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January 3 - November 14, 2024
thoughts create reality
to change their lives, they had to change their minds.
that to believe is to become, that the mind is to be mastered, that the obstacle is the way2.
ideas are what change lives—and
Your brain can only perceive what it’s known, so when you choose what you want for the future, you’re actually just recreating a solution or an ideal of the past.
Accomplishing goals is not success. How much you expand in the process is.
interpreted as deterrents. They are also indicators that you are doing something frightening and worthwhile.
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
The things you love about others are the things you love about yourself. The things you hate about others are the things you cannot see in yourself.
A lack of routine is just a breeding ground for perpetual procrastination.
recognize their emotions as responses,
Their emotions aren’t “somebody else’s doing,”
have the capacity to withhold their emotional response until they are in an environment wherein it would be appropriate to express how they are feeling.
They are kind to all, but truly open to few.
they root their arguments in statements that begin with “I feel” as opposed to “you are.”
They do not try to inform people of their ignorance.
They recognize that their “shadow selves” are the traits, behaviors, and patterns that aggravate them about others.
your relationship to everyone else is an extension of your relationship to yourself.
the more they state how bad things are, the more likely it is that someone else will change them.
is the product of an intentional, mindful, daily practice, and it begins with choosing to commit to it.
If we redefine “happiness” in terms of what human beings innately desire (comfort, inclusiveness, a sense of purpose, etc.), we can then make the choice to seek comfort from things that are ultimately aligned with what we want to achieve.
sense of purpose, belonging, and love: things you can choose to feel and cultivate, regardless of physical/material circumstance.
The thing is that nothing has to be an essential part of you unless you decide it is—least of all anxiety and fear.
In fact, those things are never essentially part of who someone is; they are learned behaviors.
Worrying conditions us to the worst possible outcomes so they don’t cause as much pain if they come to pass.
It is people who don’t choose a better life that are naive and truly vulnerable, as “happy people” may lose everything they have, but people who never choose to fully step into their lives never have anything at all.
there are three primary forms of happiness: the happiness of pleasure, the happiness of grace, and the happiness of excellence
The happiness of pleasure is largely sensory.
The happiness of grace is gratitude.
the happiness of excellence.
comes from the pursuit of something great.
It is meaningful work. It is flow.
Happiness is not only how we can astound our senses, but also the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are becoming who we want and need to be.
It’s altering your mindset to focus on the discomfort you will face if you don’t do the thing in front of you, as opposed to the discomfort you will face if you do.
It’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking rather than think your way into a new way of acting,
The way it will feel to have the life you want. The place you’ll live, the clothes you will wear, what you will buy at the supermarket, how much money you’ll save, what work you’ll be most proud to have done. What you’ll do with your weekends, what color your sheets will be, what you’ll take photos of.
The parts of yourself you need to work on, not because someone else doesn’t love them, but because you don’t.
The fact that sometimes, the ultimate expression of self-love is admitting you don’t like yourself and coming up with steps to change the things that you know you can and will do better.
year. How many books you want to say you’ve read, how many projects you’ve completed, how many connections with friends and family you fostered or rekindled, how you spent your days.
How you will remember this time in your life 20 years from now. What you will wish you had done or stopped doing, what you overlooked, what little things you didn’t realize you should have appreciated.
Little ways you can improve your quality of day-to-day life, such as consolidating debt, or learning to cook an easy signature meal, or cleaning out your closet.
What you have already accomplished in your life.
What you want to be defined by when all is said and done. What kind of person you want to be known as. (Kind? Intelligent? Giving? Grounded? Helpful?)
What you would say if you could tell your younger self just one thing.
What you’d put in one box if you had to move to the other side of the country and could only bring that.
An upcoming trip, whether it’s booked or not. What you’re going to do, what you’re going to take pictures of, what you can explore, who you’ll be with, who you’ll meet.
The little wonders. The smell of rain when the windows are open in the summer, your favorite T-shirt, songs you loved as a kid, your favorite food when you’re hungry.
What “enough” means to you. What’s enough money, enough love, enough productivity. Fulfillment is a product of knowing what “enough” is—otherwise you will be constantly seeking more.
Your dream moments. Having a birthday party in which all the people you love attend, or getting on a plane to Thailand, or losing the weight you’ve always wanted to, or being debt-free, or renovating a house.
What you’d do if you had $1,000 of extra disposable income each month.
