34 Truths on my 34th Birthday
A little accounting of what I've managed to learn in the 34 beautiful years I've spent on earth.
The foundation of all happiness is a calm mind, capable of concentration.
One must fiercely analyze almost every thought and influence that enters one's mind, as your mind is the garden of your reality from which everything grows. Whatever beliefs I hold will eventually become my reality.
Success without family and friends is like drinking great wine with a stuffed nose.
The answers to my questions are often found in silence, not in research.
The psychological benefits of exercise outstrip the physical.
Unhappiness lies in the gap between how my life actually is and how I think it's supposed to be.
Resist the urge to change people. Lead by example, not word. I've learned this the hard way.
Lean into your discomfort; it is the doorway to all growth.
To resist the present moment is to resist what is. To resist what is is insanity.
Through acceptance there is great freedom.
Happiness is not something I will find, but something that is earned. Once attained, it must be vigilantly defended.
I have never looked back upon a moment when my temper got the best of me with anything but regret.
It is imperative to identify negative, harmful emotions at their inception, before they are able to take root and cause damage.
My mind will mimic my body. If I smile, my mind will become happier. If I stand with great posture, I will feel more confident.
Nothing is as simple as it seems. Every moment is the result of billions of years of history. None of us are independent actors.
It is always best to practice compassion, for the opposite hardens your heart and ends up doing the most harm to yourself.
Moderation, moderation, moderation.
The first step to overcoming your weaknesses is an open acknowledgement of them.
Be kind to everyone, especially yourself. My relationship with myself is the most important relationship I have.
Beware of the influence of the ego. Its appetite is insatiable and will never be satisfied. All pursuits of happiness built upon the satisfaction of the ego will inevitably lead to disappointment and will drive me far away from my true self.
Perspective is everything in life. Try to maintain a good perspective of your place within your family, friendships, workplace, country, world, universe and history.
I must play everyday. Dance, laugh, create.
If I can be at peace with my eventual death, there is little that will disturb me.
Practice gratitude with religious fervor.
If I can get through the "God, I'm horrible at this" phase of any new creative endeavor, I can do anything.
To quote the imp from Game of Thrones, "The mind needs books like a sword needs a stone."
Love is a verb. The wider I can open my heart, the closer to God I will become.
Everything you see will be gone eventually. This world is change, this life is opinion.
It is important to spend time in daily contemplation. An honest accounting of my life is critical. Know yourself.
The Four Agreements: Be impeccable with your word, don't take things personally, don't make assumptions and always do your best.
True wisdom lies just as much in knowing what to omit as what to include.
You can make friends much more easily by being interested in people than by trying to make people interested in you.
Some days I am just sad. This doesn't mean something is wrong with me or that I need to be fixed. Just acknowledge it and carry on.
While I may be entering my 35th year on Earth, I have only ever existed in the present moment. Any true wisdom deals with ones ability to properly orient oneself to the infinite.
