The truth does not cease to exist when it’s forgotten.
You know how you can hear or read something dozens of times in various ways before it finally sinks in? The truths listed below fall firmly into that category — timeless lessons that many of us probably learned years ago, and have been reminded of ever since, yet for whatever reason we tend to forget in the heat of the moment.
This, my friends, is my attempt at helping all of us, myself included, “get it” and “remember it” once and for all…
1. Life is relatively short and nothing is guaranteed.
We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know. It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step. You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to reality and how the world really is.
So let that reminder be a wake-up call to live your life today! Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of life either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take positive action today. Death is not the greatest loss in life, neither is injury. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive and capable.
So even when life gets messy, be bold, be courageous, be a scared to death, and then take the next step anyway. Invest your heart and soul into whatever you have right in front of you. Bring passion into otherwise ordinary moments… Love what you do, until you can do what you love. Love where you are, until you can be where you love. Love the people you’re with, until you can be with the people you love most. This is the way we find more happiness, opportunity, and peace on the average day.
2. Everything will change again soon.
Embrace change and realize that it’s necessary. It won’t always be obvious at first, but in the end most forms of change are worthwhile because they force us to grow. So keep yourself in check right now…
What you have today may become what you had by tomorrow. You never know. Things change, often spontaneously. People and circumstances come and go. Life doesn’t stop for anybody. It moves rapidly and rushes from calm to chaos in a matter of seconds, and happens like this to people every day. It’s likely happening to someone nearby right now.
Sometimes the shortest split second in time changes the direction of our lives. A seemingly innocuous decision rattles our whole world like a meteorite striking Earth. Entire lives have been swiveled and flipped upside down, for better or worse, on the strength of an unpredictable event. And these events are always happening — like all the senseless violence and drama we see in our world today.
So just remember, however good or bad a situation is now, it will change. That’s the one thing you can count on. Accept it. Breathe. Be where you are. You’re where you need to be right now. There’s a time and place for everything, and every hard step is necessary. Just keep doing your best, and don’t force what’s not yet supposed to fit into your life. When it’s meant to be, it will be.
3. Changing your response is what puts you back in control.
Have patience with everything that remains imperfect or unfinished in your head and heart. And realize that patience is not about waiting, but the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard to stay true to your intuition and values. This is your life, and it is governed by your choices. May your actions speak louder than your words. May your daily choices preach louder than your lips. May your inner sense of satisfaction be your noise in the end.
And if your present life only teaches you one thing, let it be that taking a passionate leap is always worth it. Even if you have no idea where you’re going to land — even when there are so many unknowns — be brave enough to stand up and listen to your intuition. Remember that the most powerful moments in life happen when you find the courage to let go of what can’t be changed. Because as Viktor Frankl said, when you are no longer able to change a situation, you are challenged to change yourself — to grow beyond the unchangeable. And that changes everything! (Note: Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the Passion & Growth chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
4. Life’s storms can be a source of long-term strength.
Hard times are like strong storms that blow against you. And it’s not just that these storms hold you back from places you are trying to go. They also tear away from you all but the essential parts of your ego that cannot be torn, so that you are left only with the foundation of who you really are.
Ultimately you realize you are here to endure these storms, to sacrifice your time and risk your heart. You are here to be bruised by life. And when it happens that you are hurt, or betrayed, or rejected, let yourself sit quietly with your eyes closed and remember all the good times you had, and all the sweetness you tasted, and everything you learned. Tell yourself how amazing it was to live, and then open your eyes and live some more.
Because to never struggle would be to never grow. You must let go of who you were so you can become who you are. Again, it is within the depths of the strongest and darkest storms that you often discover within you an inextinguishable light, and it is this light that illuminates the path forward.
5. You don’t need all the answers right now.
Accept the feeling of not knowing exactly where you are going, and train yourself to love and appreciate this sensation of freedom. Because it is only when you are suspended in the air, with no destination in sight, that you force your wings to open fully so you can fly. And as you soar around you still may not know where you’re traveling to. But that’s not what’s important. What’s important is the opening of your wings. You may not know where you’re going, but you know that so long as your wings are spread, the winds will carry you forward.
Truth be told, some of the greatest outcomes that transpire in your life will be the ones you never even knew you wanted. As long as you keep your mind open to new perspectives and yourself moving forward, there really are no totally wrong turns in life, only paths you didn’t know you were meant to travel. And you never can be certain what’s around the corner. It could be everything, or it could be nothing. You keep gliding steadily forward, and then one day you realize you’ve come a long way from where you started.
All details aside, someday all the pieces will come together. Unimaginably good outcomes will likely transpire in your life, even if everything doesn’t turn out exactly the way you had anticipated. And you will look back at the messy times that have passed, smile, and ask yourself…
“How in the world did I get through all of that?”
Now, it’s your turn…
Yes, it’s your turn to give yourself grace for the times when you lacked clarity, and for the poor choices that accidentally hurt others or yourself. Give yourself grace for being young and reckless and unaware. We’ve all made mistakes, and we’ve all been foolish and forgetful at times. These are all vital lessons. And what matters most right now is the willingness to learn and grow from them.
But before you go, please leave Angel and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this essay. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
Which one of the points above resonated the most today?
Finally, if you have not done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Bonnie Staughton says
Loved it. What resonated to me the most was the last paragraph of #5–“someday all the pieces will come together”. Thanks so much for this. I intend to read it several more times to get the true meaning–slowly.
Oh, and I’m loving your 1,000 Little Things book too as a for daily self reflection. Thanks for what you two constantly do, Angel and Marc.
Cyril says
You do not need/get all the answers right now…..As I grope through life’s maze, I try to seek answers to life’s ever changing and confusing scenes, but the answers are always elusive and one never knows what awaits at the end of whichever path one decides to follow but by accepting and coming to terms with situations I cannot control, I master the situation and my attitude which is very important to my wellbeing….
JoyAnne says
This comment resonates with me because I’ve had to teach myself to let go of the things I cannot control over these last few years, and it has been a life changer for me. I’m so much more peaceful and things that arise that would get me in a tizzy no longer do. I handle them with calm and ease. I’m so proud of myself and my growth.
Tamar s Apelian says
Your essay has been encouraging and resonated with me deeply. I am where I need to be right now and things do change so quickly and sometimes unexpectedly. One day you are living a vibrant life and the next, a simple slip and fall can change your mobility and your life. But we must be ourselves and live our lives the best we can for the moment. It may look different than usual, but we can make the most of it as long as we stay hopeful and positive. My favorite quote was “the greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive and capable”. Thank you for your inspirations. Love you guys!
Beth Myles says
I needed to read something like this for quite some time now and it couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. I’m literally in tears because these words are so very true and if I could only just be consistent in believing in them and myself I’d be doing much better than I am at this moment in time. These words are inspiring and have filled me with renewed ambition to take control but also to let some of it go as well. It really hit me when you said that no situation will stay the same. That eventually things will change and I know this. I just have to have faith and believe everything happens for a reason. Thank you for giving me the inspiration I’ve needed to hear to get me to the place I know I’m meant to be and for reminding me that it’s ok that I’m not there yet. Thank you for making me smile.
Debbie says
I felt this entire article was meant for me to read. Every word I’m hanging onto. I’m not young & I’m not old. My husband & my best friend died six months ago. I’m lost & trying to find my way out of my exile. This entire article was very heartfelt and reassuring to me. I will reread this often so I don’t forget I don’t need all the answers right this minute. Take a breathe & close my eyes & remember all the good times. Thank you
Susan Bien says
Wow I’m so with u! I’m already omw to better choices or at least knowing everything will be ok again.
I lost my boyfriend of 15yrs Oct 2022 due to cancer. No it wasn’t the best relationship but I had to start a new life on my own again. I have so much to be grateful for because of my strength in succeeding during a really rough 2 years. I must pat myself on my back . I have moved from NYC to Ft Lauderdale moved out of the apartment Andrew n I shared.(a nightmare). Packed a rental car with my CAT “SNOW ” n here I am. It will be 4 months I’m in Florida. I left NYC exactly 1yr after Andrew’s death. I do miss him very much,I try to remember the good times n learn from my mistakes n I’m grateful for all that transpired. Good, Bad,wonderful, awful all these experiences make me who I am today. Debbie sorry my thoughts got carried away but my heart is with you. Just stay positive n make a plan when ur ready. Everything will be good again. It’s all up to u !. Take it slow,whatever helps u,n breathe n laugh at the good fun times n memories of love n ur live.
Warm regards, Susan Bien
Sue says
Thank you for these Gems – once again I have stopped, read and listened. ‘Patience is not about waiting – it is about being positive all the while’.
Regina Welch says
I needed to read all of it. My best friend passed away last week and yesterday was the funeral. It’s been a challenging week that I didn’t know how to get through but I did. Thank you for your help and guidance.
Ifeoma says
Thanks for your words. They always give me perspective in life. Love you guys.
Debbie Svay Savage says
So powerful! Thank you!
Rhonda G. Patterson says
Tears flowing with gratitude for these words of wisdom and love!
Lou says
They all resonated with me but number 4 is the one I went through and it says a lot. You are certainly left with some strength and wisdom if you go through the storms and don’t run away from them.
Yaso says
Thank you for the beautiful reminders.
Diana says
Outstanding insights and wisdom!!!
I really needed to hear it all and will read again and again! I will share with family and friends. I am so appreciative that God sent your love and messages to help me with clarity in this beautiful world we are passing thru. Peace and love to you both.
mick jensen says
Thanks guys – it reiterates what I know and reinforces what I need to do.
I particularly like the line “don’t force what’s not yet supposed to fit into your life. When it’s meant to be, it will be.”
Life is a constant journey of learning, making mistakes, and growing. It’s about staying positive, true to your values, and enjoying life every day if your own way.
Maryann says
Thanks for the affirmation of what I’m learning as I travel through this season of grief since the passing of my son and only child. It is the darkest storm, and yes, there is an indistinguishable light that is showing me the path forward. His life had meaning and so will mine. My wings are open and I’m flying not sure where but I’m moving forward.
Sandra says
Thanks Marc and Angel. I loved reading this and have printed this out to read before I go to bed each and every night. I practice some of the above on a daily basis, but need to concentrate on the ones I do not.
Robin L. Orenbuch says
If everyone had the insights you two have and applied them to themselves and their relationships, the hurt humans experience, which is mostly from other humans, would greatly diminish. I am deeply grateful to have discovered you both.