Five Quotes Helping to Guide Me Through this Year
Quotes can be cliché but they become this way because there is truth in what they attempt to project. When I start a new journal, I write down quotes at the beginning of my journal that have meaning to me at that particular time in my life. Some quotes, I repeat from prior journals and others are there for a moment. I’d like to share the five quotes in the front of my journal and what they mean to me. You may some value in them as well.
1. “You could leave life right now.” Marcus Aurelius
Life is meant to be lived; we can’t wait around and have it come to us. Go out and create the life you want. Be present in your relationships. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. You might not always have the chance. I keep this quote with me at all times in the form of the Memento Mori coin. When I am faced with a difficult decision or nervous about doing something, like telling my boss I was quitting my job, I look at the coin for a nice reminder that this could be my last day.
2. “Did I choose courage over comfort when I had the chance?” Brené Brown
Life is full of choices and I find that when I choose the comfortable path, it only feels good in the short-term. Make the hard choice and take actions that require courage, which leads to long-term growth. For example, it can be very comfortable to sit on the couch and watch Netflix but what you really need to be doing is going to workout. The workout will be difficult in the short-term but lead to better health. When your gut is telling you that something may be hard, go for it. It will benefit you in the end.
3. “There is one path in the world none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!” Nietzsche
Nietzsche reminds me that this is my life and I must stop living up to the expectations of others. We must blaze our own trail in this world. We can’t worry about what others think. Your family and friends might have the best intentions and are trying to help but we must live according to our values. For me, the only way I can do that is by living life with an abundant mindset. An abundant mindset means not fearing change and staying open to all of the possibilities life has for us. Follow your heart and see where it leads.
4. “If you don’t do something every day that makes you feel small, you haven’t really lived.” Laird Hamilton
This quote ties into the first two but it is a reminder that I must take risk. You can’t live small. It doesn’t matter if you fail trying to do big things, because there is really no failure, only learning experiences. Try new experiences and learn new things. This is how we grow. If we stay in the confines of our comfort zone we will stagnate and become stuck. What are you scared of doing right now? Put an action plan together and move! You won’t regret it.
5. “ Life is wide, limitless. There is no border, no frontier.” Bruce Lee
The only limitations in life are the ones we impose on ourselves. It doesn’t matter what others say we can or can’t do. We can do whatever we want in this world. It takes a plan and action. You cannot sit around and wish it to be true. You must set your sites on your goals and move towards it every day. Don’t let others define what you can do.
To Sum it up
Quotes can be used as guides and help remind us to stay on the path we chose. They will not do the heavy lifting for us but can give us a kick in the butt when we need it. If you need the motivation to stay disciplined on your current path or need help making a change, look to people from past and present for a little inspiration. Come up with your own interpretation of their words and use it to help you along the way.
Call To Action
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