1. “Discomfort is the currency of success” – Brooke Castillo
On Discomfort:
Are you at where you want in life? If you don’t feel like you’ve reached that success, then your current and previous actions haven’t been doing the trick. This means you have to try new things and take risks, which is inherently uncomfortable; this is the price paid for success though.
I haven’t found the success I’m looking for yet, so I’m constantly trying to re-evaluate and see what can be done differently to increase my odds of achieving it.
Discomfort is usually a product of trying new things and pushing yourself to your limits, but success is often found in these new pursuits. Personal growth is uncomfortable, but that’s where you’re going to find a sense of accomplishment.
Whether it’s learning a new profession, starting your own business, or working on improving social/communication skills, it’s going to force you to evolve as a person in the process. Be okay with discomfort, and find a way to start framing it as an opportunity for betterment.
Side note: It’s possible to be grateful for what you have and still pursue more; just don’t let the attainment of something (whether a goal or a physical item) be what you base your happiness on.
2. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts” – Marcus Aurelius
On Happiness:
You’ve probably heard it before, but life is all about perspective. The same event can happen, and two people may view it differently. For example, a friend saying they were thinking of you, so they bought you lunch. One person may be extremely grateful for the thought and kind act, while another is disappointed because they don’t like the food that was picked; it’s the same food and same situation, yet the feelings and thoughts of each person comes down to what they CHOSE to focus on.
You can prime your mind for always looking for the negative, or you can make the effort to find the positive in every scenario. Some may see an obstacle or setback, while others would see an opportunity.
It can be hard to find a silver lining in certain life events, but you can get creative. Even after very emotionally difficult times (i.e. a breakup), you can be content knowing that you’ll come out a more resilient person after having experienced the pain and learned to process your emotions.
A daily gratitude practice can also help change your mindset to be more inclined to look for moments in your life to be thankful for. Learn to be grateful for what you already have, and the quality of your life will improve.
3. “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake” – Confucius
On Mistakes:
Making a mistake isn’t a problem, it’s inevitable for all of us. It’s what you do afterwards that makes the difference. Failures and setbacks are opportunities to learn how to do better for the future.
If an attempt isn’t made to correct an error, this shows blatant disregard. If you do not try to rectify your mistake, or continue to make the same ones in the future, this shows that you have learned nothing.
Just know that making a mistake usually affects someone, whether that’s yourself or another person; either have the self respect to fix it for yourself, or have the courtesy/respect to remedy it for others.
4. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” – Lao Tzu
On Patience:
We tend to fill our days with a million tasks we feel the need to get done, and then try to rush through everything we do. The day tends to go by on autopilot as we hastily chip away at everything on our list.
This quote helps me self reflect on what I’m actually working towards, and why I feel a need to rush to get there. I understand it can be discouraging to work at something for so long and feel like you’re not where you want to be. I’ve had to learn that some things take time, and we have to be okay with that. Learn to slow down.
Again, nature takes its time, and all is done how it’s supposed to be. Enjoy the process as it unfolds too; learn to be in the moment, and aware of what you’re doing each day. Take yourself off of that autopilot, and have everything you do be done with intention.
All you can control is what you choose to do, and the rest will follow as it does. You can’t rush the changing of the seasons, and you can’t rush the results you expect from your life. Things will come in due time.
My biggest tip would be to try to cut out the things from your day that aren’t actually beneficial to your quality of life. Focus on pouring your effort into the things that will make a difference for you. Instead of filling your day with busy work and never being able to slow down to enjoy your life, try to take things OFF your plate and watch how much more you can accomplish.
5. “Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou will always look” – Marcus Aurelius
On Motivation:
We have a tendency to quit in life when things get difficult, but you have to remember that you are capable of much more than you’re aware of. This isn’t easy, and I often struggle with this, because quitting usually feels like the easiest and least painful option.
Most of us aren’t used to pushing our limits, so we don’t know what we’re actually capable of. Whatever it is you’re going through or working on, you have to have the right motivation behind it; your reason has to be something meaningful that you can pull from to overcome the challenging times.
We often exist within our comfort zone and shut down when forced out of it. If you look into yourself and build the courage and fortitude to keep going, you’ll realize that you have it in you. We’re just often afraid of the unknown, so we steer clear of discomfort. Learn to push yourself (safely), and you’ll accomplish more than what you may expect.