The truth does not cease to exist when it’s forgotten.
You know how you can hear or read something several 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.
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!
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.
Sandra says
Thanks Marc and Angel. I loved reading this and have printed this out to read again. I practice some of the above on a daily basis, but need to concentrate on the ones I do not.
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.
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.
Lee 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.
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’.
Bonnie Staughton says
Loved it. What resonated to me the most was the paragraph from #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.
John says
At 79, I do believe what you shared here are well stated insights to the “ups, & downs” in the journey of life we all experience, and the insights on how to mentally navigate through them. Pretty much all of it resonates deeply and immediately rings true to me. Thanks for this unexpected moment os self-reflection today.
Diane Gray says
“How in the world did I get through all of that?” I loved that statement as I just said it to myself one day when I was reflecting on my life since 1992 — a truly rough season. I am lucky to be alive. I made it and you can too.