“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”—Leo Tolstoy
I could give you four quarters for a dollar or you can get the change yourself.
A Panda's Journey
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”—Leo Tolstoy
I could give you four quarters for a dollar or you can get the change yourself.
Do you ever get carried away in thinking about what other people are doing?
I don’t do that, but! – I’ve found out that a lot of people actually spend their entire lives watching & talking about other people, while never living their own life.
What a life!! haha…
But I’m not actually laughing…
This article is a reminder to myself to — Although others are living their lives watching & talking about other people, To NOT be one of them on the sidelines watching & chatting, but to actually BE in the game.
Be Live. Be in the Action & Create while everyone else is on the sidelines watching & talking about you & I, The Creators. The ones who choose to live & live fully.
So, let people talk. It’s what people do best! Let them watch us as we continue taking action, creating, playing, living.
1) “There is no need to search; achievement leads to nowhere. It makes no difference at all, so just be happy now! Love is the only reality of the world, because it is all One, you see. And the only laws are paradox, humor and change. There is no problem, never was, and never will be. Release your struggle, let go of your mind, throw away your concerns, and relax into the world. No need to resist life, just do your best. Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you imagine. You are the world, you are the universe; you are yourself and everyone else, too! It’s all the marvelous Play of God. Wake up, regain your humor. Don’t worry, just be happy. You are already free!”
2) “Reality never matched their dreams; happiness was just around the corner — a corner they never turned. And the source of it all was the human mind.”
3) “Sometimes sorrow, sometimes joy. But beneath it all remember the innate perfection of your life unfolding. That is the secret of unreasonable happiness.”
4) “And so I awoke to reality, free of any meaning or any search. What could there possibly be to search for? All of Socrate’s words had come alive with my death. This was the paradox of it all, the humor of it all, and the great change. All searches, all achievements, all goals, were equally enjoyable, and equally unnecessary.”
5) “Act happy, be happy, without a reason in the world. Then you can love, and do what you will.”
6) “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
7) “‘What do I do then, now? Where do I go from here?’ Dan asked Socrates.
‘Who cares?’ He yelled gleefully. ‘A fool is ‘happy’ when his cravings are satisfied. A warrior is happy without reason. That’s what makes happiness the ultimate discipline—above all else I have taught you.’”
8) “Stay in the present. You can do nothing to change the past, and the future will never come exactly as you plan or hope for. The warrior is here, now. Your sorrow, your fear & anger, regret & guilt, your envy and plans and cravings live only in the past, or in the future.”
9) “Like most people, you’ve been taught to gather information from outside yourself; from books, magazines, experts. Like this car, you open up and let the facts pour in. Sometimes the information is premium and sometimes it’s low octane. You buy your knowledge at the current market rates, much like you buy gasoline. Like this gas tank, you are overflowing with preconceptions; full of useless knowledge. You hold many facts and opinions, yet know little of yourself. Before you can learn, you’ll have to first empty your tank.”
10) “Wake up! If you knew for certain that you had a terminal illness – if you had precious little time left to make use of your life and consider who you are, you’d not waste time on self-indulgence or fear, lethargy or ambition. You do have a terminal illness – it is death. Be happy now, without reason – or you never will be at all.”
“Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.”
—William Shakespeare
You lost the election.
You bet on the wrong stock.
You missed the game winning field goal.
You fell down face first into a pile of mud.
And it hurt.
It still does sometimes.
But you weren’t meant to remain in pain.
The pain – the adversity, is an opportunity to grow, to learn, to prosper, but in the moments it happens it’s almost impossible to appreciate.
Adversity doesn’t feel good, but it carries within it a gift.
The gift of experience.
“Experience is the teacher of all things.”
—Julius Caesar
The gift may be hidden, but it’s there, waiting for you to find it, open it, & move forward – stronger, wiser, and ready for the next opportunity.
“Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”
– Lao Tzu
There’s no need to expand on this simple yet profound message from Lao Tzu.
Do your work, then step back.
Enjoy the view.
Sometimes I scroll through social media and find myself comparing myself to famous people who seem to have “made it.”
Yes they have made it to where they are, and that’s perfect, but that’s not where our focus should be.
My focus, your focus, our focus, should remain upon our own lives, our own goals, our own dreams.
When you stop comparing and start focusing and working on improving your own life, life improves.
It takes time, but it’s worth it.
“Stay in your lane. Comparison kills creativity and joy.”
-Brene Brown
What does success feel like to you?
Feelings are powerful.
What we continually and strongly feel, we manifest.
So what do you want to manifest?
Begin here:
First, define success.
Second, define what success specifically means for you.
Third, dwell upon the feeling of if you already have what you defined as success.
Four, persist, believe, & remember that you will fail, but through your failures continue to remember & dwell within YOUR feeling of success.
Five, your success is dependent on you & not anyone else. Take responsibility for it.
Define success before feeling it, and be specific.
The universe responds.