As humans we have much in common but a lot of differences also; our lives take different paths for varying reasons like socio-economic, location, job status, intelligence, determination, laziness and more, and then there's happenstance, governmental and other such factors outside of our general control. Our individual journeys are rarely the same, similar maybe, but also as different as we are numerous. There is one constant though...we all have life, a life more to the point, in that regard we're the same.
Life can be so gloriously enjoyable, happy and meaningful but it can also be brutal and it's that aspect I'm commenting on today, the brutal aspects of life we're all subject to at one point or another and have to navigate.
I'm going to list some things that I feel we all need to accept, do or not do and at the end I'll ask if there's any you'd like to add to the list in the comments.
It's brutal - deal with it
- Life isn't fair - Accept it and control the controllable things rather than complaining about why things aren't going your way. Being entitled by nature entitles you to nothing.
- Life balance is not the key - Living with energy and meaning is, having passion and personality, applying effort and ownership and making time count is the key that opens life's doors.
- Success and failure are temporary things - Stay humble, focused and disciplined. We learn more from failing than succeeding so fail more and accept that if you do you'll succeed more.
- Learn to say "no" and get good at it - It's a form of protection and will help you focus. Saying no to people and things when appropriate will buy back your time, thoughts and attitudes...your life too.
- Genuine freedom comes from owning your available time - It doesn't come from owning your income. Focusing on money doesn't mean it'll come and neither does worshiping the money you have bring a meaningful life. Time is what's valuable.
- Loyalty can't be forced or bought - Be loyal and stay loyal to yourself, values and sense of honour above all but show it to those who have earned it as well...and remove it from those who don't deserve it.
- Don't fear difficulty and what may seem insurmountable - Just take a step, then another and another. The easiest way to get through things is to keep going and the easiest way to achieve something is to keep working towards it.
- Development and growth can feel uncomfortable - Seek it and lean forward into it regardless. Doing nothing will achieve nothing, seek to continually grow and learn and you will do so.
- No one owes you anything, not even a chance or a shot - Get out there and earn it. Waiting for someone to make your life better is a fools errand, lazy and a waste of time; you have the power to improve your life, so go and do it.
- Accept you don't know it all and that you're a beginner - This is where development begins. Presenting as the smartest person in the room or being right all the time is inhibiting and limiting, you don't know it all, so go and learn something.
- The young want wealth but it'll not often come - Find value in your moments instead. If you don't value time you will waste it and once gone it doesn't come back...it's the most valuable thing we have.
- Your reputation is everything, priceless - It's destroyed easily so protect it. People will always perceive what they wish to, only you truly know you so be the person you feel proud of, be your best version as often as possible.
- Busy-work is an enemy - Being busy isn't progress, take ownership, be productive, strategic and efficient. Pretending to progress and develop isn't progression or development. Sometimes it feels like we are on the right track but get caught doing busy work. Don't.
- Stop complaining and comparing - It's you versus you...no one else. No one cares about you, so you better start doing it for yourself, your development and your life.
- Not everyone wants you to succeed or grow - Do it anyway, don't whine about it. People will always try and pull others down or stay focused on themselves so it's best that you own yourself and make things happen, others won't do it for you.
- Change is pivotal - Don't fear change, seek and embrace it; through change comes a change of results. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results. Change is good.
- You are responsible - Happiness, progression, relationships, success, failure, meaningfulness...It's all on you. Shifting blame for what goes wrong or expecting others to do things for you is not going to produce your best life.
- Better results come from small things done often - Be persistent, consistent, hard working, responsible and disciplined. Little things done often build momentum and become bigger things, momentous things. Do so many small things, the right small things, that they touch at the sides and begin to resemble one big thing. Your ideal life.
- Your critics will talk a lot and loudly but they risk little - Take risks, beyond fear is where the road to amazing things begins. Fear should motivate not inhibit, embrace and use it to take the first steps to the greatness that your life could and should be.
- Be still - It's through stillness that creativity buds and blossoms, stress won't grow a bountiful crop. Still your mind, remove obstructions and distractions and listen to yourself, in there is your masterpiece if you dare to paint it.
- It's not up to others - Ownership, responsibility, discipline and effort will build faster than waiting for others to build on your behalf. Your life is your own, take it by the scruff of the neck and own it.
- True self-reflection and honesty is difficult - Do it well and you'll progress, do it not and you'll regress. Understanding you, what you want and why, who you are and are not will give you a path forward.
Life comes easy, we don't even remember the moment is begins, and can be brutally difficult as it goes, but with some effort life can be better, more enjoyable or meaningful. Some will do what's required, others will maintain their entitled ways...all will reach the end and die. It's what happens in the middle which matters though right? What do you think? Comment below if you like.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
