My 10 Favorite Stories From July 2020

If you’re looking for stories to bookmark, you’ve come to the right place!

Favorite excerpt: “Travel stimulates my creativity. It expands my horizons. It pushes me to the limit. That’s why I do it. Because I see how much it has taught me over the years, and it still does — every day.”

Larisa talks about traveling tips she’s learned from 15 months exploring the world, like planning just enough but not too much and not overpacking.

Larisa also touches on the impact traveling has had on her: it has broadened her perspective, made her more adaptable, and developed her intuition.

If you’re thinking of expanding your horizons and traveling the world, this is a fantastic resource to help you prepare and inspire you to get started.

Thank you Larisa Andras!

Favorite excerpt: “Ubuntu is not just about being interconnected with other humans, but also about humanity being a part of nature. Therefore, you should not only expand your circle of concern to include other people, but for it to encompass all living things, and our entire planet as a whole.”

Peter beautifully weaves the story of Nelson Mandela into a story about ubuntu, an Africa word that signifies unify and connection. He describes why ubuntu is particularly relevant during these crazy times and how we can apply this seemingly simple concept at the individual, communal, and societal levels.

I remember ‘ubuntu’ from the 2008 Boston Celtics, who used that motto to propel them toward winning the NBA title. It’s a powerful word which we ought to consider in our divided and isolated world.

Thank you Peter Burns!

Favorite excerpt: “I’m here because I know exactly who I want to be. I know how I see myself and how I want to see myself. So I simply made the adjustment to align my life with that vision.”

Similarly to Larisa, Anthony describes what he’s learned from traveling the world. He’s been abroad for just over a year, aligning his life with his vision.

Anthony includes quotes to underline each of the lessons he’s learned. He’s realized what matters to him — growth rather than achievement, the journey rather than the destination.

Thank you Anthony J. Yeung!

Favorite excerpt: “So, whether it’s dark chocolate, a gratitude practice, or a daily run, it’s critical to have something you know you can expect every day of your life. It gives you a small win and sense of certainty in such an uncertain world. Commit wholeheartedly to one thing every single day, and this habit will help bring great longevity to your life.”

Jordan shares how he and his dad saw a 103-year-old woman on TV sharing her secrets to living a long life. He eloquently distills her two secrets into bigger picture terms we can all understand.

Jordan has shared lessons before on what we can learn from long-lived people, but these are always refreshing reminders that any one of us can make small changes in our life that will pay off handsomely down the long and winding road we call life.

Thank you Jordan Gross!

Favorite excerpt: “Life is simple. Happiness is simple. Success is simple. Love is simple. Even death is a simple process. It’s we who make things intolerably complicated. The simplicity of the three things makes the message easy to understand and apply.”

I love nothing more than a simple story. Cristian’s economy of words is incredibly compelling.

This article is short, quick, and to the point. It’s easily accessible and relatable; I guarantee you’ll get something out of spending a few minutes reading this article and reflecting on it.

Thank you Cristian Mihai!

Favorite excerpt: “When you feel that hiding who you are is safer than living as who you are, then that feeling of safety, no matter how uncomfortable or painful, can be hard to give up. None of us want to feel unsafe but a life of quiet desperation in which you suppress who you are ends up being more dangerous to your health and wellbeing than allowing yourself to be seen.”

The concept of congruence is deeply appealing to me. I think in terms of harmony, but Kathryn eloquently explains the benefits of living a more congruent life.

Her article reminds me of the famous quote from Henry David Thoreau: “The masses of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

There’s perhaps no better cure for that than living a congruent life.

Thank you Kathryn Wells!

Favorite excerpt: “You can fulfill your potential. You can wake up smiling, become more optimistic, and live each day with a sense of gratitude. All you need to do is identify your ideal self’s habits and then implement them into your own life.”

Matt gives three targeted tips to help you transform your life. He includes Stoic quotes to help frame his perspective on the positive and timeless habits you can adopt to improve your happiness.

Matt’s writing jumps off the page; it’s almost as if he’s speaking directly to you the reader. He gives you the confidence to transform your life quickly and completely, and his writing has credibility because he’s walked the walk.

Thank you Matt Lillywhite!

Favorite excerpt: “You’re a handful of unsexy strategies away from an insanely good life. Read a half-hour per day, work on your side business an hour a day, have a coffee a week with someone new, move your body three times a week, take some online courses, and just don’t quit.”

In Ayo’s typically no-nonsense fashion, he explains how you can invest in yourself — not just with your dollars but with an even more precious commodity, your time — to live the kind of life Ayo now lives after years of hard, smart work.

The beauty of Ayo’s recommendations is that anyone can implement them. The barrier to entry is zero; thus, in his words, no excuses!

Thank you Ayodeji Awosika!

Favorite excerpt: “The more specific the outcome, the better you can find pathways and develop strategies for getting what you want. If you have too many goals, then your process will become muddled and confused. By having one major goal, you can focus your energy. You can try new things and figure out how to get momentum. You can create incredible results.”

Ben systematically describes how he got from Point A to Point B. He has no need to share his secrets with the world. But he does, and everyone who reads this ought to be grateful that a master of his craft regularly shares the keys to his success.

This reads like a bible for writers, whether you’re just getting started or you’re years deep into writing.

Thank you Benjamin Hardy, PhD!

Favorite excerpt: “#77. You only need one person to believe in your work. That would be you.”

The article has no fluff, no intro or conclusion. It’s just 77 rules that will help you go from obscurity to prominence, Todd Brison style.

Just like Ben’s article, this reads like a bible for writers.

Thank you Todd Brison!