10 Timeless Lessons

September 29th, 2009

1. Accept what is now, but don’t underestimate your power to change it – Resisting what is is futile, pointless. It’s like complaining about the weather, alot of us do it, but we can’t change it. Accept what is at this moment. Acceptance in this sense does not mean, just let everything in your life atrophy. You can still go for what you want in life, but if things go wrong or you hit a roadblock, just accept it as how things are. This acceptance removes all resistance from your life and gives you clarity. It reminds me of a quote by Margaret Mead (US Anthropologist) “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

2. Realise that this moment is the only one you ever have – Now is the only moment that you ever have and ever will have. The past is just you remembering it and the future is simply what you think is going to happen and you projecting those thoughts. This is empowering rather than disempowering. It helps you focus on this moment, the only one you have, and realise that the past can’t hold you back any longer.

3. Realise that what stands between you and achieving your goals is action – Many people tout motivation and discipline as the key to goal achievement. You can read books all day about how to fix a car tyre but until you put it into action, but experience is second to nothing. Who would you rather have somebody who has worked from nothing fixing car tyres for 2 years or someone who had studied it for 5 years but had no experience, I hope you answer the first one. Action, Action, Action. Scared of talking to the opposite sex? Make a promise to yourself to talk to 5 of them tomorrow and each following day for a week and see the results for yourself.

4. Love everyone as you love yourself – Extend this to all life, animals plants etc. If you don’t treat others as you wish to be treated, then how can you seriously expect to be treated with that type of respect, that belief system is illogical. Loving unconditionally helps yourself also. I’m a believer that what you put out comes back to you. You put out love, you receive love. You go out seeking trouble, you’ll get it.

5. You don’t have as long to live as you think – You may get 70-80 years of life. Sounds long right? It’ll fly by. 45 years of work for somebody else and then what? You’re purpose has been spent? Get serious about your life and your goals, take lots and lots of action, see what sticks and them go for it. Plan your goals on what you want to be remembered for, don’t make egotistical goals though, make goals that create value and contribution. Only you can decide what creates a contribution and what doesn’t.

6. The people you socialise with make you – The people you socialise with make you the person you are on the outside. You adopt their mindsets and habits. It’s like an English Proverb I remember frequently “Show me your horse and I will tell you what you are”. Usually paraphrased to “show me your friends, and i’ll tell you what you are”. Socialising with the type of people you want to be shows you that its achievable, they will very likely help you and speed along the process if you ask, these people will motivate you when you are down.

7. Forgive but don’t forget - When someone or somebody does something to test your temper, and they then ask for forgiveness, forgive them. But, if you forget, no lesson has been learned. Forgiveness is always the route. Forgetting will only lead you to make the same mistakes repeatedly.

8. We are one – (thank you Lion King) Getting a little mystical here but bare with me. Do you really think that you are the body that you possess or your current state of mind? If so, then you are in constant change, that can’t be right can it? You’re state of body is changing as we speak, cells are dying and being born. Your state of mind alters between moments of anger and compassion. Have you ever entered that state where you lash out in temper? Then immediately regret it? This is your habits and emotions getting the better of you. The piece of the jigsaw that got it for me is this: Where are you when you dream? You are not physically in your body as you don’t respond. In dreams, you sometimes “feel” as if you’re actually there, you are their, you feel emotions etc. We are in Earth a huge system. We are helping ourselves when we help others, and there is really no others. Other is a concept routed in the tribal mindset, “you vs. me” “I’m better than you” We are all together and we have to learn to cooperate.

9. If you need help ask for it – Don’t be full of pride, be humble. If you need help, ask. By asking for help it shows your humility, many would see it as a sign of weakness but this is an ego thing trying to cause separation.

10. Decide what is the worst that can happen – This helps clarify your goals. If you are fearful about a situation simply tell yourself the absolute worst situation that could occur. By doing this you realise that the outcome would probably not be as bad as you think.