H.O.P.E. = Hold On. Pain Ends.
Hold on. Pain Ends. This acronym for the word hope is also such a great definition of what it means to have hope. Having hope means having faith that whatever difficulties or challenges you’re going through now will eventually end. But holding on is not easy at times. We naturally get impatient and feel like we cant hang in there much longer. However, just the mere understanding that the pain will end–or at least diminish–makes it easier to hold on. So next time you feel completely hopeless, remember to hold on. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
Society tends to give someone who spends most of their day busy more respect than someone spending most of it relaxing. We tend to perceive busyness as a good thing, while productivity takes a backseat. This quote by The Four Hour Work-Week author, Timothy Ferriss, reminds us to refocus our attention on productivity. Life is short. So we should try to use the time we are busy to be as productive as possible. That way we can have more time to smell the roses.
“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”
Sometimes what lies before us seems more frightening than what we’ve already overcome. However, it may not necessarily be more challenging than what we’ve already gone through. The only difference between the battles we’ve won and the battles before us is the unknown. This quote, by N.R. Walker, is about making how far you’ve come serve as inspiration for what lies ahead. You may not know the outcome, but if the past is any indication, you will get through–just as you’ve gotten through all the things that led you to this point.
“The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s what you’re made of. Not the circumstances.”
It’s interesting to note that boiling water can both soften a potato and harden an egg. If we think of the boiling water as challenges in life, then those challenges can either make us weaker (soften us) or make us stronger (harden us). This anonymous quote reminds us that the same boiling water–same circumstances–can have different effects. In other words, the circumstances are not what automatically determine our outcome. It all depends what we’re made of. It depends on the composition of our mind, body, and soul.
“One day or day one. You decide.”
Each day, you can either say “one day” or you can say today is “day one”–the start of a new adventure. This anonymous quote reminds us that the choice is ours to make today a day we begin what we’ve been putting off or to make it a day we continue to push it off further. Each day, we have the power to choose when one day becomes now.
“We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.”
Without adjusting the sails on a sailboat, the boat would go wherever the wind takes it. So to get where it needs to go, the sails likely need to be adjusted from time to time–not the wind. Similarly, in life, there are some things we just cannot change. Like the wind. However, we try so hard to change them. But we can either let those things direct our life, or we can put up and adjust our sails. This anonymous quote reminds us to recognize the things we cannot change. Instead of exhausting our energy trying to direct those winds, we can focus on the things we do have control…
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“Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid of standing still.
“If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.”
A bird’s nest is made of so many twigs, dry grass, and moss that have been procured from near and far and then carefully and properly placed. The pieces are small and light. However, they result in a fairly sturdy and livable structure. Imagine all the back and forth trips and all the little pieces that come together to build that nest–something so necessary and impactful. Naturally and instinctively, the bird knows it needs to add little things, bit by bit, to build something massive. And we should remember that too, in our own lives. This quote, by Kenneth Goldsmith, reminds us that it’s okay to work on something little…
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
We all have things we want to accomplish–whether it’s getting out of bed in the morning or getting a prestigious award or recognition. But it’s easy to forget that we make no progress toward our goals without first taking action. It’s even easier to forget that before that action comes a decision to take it. This quote, by John F. Kennedy, reminds us that any accomplishment first takes the decision to give it a shot. To try. This is, in fact, the first step that takes our goals from just existing in our head to becoming reality. Have you made the decision to try?
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“Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways – ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.”
“Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.”
Thoughts of the Day
“By being yourself you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.”
This quote, by Edwin Elliot, is a reminder to appreciate what makes you unique. It’s a reminder to not try to hide those things. At the end of the day, who you are has never been in the world before. So “by being yourself you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” On the other hand, ignoring what makes you stand out and imitating others only replicates something that’s already out there, which is a total waste of the person you were created to be.
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”
Sometimes we expect joy to come and go as our life experiences dictate. It’s either there or it’s not depending if something good happens or if we experience a stroke of bad luck or unfortunate event. However, joy isn’t that simple. For instance, a great thing can happen, but that doesn’t mean joy automatically follows suit if you aren’t feeling grateful. On the flip side, something horrible can happen, but you find the silver lining, and joy emerges from the pain. This quote, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, reminds us that joy doesn’t just happen to us. While it’s not always easy, we can and should always make the effort to…
