5 Best Pieces of Life Advice I’ve Ever Received
(and are willing to pass on)
Tell me a truth that changed your life.
A truth — you have known for a long, long time. Yet you never thought it would work.
Often, we are held back by our limited beliefs and wisdom. Despite the experience, most teachings never strike until we are ready to hear them. That’s where books, learning curves, and hanging out with mature people come into play. No matter how old you are, getting advice does not mean you will never benefit from it.
Maybe you should write it in your journal and believe your “questions” make sense someday.
I had that “some day” a couple of months ago. Here’s how:
Meeting with my mentor at 11 am in the coffee shop, I was excited to congratulate him for reaching the 1M subscribers milestone on YouTube through a thesis interview.
I had not known much about his life, other than that he was quite famous and was writing a book on his own. Time paced as we talked, discussed, and ordered 3 coffees each without being aware. Since meeting him was an honor, I let him speak for the whole time, A) opened an audio recorder, and B) noted his viewpoints.
Next…
Coming back home and after resting, I skimmed through the interview details and made myself a page where I wrote his advice that coincides with my life. Most advice he gave was quite known to me. But when their advice took shape and came out of a 40-year-old man’s mouth, my faith grew in them.
Similarly, we all know advice but refuse to accept it. That’s OK.
Below are 5 pearls of wisdom from a 40-year-old man and how to apply them. Let’s get started.
1. The grass isn’t greener on the other side; it’s greener where you water it
We’ve all heard this quote.
- and never considered it credible enough!
Don’t worry. There’s always a day for a change, a day when everything starts. If it hasn’t been for you before, maybe today is the day.
You only reap benefits from the farm you water. Instead of wasting time comparing our farm with others — we should have taken better care of ours.
Result: we spend all of our lives comparing when we could've put an extra effort into things and made them exceptional.
How to apply?
Facebook bought Instagram and Whatsapp.
Lesson: Become so powerful that you own your rivals. The only key here is to make yourself, your relationships, and your product soo much better that you no longer have a competitor.
Keep in mind that you only have a goal. And that goal isn’t far away either.
Competition is healthy if only you do it with yourself. Think like this:
- how’s your 2-year-old injury now?
- are you drinking more water now?
- Is your life better now being single?
Comparisons steal our joy, our paychecks, and our sanity, says Rachel Cruze. When you compare yourself to yourself, the urge to get better now isn't directly affected by another person. It’s you vs. you.
2. It takes strength to be a giver. Anybody can be a taker, even you are.
A quote pops up on my screensaver, and I catch it:
It says: If you give another person everything, they’re going to fall for your hand and not for your heart.
Viola! That opened my eyes.
We do so much for people to stay connected with us, only to know they left us when we needed them the most. It’s life, people say to this response.
I say it’s manners. Not everybody you’ll ever meet knows about respect.
- Few people know how to pay off your kindness.
- Few people know they’ll have to pay it back.
How to apply?
It’s interesting to think about how we make people who used to be everything into nothing again — Brianna Wiest. It’s not because they hate you or dislike you; it’s because:
- they’re at war with themselves
Expecting a person to do you any good is as foolish as thinking a toddler can accidentally cook for you. It’s awful.
If they’re a taker and they keep taking, maybe you should slow down and start a barter trading with them. When you see a friend (who you realize is a taker), make a habit of taking from them as well.
I understand it’s not you. But if it's aching your heart, disturbing you, and sitting on the top of your mind repeatedly, then you should do something about it.
3. Your life is your responsibility.
Your parents did you a favor.
It's a sentence I hear most every day. They did you a favor by raising you and giving you the money to study.
To that, I reply: I didn't ask for it.
The mentor stated: “He suffered this emotional blackmailing until he started paying his share in the house. Until one day, he decided he needed to change the narrative and switch places with the guardians.”
See, your life is your responsibility. No one can live your life for you. You are in charge. No matter how hard you try to blame others for the events of your life, each event is the result of choices you made and are making writes — Susan M.Heathfield.
Nobody will do it for you. At least not until telepathy becomes common.
How to apply?
Change is not a place. It’s a mindset.
Nothing good ever happens if you don’t take a lamp and start searching for a road to walk on.
If something is seemingly clotting your brain, disturbing you, then maybe it’s time you:
- speak for yourself
- take stand
- find solutions and present it
- confront your honesty
The longer you wait for a miracle to happen, the longer you detach from your real self-being. Don’t wait for miracles. Your whole life is a miracle. -Albert Einstein.
Life is no longer a fairytale. It is a responsible- tale. Listen more than you speak!
4. Death is just around the corner
“I want to be remembered for my life, not for the money I made.” Quoted the mentor when he reached his empty pockets to pull out a debit card.
Fidgeting with the card, he said: “Death is a state of mind. It happens when you stop scrubbing your brain.”
It's true.
Many men die at age 25, but aren’t buried until they’re 75. (2) Some people die at 25 and are not buried until 75 — Benjamin Franklin.
Good news: if you’re mentally injured, there’s a possibility you may start living again. Possibility lives within each of us. It is known as willpower and guts. Everything comes back to normal when your willpower rises, and your ego gets thrown in the dustbin.
How to apply?
You’ve 2 people to impress in your life:
- your 8 years younger self
- your 80 years older self
Most people don’t get to choose the number (2). However, the real play is in the context and not numbers.
Death cannot be chased. But you can make sure you’ve lived your life to the fullest with no regrets when you die, says Remy Blumenfeld, Former Contributor for Forbes.
“Wish” is a painful term. If you’re letting the “wish” term hold you back, you should think again.
5. A master has failed more times than a beginner has tried.
The mentor helped me note down a quote that’s framed in this living room:
“A successful is a loser who tried one more time.”
He further said: this quote helps me walk into the bushes, bushes out of my comfort zones, and lets me know I’m not alone.
Think this way:
In your dreams, you see yourself being awarded for the best writing or the most creative person, and the best noble cause. How does it feel? Does it make you feel it's near and it’s coming?
How to apply?
Steve Harvey in his YouTube video, says:
If you ever want to crush your goal(in a second), try telling it to others. They don’t know to understand because God didn't show it to them. There's a reason God only showed it to you.
So whatever you’re thinking is “possible.” Maybe you’re not able to define that in words. Maybe the correct explanation isn't available for what you’re feeling, but one day it will.
Interestingly, that “day” can be today.
Maybe this is a *hint* you should start right now!
Final thoughts:
Keep an open mind and a couple of open ears to become the best version.
Remember that a problem is a drug they give you to forget your dreams — the bigger picture.
You know you've matured when you realize not every situation in life deserves a reaction. Sometimes you gotta pluck sufficient lessons and advice every time and (walk away).
