The truth does not cease to exist when it is forgotten.
You know how you can hear or read something dozens of times in dozens of different ways before it finally sinks in? The little truths listed below fall firmly into that category — timeless life lessons that many of us likely 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… especially as we collectively cope with the evolving chaos in our world.
1. Life is 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: Marc 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 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 Marc 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.
Frances says
Your words of encouragement, wisdom and compassion have made a difference in my life over the years. I too have been writing essays on many ways to survive, and what I am doing to be grateful for all in the past, and the hope of a good life in the future. Thank You for all your kind and wise inspiration. Your words have gradually helped me find my own, and my own way.
I have shared your “Getting Back to Happy” book with family and friends over these past years too.
Sending love and strength to you two, and all those in your life.
Frances J.
Lorraine says
I really like the reminder that when we’re going through hard times, being grateful may be more difficult, but it’s still a helpful practice in small doses.
Teresa says
I liked what you wrote that patience is having a positive attitude about the situation. Due to illness, I have been staying at home alone for the past two weeks and it is very difficult. But, a better attitude will see me through these troubling times. Thank you for all of your encouragement.
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.
Nora Kelly Quinn says
“…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.”
That resonated. Thank you both
Rebecca Llewellyn says
Same Here…it has been such a bad year for me….good to be reminded thanks
Lisa says
Thank you, as always, for your encouragement and words of wisdom over the years Angel & Marc. (I own two of your books and refer to them often, I’ve also recommended them to many people.)
hope, faith, peace
James Fraley says
I always learn something from your wisdom and appreciate how it challenges me to become a better person and most of all to appreciate the reminder. I make a point daily to read my Bible to help me through life and the same helps me from your writings.
Nancy Nielsen says
“When you are no longer able to change a situation, you are challenged to change yourself!” This is a great quote and reminder and it has a lot of meaning to many of us today. Thanks for sharing it here.
mbugua muuru says
I love this one of taking off…being blown by the wind. What matters is that you open your wings…and you will be blown to situations you never imagined..being positive in life however hard it gets..finally it will change..the storms carry you to new destinations, new beginning
SUSAN BIEN says
Wow this really resonates with me . Today is exactly a month that I arrived and started my new adventure in my life. I lived in NYC for around 40yrs. After a very challenging year with the death of the man I lived with 16yrs n having to move out of apartment 15yrs later n not knowing what to do where to go ?? Here i am!! I’m so glad i picked up all the pieces of the past good n bad n moved on. I’m now in Ft. Lauderdale n left NYC with my cat (SNOW) a month ago. I’m doing great on to new adventures n I smile alot. I’m so proud of myself n turned the bad into good. DONT GIVE UP EVER¡
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 1972. I am lucky to be alive. I made it and you all can too.
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. Almost all of it resonates deeply and immediately rings true to me. Thanks for this unexpected moment os self-reflection today.
D says
I resonate with:
“Life’s storms can be a great source of strength.”
Thank you to both of you from the bottom of heart for this kind and self gesture of helping understand bitter truth with ease and calm.
Barbara Kelly says
Thank you once again for your encouragement and insights
Without going into detail, #2 & #3 resonated. I always look forward to your wisdom sharing.
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’.
Dennis Beach says
As I near retirement, I realize how blessed I have been in my life. My parents, as flawed as they were, did their best I like to think.My Mom was the glue. Lost her in 1983.. I married young, and still married, 46 years to a wonderful woman, who knew how to push me just right. We bought a house, although a little later in life, something my parents never had. Gave me motivation to strive at my jobs, finally attaining my “dream” job. Blessed with two girls, which gave us 3 grand children. Now as retirement is really close, I give thanks to Him, as He must have been looking out for me. Great family, good jobs, friends! Someone was putting me in the right place, to meet the right people, at the right time.
Hrag says
Great Article, truly inspired me after a tiring work day.
Victor Frankl’s quote hit me the hardest.
Woody says
Love your erudite words. You are gifted wordsmiths, always choosing the perfect words to convey your wisdom. Thank you for sharing. Warm wishes from Scotland
Micky says
Positively mind changing.
Ila Hurley says
Thanks for all your sharing. Great articles.
Nadina Virag says
You both are a blessing to my life and have helped me to understand so much. Thank you
Teresa Evans says
I have been grappling with a betrayal by family members I thought I could trust. I’ve been extremely distressed; my always normal blood pressure has skyrocketed. I was here today by devine appointment. Thank you so much.
Veronica says
This paragraph speaks volumes to me. Especially about being here to be bruised by life……and then how to handle it. I have taken my fair share of bruising these past couple of months and am now ready to stop fighting the pain and betrayal and just turn my back to the waves and let the water wash over me instead of trying to wash me overboard. Thank You
“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.”
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….
Almonds says
Thank you for always sharing such inspirational words. They’re comforting and encouraging, and usually give me, and I’m sure others, a reminder of what’s truly meaningful in life.
Much love to you both!
Lou says
Thank You so much!