Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.
~ Soren Kierkegaard, philosopher
Remember this quote during the week when you catch yourself worrying or over planning the future. We can’t understand the reason why we have to struggle some of the time and why other times we reap the benefits of “luck”. The good and the bad happen in our lives for a reason. Hindsight is twenty twenty for a reason. Appreciate the moment, work hard moving forward and accept the unexpected.
Toady’s Monday Motivation is taken from Paul Angone’s 101 Secrets For Your Twenties. Secret #25 is one of my favorites. It reminds twentysomethings that “failing”, or not completing something correctly, is not a reflection on who we are as a person. Our failures do not define us, they refine us. They refine our skills by correcting mistakes and challenge our perspective. Are you going to look at a failure negatively, calling yourself a failure? Or are you going to change your perspective to a positive one so you can look at each “failure” as an opportunity to improve?
“Inaction breeds fear and doubt. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ~ Dale Carnegie, writer and lecturer
“The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.” ~William James
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find, ten years has got behind you
No one told you where to run, you missed the starting gun.”~David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, “Time”
I started reading The Defining Decade a book about “why you twenties matter- and how to make the most of them now” by Meg Jay, PhD. I should probably mention that I DO NOT read. Its never been something that has been easy for me to get into so when I recommend a book it must be interesting. Plus, I actually bought it so that’s just another signal that shows how much I like it.
I love this book because it relates to every twentysomething out there. The writing style is very honest and personal, super easy to read. I take it with me to work to read on the subway. The introduction starts with this quote above. I think it perfectly sets the tone for what this book is about. Meg Jay is all about the twentysomethings. She truly believes (and has to research to show it) that the twentysomethings is the start of the rest of your life… which sounds really intimidating but she doesn’t make it like that. I would highly suggest that every twentysomething read this book. If I haven’t convinced you yet I will be writing reflection posts as I continue to read on. Follow through with me on Meg Jay’s advice and share your own thoughts.
I have suffered a great deal in my life, some of it actually happened.
This is a brilliant quote by Mark Twain that I often try to remember. He is commenting on how we spend so much time worrying about what could happen, where in reality only a few of those worries actually happen.
What if, what if, what if… sometimes that’s all that buzzes through our minds.
Consider this what if…
What if we didn’t dwell on the possibilities of the future, but concentrated on the present?
I don’t know about you, but I do know about me…
I would be a lot more focused. I would have peace of mind. I would be a lot more relaxed. Overall I would enjoy myself and life more.
I would not be insecure in decision making. I would not worry about outcomes. I would not procrastinate. Overall I would not have so many headaches.
Only you know you best. If you let go of the what if’s what would you do and what would you not do?
This quote hangs on one of the office walls that I pass by every day. It really struck me the first time I read it. It’s so blunt and so true.
We can’t do everything alone and we definitely cannot succeed alone. We need to emphasize quality and creating that through the help of others.
What’s your take on the quote?
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