Nothing you don't already know: Remarkable reminders about meaning, purpose, and self-realization

by Alexander Den Heijer

Maybe it’s not about the dream; maybe it’s about who we become while we’re chasing it.

Don’t be afraid to fail at things that mean something. Be afraid to succeed at things that mean nothing.

A good life is about having the right balance. It's about knowing what really matters in life and living up to that. Never give up everything for the sake of success. The point is not to be successful. The point is to be successfully.

if we learn to see through people’s harmful behavior, we can clearly see that they are the ones that are harmed.

Instead of blaming people for their behavior, it’s much better to see if we can understand their hidden needs.

Great people don’t influence you to be like them; they inspire you to be yourself.

Too often we are trying to change people according to a picture we have in our mind. We want to change them in a way that it matches our preferences. Inspiring people don’t do this.

Whether they are teachers, mentors or parents, great people inspire others to become more of what they already are.

If we solve people’s problems, we produce followers. If we encourage people to solve their own problems, we produce leaders.

Surround yourself with people who acknowledge the limitless nature of your potential. Those rare people who love to see you grow into the person you are capable of being.

“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose.”

When we find a way to use our unique gifts in a way that it serves the greater good, we may experience the most fulfilling act in the world; the act of service.

Train yourself to focus on other people.

Be open to what people have to say.

Open up and listen fully. Pay attention. True connection requires your full presence.

If you are fully present, you inspire the other person to be present as well.

There is no present more precious than your presence.

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.”

It’s not selfish to live according to your values; it’s selfish to demand that others live according to your values.

Be wise and focus on the way you live your own life, and let others be free to explore theirs. Make your life a work of art.

Time is our most valuable possession.

Leave a legacy. Not for the sake of being remembered, but for the sake of leaving the world a bit better off as a result of your existence.

Champions don’t show up to get everything they want; they show up to give everything they have.

To live a deeply fulfilling life, don’t strive to get everything you want from life. Instead, give life everything you have. Getting what you want causes a sense of achievement which is satisfying, but gi...

And guess what… we cannot control how much we get from life, we can only co...