“Being deeply loved gives you strength, while loving deeply gives you courage.”
During challenging times, we may need to lean on loving family and friends for support. Their support gives us strength; and something as simple as a hug or a listening ear can go a long way. So, the idea that being deeply loved gives us strength makes complete sense. However, the idea that loving deeply gives us courage may not be as straightforward. At the heart of the second half of this quote by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzuloving is the fact that loving deeply makes us more selfless. With less focus on ourselves, we can have more care about the wellbeing of those we love. And care for something beyond…
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
Sadness, frustration, hardship, and loss are almost unavoidable in life. Therefore, praying for an easy life would be an unrealistic expectation. There’s no such thing as a life free of these conditions no matter your geographic location, socioeconomic status, age, or piety. The truth is, there are always going to be some negatives intermixed with the positives. This is why, as suggested in this Bruce Lee quote, we should pray for strength for when we do fall on hard times rather than pray that we never do at all. There’s no such thing as a life free of sadness, frustration, hardship, and loss. However, having the strength to surmount these…
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.”
In the story of Cinderella, the glass slipper fits one person and one person only: Cinderella. However, realistically, there would be others with the same shoe size while there would be those whom the same shoe doesn’t fit. It’s a simple fact of life that we can’t all wear the same-sized shoes. This quote, from the book Modern Man in Search of a Soul by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, reminds us that we can’t expect to go on life’s journey all wearing the same-sized shoes. That would be an unfair expectation for ourself. If they’re too small or too big, our journey would be more slow, laborious, painful, and…
“To make a change, you need to be aware and acknowledge that something isn’t working first.”
When it comes to changing something that’s not working, you first have to see that it’s not working. It seems like a no-brainer. But sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. And a much needed change may not be so evident. This quote, by Justin Kan, reminds us of the importance of being aware of and acknowledging that something isn’t working. How do you become aware and acknowledge something isn’t working when you just don’t know? Where do you begin in order to develop that awareness? Here are some things to reflect on. Ask yourself if you’ve put on some rose-colored glasses. There might be some denial happening–Ignoring red…
“The first step to living the life that you want is leaving the life that you don’t want.”
When we think of living the life we want, our first inclination is to think of all the things we need to add to it or begin. However, as writer Karen Salmansohn suggests in this quote, we might be missing another key step before all of that. Before we start thinking about what to add or start, a more immediate step might be what we need to get rid of, stop, or leave behind. For instance, what situations, patterns, or toxic relationships do we need to leave? Addressing those things first will be the first step in creating a clearer path toward living the life we want.
“All that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that.”
This quote, by Baltasar Gracian, gives us a different perspective of time. It’s the only thing we all really have. Even someone with absolutely nothing has it. But when it comes to free time, we don’t all have the same amount. And what we physically possess isn’t always a predictor of the intangible time we have. For instance, someone who’s amassed a great deal of wealth can have less or just as much free time as someone with significantly fewer assets. Moreover, they may not even have much time to enjoy the things they have. At the end of the day, when it comes to time, it really doesn’t matter…
“Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier, and healthier life.”
For the Monday to Friday five-day workweek worker, Mondays can be the most dreaded day of the week. Waking up on a Monday, it can be hard to wave off the feeling of hopelessness and despair. The thought of another five days shakes you to your core, and you would give anything for just one more day of weekend. If this is you, you’re not alone. Maybe your dreaded day is not Monday. Depending on your schedule, it could be a Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday–whatever that day is that commences your workweek, the feeling is unfortunately the same. This quote, by Germany Kent, helps bring hope out of despair on…
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“You can make life very simple or very complicated. Some people try to be what others want them to be. Others try to be different just to stand out. In both cases, they are changing themselves to impress others. Neither of these paths has a heart. Just be true to yourself. It’s that simple.”
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“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.”
Being fast and doing the most in the least time is something we’ve come to praise and idolize as a society. Games, sports, and competitions of mental aptitude are often won by whoever is fastest. There is no reward for the slowest person to win a race, the last person to complete a task, or the last person to ring in the correct answer. So, we become conditioned to believe that without speed we lose. In other words, we’re a loser at life. As a result, we find ourselves rushing toward every milestone and accomplishment, sometimes forgetting ourselves in the process. And if we don’t reach those milestones and accomplishments…
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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.”
“In the end, everything will be okay. If it’s not okay, it’s not yet the end.”
Whether good or bad, it’s yet another day; and tomorrow can be better
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”
Finding happiness doesn’t always come automatically. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes without any known reason. As this quote by Dalai Lama XIV reminds us, happiness is not “ready-made.” But even though it’s not ready-made, this quote also reminds us we do have some level of autonomy over it. There are actions you can take for your happiness. For instance, understanding yourself–Increasing the things that make you happy and avoiding the things that do the opposite. Ensuring you have the right support system around you. Surrounding yourself with positive things and people. Seeking counseling when needed. Finding peace through meditation and prayer. Taking better care of your body and…
“Half the trouble in the world comes from people asking ‘What have I achieved?’ rather than ‘What have I enjoyed?’”
This quote is from Walter Farley, the writer of The Black Stallion books. Farley went on to say that it wasn’t so much the popularity of his books among young readers that brought him joy. Instead, it was that he enjoyed writing them. Often we focus on the outcome, or achievement, and not the way we feel in getting there. This quote reminds us to focus less on what we’ve achieved and more on what we’ve enjoyed. After all, it’s better to have mediocrity than an unhappy road to success. However, if we focus on what we enjoy, the success may come too, but with more joy along the way.
