As a professional speaker, father and business owner I often like to share personal experiences and lessons I have learnt with others. It is with pride and pleasure I share one with you today – the ‘Recipe for Living’.

I was privileged to travel to Sydney recently with my family to be help celebrate my father being made a Member of the Order of Australia.

He was awarded an AM for his service to medicine, especially developing innovative courses in general practice and medicine.

As District Medical Officer in the highlands of Papua New Guinea he discovered the disease pigbel. Known as 'Belly on Fire' and associated with sporadic pigfeasting, it killed thousands, especially children. It is now controlled by vaccination.

He was the foundation Chair of Community Medicine at the University of Adelaide, a post he held for nearly 20 years.

In Adelaide he pioneered teaching health centres at St Agnes, Ingle Farm and The Parks and developed additional general practice teaching units at Highbury and Modbury Hospitals.

Always a lateral thinker, he came up with a 'Recipe for Living'.

This hung on his wall in his surgery for years, with many patients asking for a copy.

With his permission, I wanted to share with you his 10 insights on making the most of life.

MIND OVER MATTER

1. Reason to believe

2. Believe in yourself

3. Set limits

4. Tackle one thing at a time

5. Daily lifestyle - relax, exercise, diet, meditation

PEACE OF MIND

1. Be loved by someone

2. Someone to love

3. Something to do

4. Something to look forward to

5. Sharing the joy of others

He also came up with the 'Networking Flower of Contentment' which involves self identity, family bonds, spiritual bonds, community bonds, sporting bonds, recreation bonds and work bonds.

A man whose thinking was always ahead of time, I am one very proud son.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com