You Will Not Be The Same After Reading and Applying These Concepts to Your Life.
As part of my Daily Practice, I like to do Idea Lists. One I did last week while in beautiful San Diego, California turned out well.
It was “Quotes that Can Change Everything in An Instant.” I couldn’t remember every word of every quote — but I was proud of myself for remembering all of these.
***Remember, you were warned.***
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
― Marianne Williamson
We all long to be told this — and it’s absolutely true. We are all spectacular creations of God. Try to remember this when you are down, tired, or feel like giving up in life.
For more on this concept read this.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” — Joseph Campbell
Have you heard the call to adventure? Do you know and remember that the number one regret of the dying is not living a life true to themselves? You need to get started on your new life.
For more on Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey, read this.
“You Can Have Everything In Life You Want, If You Will Just Help Enough Other People Get What They Want.” — Zig Ziglar
This is the basis for everything that is good and right with capitalism. It’s the right way to approach business. It’s the right way to be a friend. There is so much that’s right about this philosophy.
“Find a way to serve the many, for service to many leads to greatness.” — Jim Rohn paraphrasing Jesus Christ.
This is true in wealth, it’s true in IMPACT on others’ lives. When you help someone else, you help yourself. When you help the multitudes, your rewards both physical and spiritual are proportional.
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” — Henry David Thoreau
You ALWAYS have the ability to change things in yourself for the better. That is such a wondrous perk of being a human being. Facing a hard time? You can get better.
More of my favorite philosopher later in this fine piece.
“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle (you know nothing about).” — Ian Maclaren
This is an awesome way to live your life. Kindness is the most important human quality, and this prescribes that. It also asks you to be empathetic to others. Having empathy, and showing kindness are two of the biggest ways to solve the ills of mankind.
“Someone once told me the definition of hell; on your last day on earth, the person you could have become will meet the person you became.” ― Anonymous
Wow. I think we all have worries that we aren’t living to our potential. This quote brings that home with frightening gravitas. This quote is a bit of a wake up call to be more in your life.
“For all of the most important things, the timing always sucks.
Waiting for a good time to quit your job?
The stars will never align and the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time.
The universe doesn’t conspire against you, but it doesn’t go out of its way to line up the pins either.
Conditions are never perfect.
‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.”
— Tim Ferriss
Tim refers often to the “Deferred Life Plan,” where people work hard at something they don’t enjoy so that in a mythical ‘someday,’ they can finally do what they want.
This ‘plan’ deserves serious scrutiny. Is this the best way to live? Tim and I agree that it’s not.
If you haven’t read it, the book from which this is taken, “The 4 Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich,” is one of the most paradigm changing reads you will ever have.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.” — attributed to Albert Einstein
Everything IS a miracle. The thought of the absolute precision with which atoms and molecules interact, or that the orbit of the Earth being exactly the right distance from the sun to maintain life…it’s all mind blowing.
Or…you could be the type of person that complains loudly because a barista got your coffee order wrong, instead. Expecting, and then being disappointed when the universe fails to be exactly the way you intend.
“When we change the way we look at things the things we look at will change” ― Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Simple. But incredibly profound.
If you look at life through a lens of wonder, of empathy, of kindness and curiosity, I promise that life will change completely.
P.S. Dr. Dyer was a national treasure. I got to talk to a friend of his this past week, and I’m happy to report that he was the real deal and walked his talk. Somehow, that makes everything he says that much more impactful.
“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” — Seneca the Younger.
Vision. Goals. Knowing what you want out of this grand experiment of life is so, so important.
Earl Nightingale, who may or may not be on this list (stay tuned) said: “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.”
We’ve all felt that momentum in our life, when we had a goal, we had a way to keep score, and we knew we were making progress. I’m willing to bet that those were some of the best days of your life. I know they were and are with me.
So, set the goal. Strive, and improve. Keep score, and move closer to it, and your life will be so much better.
“…follow your bliss and don’t be afraid,
and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” — Joseph Campbell
Wow. This was just so life changing for me. Campbell was talking about the Hero’s Journey. Life just doesn’t have that same meaning if you don’t have something for which you are striving. Something that’s a PART of you…that you can’t NOT do.
This is a reminder of that. If you hadn’t clicked or read it above, here’s a lot more on the life-changing subject of The Hero’s Journey.
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation…and go to the grave with their song still in them.” — Henry David Thoreau (my man!)
Okay, purists know this — but this quote is actually a combination of two of the things Thoreau said, the desperation part in the book, “Walden,” and the grave in an essay he wrote later.
But…WOW. It’s so true, and unfortunately so common. Dying with the song still in you? No, thank you. We’ve all got to sing what’s in our souls. We have to GET IT OUT. Because…(read the next quote).
“The number one regret of the dying: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” — Bronnie Ware
This isn’t something that’s taught in schools. But do you think that it’s important to know this?
We should all be faced with this each and every day, so that we can cherish the life and opportunity that we have. Before it’s too late.
How can you live a life that’s true to yourself? Two ways come to mind: what is something you had in your heart to do when you were a child? And…what would you do now if you had a billion dollars in the bank and every material need already satisfied? If either of those answers includes helping and serving others…you’re on the right track.
Much, much more of this is covered in my book, Life Lessons from Dad: 101 Surprising Secrets To Revolutionize Your Life (from Someone Who Loves You).
“Life gives to the giver, and takes from the taker.” — Joe Polish
I’m lucky enough to be friends with Joe, and have him as a mentor in my life. This is a quote that’s spoken often in his Genius Network.
It’s self-explanatory, but I think the most PRACTICAL application of this is that it’s best to approach anyone, any business, any venture with the thought that you’re going to give first…to provide value, without having an ulterior motive.
When you do that, the world just opens up in a very, very good way, and your actions will come back to bless you more than ten-fold.
“I’d tell men and women in their mid-twenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling.
Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it.
If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.” — Phil Knight (founder of Nike)
This goes for everyone, not just people in their mid-twenties. If you’re tired, if you’re burned out, if you DISLIKE what you are doing each day…then it’s time to change.
Now, that doesn’t mean quit everything at once, and like others say, “jump and build your airplane on the way down.” That can actually be reckless if you have a family or are in a tough financial spot. But it does mean to be on the lookout.
It means to add something new to mix and begin your search, and don’t settle.
For more on this, and the HOW to handle switching careers/missions, check out “the trapeze theory of the side hustle” (it’s a short read).
“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wow. I love this so much. I don’t like tattoos on myself, but if I wanted a great quote for one, it may be this.
Enthusiasm is derived from the Greek root of “En theos.” It literally means, “God within.”
To me, this is the highest state for which a human can strive.
Are you enthused when you wake up each day?
If not, who sold you on that plan? Is it possible to change that? The answer to that, as my mentor Jim Rohn would say, is… “Of cooooooouuuurrrrsssse.”
Your life is too short, and far too deserving and valuable to spend it doing something for which you have no enthusiasm.
In fact, “ENTHUSIASM: What it Is, What it Means, and How to Get It” will be my next book, after the launch of “Life Lessons From Dad: 101 Surprising Secrets To Revolutionize Your Life (from Someone Who Loves You).
“Find something you’d die for, and live for it.” — Peter Diamandis
Short. Sweet. And deeply profound. If you’re not happy selling washing machines (someone has to do it, right), and you want to make a difference — it’s not going to happen by itself.
It begins with the act of seeking. Of looking for the things you can do that would set your soul on fire.
This quote is actually #29 in “Peter’s Laws,” a list that’s part reminder, part affirmation, and all motivational. To get a copy of these, visit Peter’s page.
Now You’re Fired Up, What Do You Do Now?
Get (and apply): “The Ideal Nighttime Checklist to Win the Next Day.”
I’m telling you, it could be the small step that changes everything.
Originally published at medium.com