client. He is my friend and mentor and a wonderful person. I wish I know where Bruce gets his inner drive. Maybe it's natural curiosity or just the need and desire to grow and expand, but I know I've been inspired by him since we first met."
MARY HAMILTON

"Bruce and I have been friends since fifth grade. We were classmates who played sports and chased girls together. Bruce grew up pretty fast, worked hard because money was tight, and was a great baseball player. Bruce's success has always come from his own natural gregariousness and trustworthiness. "
BOB MILLER