The words you say will teach, if you practice what you preach…
- Positivity – The things you think about, focus on, and surround yourself with ultimately shape who you become. Choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills your heart, the peace that rests deep within your spirit, and the voice of hope that whispers, “All things are possible.” Right now, pause for a moment and repeat after me: “What I think about and thank about, I will bring about in my life.” Read The How of Happiness.
- Patience – Using time, pressure and patience, the universe gradually changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls, and coal into diamonds. You’re being worked on too, so hang in there. Just because something isn’t happening for you right now, doesn’t mean it will never happen.
- Courage – It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you aren’t really living at all – you’re merely existing. You cannot always wait for the perfect time; sometimes you must dare to jump. Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage – just literally twenty seconds of uncomfortable bravery – and I promise you, something great will come of it.
- Love – When love is your guiding light, you can break through barriers to be of loving service to the world. Gaining the courage and confidence to stand up for what you believe in is not always easy, but it’s fully within your reach. Focus on things that make you the most YOU – that bring out the best of you, that make you better than you were yesterday, and that allow you to shine your light into the space around you. Read The Mastery of Love.
- Truth – Tell the truth, or eventually someone will tell it for you. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
- Confession – Don’t criticize others for their flaws if you are not willing to confess your own. Whatever we refuse to confess about ourselves has a way of rearing its head and making itself known when we least expect it.
- Appreciation – Sometimes we end up cheating on others and ourselves simply because we pay more attention to what we’re missing, rather than what we have. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, think about what you have that everyone else is missing.
- Responsibility – In every situation you have ever been in, positive or negative, the one common thread is you. Responsibility means recognizing that regardless of what has happened up to this point in your life, you are capable of making choices to change your situation, or to change the way you think about it. Read Unleash the Warrior Within.
- Growth – You can choose to let your past define you and confine you, or you can choose to learn, grow, and leave it behind you. Just like the seasons, you have the ability to change. In many ways, you already have.
- Persistence – All things are difficult before they are easy. It’s not about falling, it’s about getting back up. Success is not a skill, it is a persistent attitude.
Photo by: Tony Fischer
Kathy C. says
I have claimed this year as my Year Of Change, my Year of Transformation, My Year of the Butterfly!! Change, it’s a beautiful thing!
kris says
I love the simplicity of your words here. #2 and #10 go together as the foundation every road that leads to personal success. Persistence and Patience…
farouk says
Awesome words to live by. Great values…
When someone lives by them, then certainly they will lead a great life.
Ray says
Thanks a lot for your enriching words. I am grateful to have found this blog. Indeed this is very inspiring. Bless you for encouraging others.
Nina says
Recently coming across your site has been a blessing in itself. The messages are gentle reminders of what I have learned over the years and forgot in the absence of peace within. Thank you
Shauna says
Thank You so much for your inspirational words. They make such a difference in my life and take it in the direction I want it to go.
I love your generosity of spirit in sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Shauna
Melbin says
Nice write-up. I always enjoy your posts. Keep it up.
Amandah says
Ah yes, patience. It’s not just a great song by Guns N’ Roses. 🙂 It’s something that has to be learned and or taught.
Patience can be a challenge for those us who fall into Generation X and or Generation Y better known as Millennials. When you’re used to sending and receiving texts and emails instantaneously, why would you want to wait? Add to that parents who catered to your every desire, plus living in an instant gratification world, and you have a recipe that doesn’t mix well in the real world.
“The Secret” introduced the law of attraction and how thoughts become things. If you think it, you will get it. Unfortunately, the other laws that go a long with the law of attraction were left out of “The Secret.”
All of us have probably heard of the saying, “Good things come to those who wait.” However, as Tom Petty sings, “The waiting is the hardest part.”
Have a great day!
Ara Bedrossian says
Appreciation and love is the root of my life philosophy. It makes change possible. Your list hits all the important branches on the tree that grows from this root. The trick is changing your paradigm to love, not just your actions.
Max says
I always thrive to create simple things and this post shows exactly this!
Also, every week, I try to find the “best qualities” to live by and this list is a VERY good foundation.
Leah says
These are fabulous!
My favorite: “Sometimes we end up cheating on others and ourselves simply because we pay more attention to what we’re missing, rather than what we have. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, think about what you have that everyone else is missing.”
Boy, if I could get that one into my spirit I’d be flying steady and straight. I really appreciate all the work you put into these. You two are amazing.
Peace,
Leah
Confusion says
This was a great post.
#7 on appreciation does not really fit with the theme though. If you are going to focus on what makes you happy, making change for a better you, having the courage to use that 20 seconds of bravery, how can we do that if we are only focusing on what we have rather than what we don’t?
So because others may be missing something we have, we should ultimately appreciate it all and ignore the bad?
Aila says
Marc & Angel, Thank you for another great article!! Have a blessed day… 🙂 Aila
chris says
This is the one blog I consistently tell my friends to subscribe to. Your words seem to put things into perspective, and provide an alternative view of the world through a lens of truth, compassion and love.
Aerick says
What a wonderful read to start my morning!
Tamal Krishna Chandra says
What a list of most important things of life. I have to say that your blog is the best blog online to get some really useful tips for a better life. Almost all the time, you find some great topic to write about. I have subscribed to your blog recently and reading your blog posts regularly. Believe me, it has been an excellent experience. To say something about this article, i would say that there are certainly many other things that you should be careful about. But these 10 things are the most important. You must have selected the points very carefully.
Brian says
Beautiful Marc. I’d add Faith, in oneself, in there being a purpose for life, in a higher power that calls us forward.
Kat says
This is my favorite post for you guys yet. These are 10 things a lot of us forget in our crazy lives. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Abinaya says
Wow! This is one of the best posts I’ve read online in a long while. Totally agree with everything you’ve said, but I’d like to add faith to it too. Faith and belief in a higher power and the fact that He is watching you and looking after you makes you feel treasured.
To a great post!
Amen!
Kevin Halls says
I read all your posts and find them inspirational and uplifting. I told a friend of mine about them as he is going through a tough time at the moment.
But he is that down on life that he said he’d heard it all before! Maybe you could do one on how to encourage the cynical? But as the saying goes “You can lead a Horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” In other words when someone doesn’t want to listen to sound advice, what else can you do ?
Joseph Michael says
Thanks for the inspiration! Just published a post about 100 life lessons to fathers of daughters. Then I came across this article and it got me thinking about what a great life teaching lesson these 10 words to live by would be would be for my own daughter. Thanks for the inspiration.
Alex B. says
I love your website, thanks.
Michael Cortes says
I love the 20 seconds of insane courage idea. I think it’s a great idea to encourage.
Abdul Rauf says
I especially love the ling ‘Dont criticise others if you dont have something to confess’. I told this in my own language so could be wrong. All of ther points are superb too. I love marc and angel.
Steve Elsaesser says
Three “P’s”of those TEN are my favorites; “Positivity” and “Patience” and “Persistence”.
It seems they each have something to do with the other.
And…I’d like to have more of each!
PEACE!
Dhiren says
Thank you. Short, Simple and to the point. Keep writing and motivating all of us.
Thomas says
Actually, everything in this list ultimately represents love!
Toolah says
I have asked the Angels for help in a time of deep trouble and worry over my job- and financial situation.
I cry myself to sleep and worry constantly, although I know very well that nothing good comes from worrying.
I asked for a sign to give me hope for the future… and found your blog.
I am deeply grateful for having read your wise words. I will do my very best to apply these words and advices to my day, so that I can really LIVE and not merely just EXIST.
THANK YOU.
alvin says
I love this. Inspiring!