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“Happiness is not a goal. It’s a by-product of a life well lived.”
This quote, by Eleanor Roosevelt, addresses whether you’re looking at happiness at a micro or macro level. At a micro level, happiness becomes the end goal of every action. It becomes a constant effort–a never-ending pursuit. It means when something bad happens or you’re sad, one or more actions follow.…
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“If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.”
All plants need varying levels of sunlight to grow and thrive. It’s part of a process called photosynthesis wherein sunlight, along with water and oxygen, is converted into carbohydrates, i.e. energy. Light plays a key role in this process. Without it, a plant will eventually wither and die. This is…
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“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
This quote comes from Albert Einstein. Take note, it doesn’t say that “the pursuit of success” is a bad thing. It’s good to have aspirations and pursue success in various endeavors. That’s one of the many things that give hope for the future. However, you can look at what comes…
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“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.”
Of the three bones mentioned in this quote by singer and actor Reba McEntire, only the backbone (i.e. spine) actually exists in the human body. The wishbone (furcula) is found in birds. Meanwhile, the funny bone isn’t really a bone but a nerve that runs along the arm. Clearly, this…
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“Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.”
We tend to assume a lot about a person’s happiness based on their achievements, milestones, and good fortune. But quite often, whatever they’ve accomplished by work and/or luck results in momentary happiness. After its initial effect, the feeling may fade over time, and it may experience “the law of diminishing…
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“There are two types of pains. One that hurts you and the other that changes you.”
When you exercise, you may feel some pain in your muscles. The burning sensation comes from the build-up of lactic acid. This pain is typically temporary. Over time, with consistent exercise, the activated muscles grow and become stronger. This is the type of pain that changes you in a positive…
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“A change in bad habits leads to a change in life.”
This quote comes from weight loss guru, Jenny Craig. However, it doesn’t just apply to weight loss. All bad habits affect our lives as a whole. And we often don’t realize how much so until they’re gone. For example, a habit as simple as (voluntarily) staying up late on a…
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“What are you accepting that would not be a part of your ideal day?”
This quote, by Alan Cohen, is a simple question. And it’s a question to consider every day. The fact of the matter is whatever you accept every day will inevitably factor into your life later on. So, are you accepting things like bad habits, unideal situations, and negativity into your…
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“When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there.”
Consider your state of mind when you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or confused. Your focus suddenly becomes more limited to the one or several things causing that particular emotion. Everything else seems to disappear. However, this quote from a Beatles song by George Harrison, is about being able to notice things…
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“Not having the best situation, but seeing the best in your situation is the key to happiness.”
This quote, by Marie Forleo, reminds us that happiness is also determined by our level of optimism. Some people seem to have it all, but not seeing the best in their situation makes it all null and void. So, whatever your situation, try to see the best in it. In…