Here are 18 of my favorite lessons and quotes:
1. The Backwards Law: The more you pursue feeling better all the time, the less satisfied you become
"The desire for a more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And paradoxically, the acceptance of one's negative experience is itself a positive experience."
2. Focus on what matters most: your values and goals
Work with what you have in front of you, not what you wish you had. Otherwise, life will f*ck you.
"If you go around giving a f*ck about everything and everyone without conscious thought, then you're going to get fucked."
3. Put your energy and time where it counts
"Maturity is what happens when one learns to only give a f*ck about what's truly f*ck-worthy."
4. Overdoing it is the same as doing nothing
"We are defined by what we choose to reject. And if we reject nothing, we essentially have no identity at all."
5. Failure is necessary
"We can be truly successful only at something we're willing to fail at. If we're unwilling to fail, then we're unwilling to succeed."
Fear of failure is derived from your life values.
Don't use unrealistic goals. Use ones that align with your values.
6. Fear of failure = enemy
"If you're avoiding your problems or feel like you don't have problems, then you're going to make yourself miserable. If you feel like you have problems you can't solve, you will likewise make yourself miserable."
Solving problems leads to happiness.
7. Constant change is inevitable
"I say don't find yourself. I say never know who you are. Because that's what keeps you striving and discovering. It forces you to remain humble in your judgments and accepting of the differences in others."
Never stop your pursuit of growth.
8. Our attitude is everything
"We, individually, are responsible for everything in our lives, no matter the external circumstances. We don't always control what happens to us. But we always control how we interpret what happens to us, as well as how we respond."
9. Solving problems brings us happiness
Don't avoid problems or a challenge.
"Life is essentially an endless series of problems. The solution to one problem is merely the creation of another." "
Don't hope for a life without problems. Hope for a life full of good problems."
10. Entitlement makes our lives more difficult
"Give up your sense of entitlement and your belief that you're somehow owed something by this world."
The truth is life isn't fair. Life wasn't made to cater to us.
Be open-minded. Act as if you know nothing.
11. Feeling offended is fueling your ego
"People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good."
Rid yourself of entitlement.
We all have it in one form or another. Remove it.
12. Hard times are a part of life
"Who you are is defined by what you're willing to struggle for."
We aren't defined by our successes or even our problems.
We are defined by our attitude, willingness to embrace the uncomfortable, and learning along the way.
13. Embrace pain
Embrace the struggle and failure. Without it, we never change for the better.
"The avoidance of suffering is a form of suffering. The avoidance of struggle is a struggle. The denial of failure is a failure. Hiding what is shameful is itself a form of shame."
14. Suffering builds courage and perseverance
"Being open with your insecurities paradoxically makes you more confident and charismatic around others. The pain of honest confrontation is what generates the greatest trust and respect in your relationships."
15. Caring less leads to a better life
"To not give a f*ck is to stare down life's most terrifying and difficult challenges and still take action."
It's the f*cks not given that make all the difference.
"These moments of non-f*ckery are the moments that most define our lives."
16. Focus on what's important
"No matter where you go, there's a five-hundred-pound load of shit waiting for you. And that's perfectly fine. The point isn't to get away from the shit. The point is to find the shit you enjoy dealing with."
Filter out the nonsense and enjoy.
17. Study your own emotions
Take a deep look at yourself and the way you react to things.
"Emotions are part of our lives, but not the entire equation. Just because something feels good doesn't mean it is good. Just because something feels bad doesn't mean it is bad."
18. Values, Priorities, and Change
"Self-improvement is really about: prioritizing better values and choosing better things to give a f*ck about."
When you give better f*cks, you get better problems.
Better problems lead to more growth and happiness.
Thanks for reading, y'all, and much love!
*This article was adapted from a Twitter thread by Kloss.eth*
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