45 Lessons of Living … (09/03/16)
Recently I was sent a power-point presentation containing “45 Lessons of Life”.
After watching it, I felt inspired to add my own thoughts — thoughts that reflect the difference between having a “good life” vs. living a Great One.
EnJOY!
01) Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
Life is good because it is always “fair” … Our consequences are consistently commensurate to our choices.
02) When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Any step taken solely for yourself is always a step in the wrong direction.
03) Life is too short to waste time hurting anyone.
Life is only short while you are hurting someone.
04) Your job won’t take care of you when your are sick – and yet your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
Letting another take care of you ensures that you will remain spiritually ill. Wholeness only returns to us in those moments when we set aside personal desires & care for another.
05) Pay off your credit card bills each month.
Pay off your credit cards once and for all.
06) You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
You cannot win any argument. Agree to agree.
07) Cry with someone, as it’s more healing than crying alone.
Crying ensures continued depression – double so when you cry with another.
08) It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
It’s counterproductive to get angry with God. He/She only comprehends Love.
09) Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
Save nothing for retirement. Use everything you have in every moment you have it.
10) When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Resistance is indeed always futile, andyet succumbing is always your choice.
11) Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up your present.
Make peace with your past to bring others Joy in your present.
12) It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
It’s OK to let anyone see you cry. Laugh anyway.
13) Don’t compare your life to others. You don’t know what their journey is about.
And remember that analyzing others or gossiping about them is comparing them. Avoid both.
14) If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
If a relationship is secret, it doesn’t exist.
15) Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry – God doesn’t blink.
Everything does change in the blink of an eye. And God is constantly blinking.
16) Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Take a deep breath to return to the moment – the only place where Kindness can blossom.
17) Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
Anything you own that doesn’t help another is not truly useful, beautiful or joyful.
18) Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
Self-centeredness kills you.
19) It’s never too late to have a happy childhood, and the second one is up to you.
Children only know the Here&Now, where Happiness is always a choice.
20) When it comes to going after what you want in life, don’t take no for an answer.
Gently and courageously refuse to go after what you want in life – unless you want to fulfill the want of another.
21) Don’t save for special occasions. Today is special.
The only time today is special is when you use your finest to further another’s Joy.
22) Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
It is impossible to go with the flow while preparing.
23) Be eccentric now.
Honesty is never eccentric – Just be yourSelf.
24) The most important sex organ is the brain.
As Love is the only thing that is truly Important, there is no important sex organ.
25) No one is in charge of your happiness but yourself.
You cannot experience Happiness until you let go of being in charge.
26) Frame every disaster with the question “In f years, will this matter?”
Frame every disaster with the question “What good can I do with this now?”
27) Always choose life.
Choose to truly live by choosing to serve another.
28) Forgive everyone everything.
Do so by extending them acts of Kindness.
29) What others think of you is none of your business …
Others hear what you do, not what you say or what you think.
30) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
Only Love can heal (and it is impossible to Love while waiting to be healed).
31) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Every situation exists only in the moment – and as such never changes. Accept it in the only moment you can: now.
32) Don’t take yourself seriously – No one else does.
The only way to not take yourself seriously is to honor your opportunities to serve.
33) Believe in miracles.
See miracles in the “normal” & the “boring” & the “ugly” & the “enemy”.
34) God loves you because of who God is, not because of what you did or didn’t do.
God loves you because you are a potential agent of God’s Love – Act accordingly.
35) Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it.
When “showing up” is being actively kind, then “showing up” is making the most of it.
36) Growing old beats dying young.
To the one who is selfish, a long life is extended misery. To the one living for others, even the shortest of lives has Purpose & Peace.
37) Your children only get one childhood.
In any moment, your Love only gets one chance.
38) All that matters in the end is that you loved.
Nothing matters in the end. Your Love matters only in the moments it is given, and Now is the only time you’ve truly got.
39) Get outside … Miracles are waiting everywhere.
Miracles are just as prevalent inside as out.
40) If we threw our problems in a pile and looked at another’s, we’d grab ours back.
If we all threw our problems to the side, we’d know where to start helping others with theirs.
41) Envy is a waste of time. You already have everything you need.
All we need is the ability to actively Care – a choice which is always available.
42) The best is yet to come.
Nothing is yet to come. The best is already (& always) right here.
43) No matter how you feel, get up & show up.
Especially when you feel terrible, get up and show Love.
44) Yield.
Yield actively.
45) Life isn’t tied with a bow, and yet it’s still a gift.
Life is always Wonder-filled – just have the courage to really take a Good look.
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