Part 2 - executing your purpose Now that you know what purpose is, why it's important, and how to find it, let me talk about how to execute it in 2 easy steps.
1 - Clearly define a purpose statement. You need to clarify your vision and tie those to some specific missions and goals.
2 - Take action - take that first step, stay motivated, and don't give up.
Ok, so if you haven't defined a purpose statement yet, do so. You have to be clear on your purpose, or as Stephen Covey says, you must begin with the end in mind. You have to have a vision. Think deeply and honestly about where you are and where you want to go. Think of who you are and who you want to be.
Without setting a course, you simply won't get there, so this step is crucial. It won't be perfect, but just get a purpose statement down on paper. You can be tweak it later (and likely you will).
Next, look for specific missions that are in alignment with your purpose statement and passions. You identified your purpose and passions in the first video, now tie those to specific goals. What are some specific goals that are in alignment with your purpose? Write those down as well. Take the time to explore ways in which you can fulfill your purpose.
Next, take action and keep going.
Wishful thinking and dreaming about where you want to be won't get you there. Writing goals down won't get you there either. Although they are necessary steps, they aren't enough.. to get to your destination, you have to be proactive and take action to reach your goal.
Sounds easy enough, but this is where a lot of people stall. They have all the right intentions, but many fail in actually taking those first steps. Those first steps really get the ball moving and build your momentum.
This means taking steps towards what you want, and removing those things in your life that you don't want. Take a huge leap if you can - ask, is there any way that you can turn your passion, your mission, your purpose into a career? Is there any way you can make a living from it? Explore that question very deeply.
Stay motivated, stay focused, and get out of your own way (limiting self-beliefs).
Recap 1- Clearly define a purpose statement - clearly define your vision and tie it to specific missions and goals. 2 - Next, take that initial step - take action! Jump in head first or at least find a way to include it in your life more often. 3 - Make sure you have a strong why - This will keep yourself motivated and will keep you going through the tough times. Don't give up.
Now, get off of YouTube and go execute your purpose!
Part 2 - executing your purpose Now that you know what purpose is, why it's important, and how to find it, let me talk about how to execute it in 2 easy steps.
1 - Clearly define a purpose statement. You need to clarify your vision and tie those to some specific missions and goals.
2 - Take action - take that first step, stay motivated, and don't give up.
Ok, so if you haven't defined a purpose statement yet, do so. You have to be clear on your purpose, or as Stephen Covey says, you must begin with the end in mind. You have to have a vision. Think deeply and honestly about where you are and where you want to go. Think of who you are and who you want to be.
Without setting a course, you simply won't get there, so this step is crucial. It won't be perfect, but just get a purpose statement down on paper. You can be tweak it later (and likely you will).
Next, look for specific missions that are in alignment with your purpose statement and passions. You identified your purpose and passions in the first video, now tie those to specific goals. What are some specific goals that are in alignment with your purpose? Write those down as well. Take the time to explore ways in which you can fulfill your purpose.
Next, take action and keep going.
Wishful thinking and dreaming about where you want to be won't get you there. Writing goals down won't get you there either. Although they are necessary steps, they aren't enough.. to get to your destination, you have to be proactive and take action to reach your goal.
Sounds easy enough, but this is where a lot of people stall. They have all the right intentions, but many fail in actually taking those first steps. Those first steps really get the ball moving and build your momentum.
This means taking steps towards what you want, and removing those things in your life that you don't want. Take a huge leap if you can - ask, is there any way that you can turn your passion, your mission, your purpose into a career? Is there any way you can make a living from it? Explore that question very deeply.
Stay motivated, stay focused, and get out of your own way (limiting self-beliefs).
Recap 1- Clearly define a purpose statement - clearly define your vision and tie it to specific missions and goals. 2 - Next, take that initial step - take action! Jump in head first or at least find a way to include it in your life more often. 3 - Make sure you have a strong why - This will keep yourself motivated and will keep you going through the tough times. Don't give up.
Now, get off of YouTube and go execute your purpose!Best Thought Provoking & Mind Bending Movies to WatchWisdom for Life2023-07-30 | My favorite mind bending, thought provoking films. Please let me know your additions in the comments! Thanks for watching. :)
Music: Your Suggestions - Unicorn HeadsUnveiling the Universe: Is Everything Alive?Wisdom for Life2023-05-21 | Is the universe alive and aware? Have we too narrowly defined what being alive means based due to our human biases?
Take a journey with me as I discuss the movement of the solar system, stars, Milky Way galaxy, and super structures like Laniakea and the cosmic web. What is the galaxy doing as a whole system? Is it a type of super organism beyond our understanding? What exactly is life? Have we too narrowly defined it based on our human biases? Why is it so hard to pin down where life starts and stops? Are we all part of the same universal process? All that and more in this video. Thanks for watching!
Gaia - ESA https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/edr3-startrails
Large scale flows in the Milky Way halo - Illustration Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI). Science Credit: NASA, ESA, and N. Lehner and C. Howk (University of Notre Dame)
Artist: http://incompetech.comThe Living Universe is Unimaginably BIG and Youre a Part of it!Wisdom for Life2023-04-29 | How big is the universe? Let's take a journey from Earth to the solar system, closest stars, the Milky Way, and the observable universe. Along the way we will stop by the Oort cloud, Alpha Centauri, radiosphere, Andromeda galaxy, Virgo supercluster, and Laniakea.
After watching this video, you can think a couple things. Either - I’m this tiny, separate thing on a distant planet in the middle of nowhere special. I’ll live for several decades and that will be that. Or you may be thinking, wow, I’m a part of this unimaginably large, possibly infinite universe, that is potentially teeming with life. A part of this thing that I don’t really understand. A thing that, well, no one truly understands. A part of this planet, this node in the sea of space that is coming to life. and things can get very metaphysical after that.
Within our current scientific understanding, it’s easy to feel alone in the universe. We believe that we are separate beings, floating around on a tiny rock in a vast and seemingly dead universe. This is an old and outdated paradigm that needs to be updated. We need to re-examine a few key assumptions and learn to let go of these old beliefs for ourselves and for humanity. I’ll be covering these key assumptions in future videos, but to give you the sneak peek:
1 – First, the idea that you are somehow separate from the universe needs to be obliterated. We are taught that we are individuals, separate from the world out there. Of course, with assumptions and beliefs like that, you will feel like a lost soul, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Although we feel that we are independent creatures roaming around, we’re not really separate. We’re not independent of the world we live in. We’re in an intimate, inseparable symbiotic relationship with the world we live in. Humans and nature are one in the same. We are actually a part of it - a piece of the whole.
The universe is not outside of you - you're in it. You’re a function of the universe in the same way that one of your skin cells is a function of your whole body - a function of you. We are an aspect of the universe, so it doesn’t make any sense to set yourself apart and say you're an isolated object surrounded by a vast alien entity. You grew from that entity and you're inseparable from it. If you ever feel lost, just remember that the force that guides the stars, guides you too. You are a result of nature just as much as a star or planet is.
2 – The second key assumption that needs to be re-examined is our narrow definition of what life is. the distinction between living and non-living is a definitional difference. This division is actually just a concept in our minds, which is why there is so much debate on what is considered to be alive. For example, some say viruses are alive, while others say they are not. Our line between living and non living always seems to be moving. We used to think that we were the only intelligent, living things. Then we expanded it from ourselves to animals, insects, plants, cells, and now we are asking -
Are viruses, bacteria, endospores (which can live without nutrients for millions of years – don’t grow, move, excrete, or do anything until the environmental conditions are right), and DNA alive in a sense? There is no clear consensus on what life is because there really is no clear line where you can say this is living and this is not. We have definitions of what we think is required for something to be alive, life as we know it, but it’s a very incomplete understanding of what intelligence is and what being alive means.
What if life is more inherent and fundamental to the universe than we’ve assumed. The universe is not some static mechanistic material thing that we once believed it to be. It’s not a bunch of dumb matter floating around aimlessly. The idea of the universe being like a machine grew out of Newton’s ideas of a clockwork universe. We now know that the universe is not static like a clock – it is a process of constant change - of movement and evolution. The universe is more comparable to an organism than a clock. I’m not saying the universe is an organism - I’m simply stating that it behaves more like an organism than a clock. Could it be that the universe itself has some type of intelligence, awareness, or a different type of consciousness than our own? Is it possible that the universe is alive in a way that isn’t quite clear to us from our tiny perspective – in a way beyond our ability to comprehend? Kind of like how a cell in our body doesn’t know that it is part of a larger, more complex being.
This idea ties nicely into the previous idea that we are not separate from the universe. If we are intelligent and alive and not separate from the universe, then it would be logical to conclude that the universe is also intelligent and alive in a sense. In my opinion, a living being cannot be the product of a dead universe. These topics will be covered in more depth in future videos.Fermi Paradox - Where are all the aliens?Wisdom for Life2023-04-14 | Chapters: 00:00 Intro - Fermi Paradox 02:04 The Observable Universe 09:42 The Drake Equation 18:38 Fermi Paradox Solutions 34:08 Our Flawed Assumptions 45:22 The Current Scientific Paradigm 54:42 Conclusion 56:46 You are not Separate from the Universe 58:55 Is the Universe Intelligent and Aware?
Are we alone? There’s a reason why this question is so intriguing; it defines how we see ourselves. Finding life would greatly alter our worldview and our place in the cosmos.
Space is vast - full of billions of habitable planets and potential life forms, yet we’ve never detected any. It’s the great silence. The perplexing nature of this is known as the fermi paradox. There are many theories to explain this paradox away:
Maybe we’re too far away from one another. Being isolated on purpose. They’re already here but we can't sense them. We haven’t found anything because our search has just begun. Transcension hypothesis. We are the only intelligent life out here in the universe. We haven’t detected life because we’re searching in the wrong way.
Is it possible that they have transcended the physical limits as we know them? Could they be traveling and communicating in ways we never thought possible or haven’t yet discovered? Do they even perceive space, time, and base reality as we do? We assume they do. We assume a lot, but we have to as it’s all we have to go on. Nevertheless, these assumptions should be explored, examined, and scrutinized.
We will cover all that and more in this video.
Part 1 - The vastness of the observable universe Part 2 - Hypothetical solutions to the fermi paradox Part 3 - Our flawed assumptions Conclusion
Ethnobotanist, Psychonaut, and Author November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000
Terence Mckenna lecture about culture.
"We are building the nervous system of the human over-soul. We are individual units operating under social rules that are pushing us ever closer toward dissolving our societies—societies; human groups run by rules—into telepathic collectivities of some sort."What Terence Mckenna said in 1995 is more true today thanWisdom for Life2023-04-01 | TERENCE MCKENNA A Crisis in Consciousness 1995
Ethnobotanist, Psychonaut, and Author November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000We know nothing #wisdom #shortsWisdom for Life2023-02-10 | ...How to Stop Caring What Other People Think of YouWisdom for Life2023-01-24 | Stop Caring What People Think About You
Introduction Many of us live a life that is fixated on what others are thinking about us. As you well know by now, this way of thinking and living will suffocate you. Constantly worrying about what other people think of you will crush your ambitions, goals, individuality, and happiness.
This short video covers why we have a tendency to care what people think of us, why it’s insane, and how to make some big shifts in your life that will set you on the path to being free from the opinions of others.
Chapters:
We Are Social Creatures How It Starts and Why Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think of You How Do We Stop Caring About Others Opinions So Much? 20 Actions You Can Take Moving Forward Final Thoughts
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” Lao Tzu
“I am not what I think I am and I am not what you think I am; I am what I think that you think I am.” Charles H. Cooley
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did.” Unknown
“Call me whatever you like, I am who I must be.” Friedrich Nietzsche
“Your boos mean nothing; I’ve seen what you cheer for.” Rick Sanchez
“What other people think of me is none of my business.” Wayne DyerThe Perennial Philosophy in 3 minutesWisdom for Life2022-12-21 | The Perennial Philosophy The world's major religious traditions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Native, and indigenous religions) have varying beliefs and traditions at the institutional level (externalized religion, holy books, buildings, teachings, theologians), so they appear to be very different from one another. As you move toward the contemplative level of these religions, they begin to converge - they become more and more similar in nature (inner religion, direct experience, meditation and prayer, mystical theology, mystics).
That's because the mystical experiences of these religions, the very core upon which these religions are based, point to the same absolute truth (or one aspect of that absolute truth). Whether you want to call that a union with god, nirvana, the god head, liberation, eternal bliss, enlightenment, spiritual awakening, brahman or something else, they are pointing to the same thing. I’m not talking about visions of angles - I'm referring to the subjective experience of oneness with all that is, an awareness of their oneness with the infinite, a deep interconnectedness, and ego dissolution.
All the great spiritual leaders – buddha, Jesus, Rumi, Krishna, Hermes, Dali Lama, Mohammed, and so on were pointing at the same thing: Absolute Truth.
"Theologians may quarrel, but the mystics of the world speak the same language" - Meister EckhartLessons from Father StuWisdom for Life2022-12-21 | Father Stu is a story about a Catholic priest, but it holds profound messages for people of all faiths, or even no faith at all.
Topics: Perennial philosophy. Four universal methods from the movie Father Stu that can be applied to anyone's life to bring you closer to pure consciousness God, the universe, the Lord Almighty:
1 - God doesn't make mistakes. "We Are Not Human Beings Having A Spiritual Experience, We Are Spiritual Beings Having A Human One.”
2 - The body is a vessel. "God doesn’t promise our stories will make sense, but He does promise they’ll find their greater purpose if we’re patient."
"All our outer nature’s wasting away. But our inner nature is being renewed every day. This life, no matter how long it lasts, is a momentary affliction preparing us for eternal glory.“
3 - Forgive "If God is willing to forgive you and me, I’ve got to be willing to forgive others."
4 - Invite God, the greater Self, universal spirit into your life. "I could have used God’s help for a lot of things, but I never could find Him. My son said, ‘God wasn’t lost."
Methods to self-actualization: Open-mindedness Self-inquiry Meditation Mindfulness Being Present Gratitude Acceptance Love Forgiveness
We have a choice: Live from a place of fear or a place of love.
Have an open mind while watching this - and remember, we are all entitled to our own opinions. I only present my beliefs/interpretations in order to show other perspectives.
Thanks for watching.
Credit: Father Stu (2022), Starring Mark Wahlberg
Power of Now book summary: Part 1 - youtu.be/PgGtNgLSCqU Part 2 - youtu.be/N6hi6Tkb13MExoplanet mini-documentary 2023Wisdom for Life2022-12-02 | Since 2009, the Kepler Space Telescope, which uses the transit method to discover planets (3924 exoplanets found), along with other methods like gravitational microlensing (141 exoplanets found), radial velocity (1018 exoplanets found), and direct imaging (61 exoplanets found) have aided in the discovery of over 5,000 exoplanets!
We didn't even know other planets existed outside of our solar system until 1992, only 3 decades ago, and now, in less than half a lifetime, we’ve found thousands of planets ranging in sizes, orbits, and composition. Everywhere we’ve looked for planets, we’ve found them, and we're only just getting started. We’ve only searched about 1/1 millionth (.000075% of stars) of our own galaxy and there are TRILLIONS of galaxies.
When it comes to exoplanet types and composition, there’s a variety of planets:
30% are gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. 35% are Neptune like. 4% are small rocky planets like Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus. And finally, 31% are super earths, sometimes referred to as mini Neptunes. Some of these planets may be rocky worlds, water worlds, or earth like planets that are covered in a thick, gaseous atmosphere, which we’ll explore momentarily.
What makes exoplanets great candidates for life? Geologically active, thick atmosphere, approx. 80 degrees Fahrenheit, scattered islands with shallow water, orbiting a longer living star.
Types of stars and their habitability: O, B, A, F, G, K, M
Music: Unicorn Heads - The Shining in DubaiHow to Transfer Large Videos From iPhone To PC for FreeWisdom for Life2021-04-04 | This is how I get large videos from my iPhone to a Windows based PC.
Step 1 – Download the VLC media player (well known and reputable app) to your iPhone.
Step 2 – Next, go to photos on your iPhone and open the video you want to send. Click on the bottom left icon, then scroll down to where it says ‘save to files’. Select VLC and click save in the upper right corner.
Step 3 – Open the VLC app on your iPhone. Go to network settings in VLC and make sure the 'sharing via wifi' is toggled on. Also, note that the phone and computer need to be connected to wifi.
Copy the http address below where it says ‘sharing via wifi’. Leave the app open while we transition to your computer.
Step 4 - Go to your computer’s web browser (Google Chrome or Firefox or whatever you have) and type in the address that’s in the VLC app (under sharing via wifi) on your phone. Hit enter.
Step 5 – Click the video you want to download and you’re done!Rubiks Cube Tutorial EASIEST Beginner Method (step by step)Wisdom for Life2021-03-25 | Today I’m going to show YOU how to solve a rubik’s cube. The method that I’m going to show you in this tutorial is, in my opinion, the easiest way to solve a rubik's cube. It may seem daunting at first, but I assure you, with time, patience, and persistence, you will, without a doubt, solve the magic cube. With this method, you’ll be able to consistently solve the cube in under 2 minutes and if you really practice a lot, you can get it down to about 1 minute. I’ll try to keep it quick, but there are some basics you need to get familiar with first. As we get deeper into the video, please pause and repeat steps if necessary. I’ll include time stamps for easy navigation. I've timed stamped the algorithms in the comment section so you can follow along if needed. I did them slowly, but if you want it to go slower, change video settings to play at half speed.
STEP 3 - 2ND LAYER EDGE PIECES LEFT: U' L' U L U F U' F' / RIGHT: U R U' R' U' F' U F
STEP 4 - 3RD LAYER - (MAKE ORANGE CROSS) F R U R' U' F'
STEP 5 - CORNER TWIST (GET ALL ORANGE POINTING UP) R' U2 R U R' U R
STEP 6 - SWITCH CORNERS R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2
STEP 7 - SWITCH EDGE PIECES R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R21984 Summary - George OrwellWisdom for Life2021-03-12 | 0:00 - 1984 by George Orwell Intro 0:59 - The Importance of 1984 in Today's World 2:12 - The Importance of Democracy 4:46 - 1984 Plot Summary 9:57 - Lesson 1 - Maintain Freedom 12:09 - Lesson 2 - Be Informed 13:57 - Lesson 3 - Think For Yourself 14:28 - Doublethink and Party Slogans 14:39 - Lesson 4 - Stand Up For Beliefs 15:15 - Lesson 5 - Keep Authority in Check 16:14 - Lesson 6 - Remember and Learn From the Past 16:32 - Lesson 7 - Fear Can Be Used To Control You 17:53 - Lesson 8 - Balancing Individual vs. Societal Needs 18:52 - What Type of Government Should We Have? What Type of Government is Best for the Entire Planet?
Intro 1984 by George Orwell was published in 1949 and is truly a nightmare vision of the future where we’re ruled and controlled by fear and intimidation. It’s a world where ‘the party’ has all the power and ‘we the people’, have no rights, no freedoms, no families, no individuality, no joy, laughter, love, and no intimacy. We’re told what to do, what to think, feel, eat, and drink. We’re fighting in endless wars and we’re constantly being monitored by the government via cameras and spies living among us. There’s even a camera in your home so that the govt can monitor you. For the last 70 years, this book has served as a serious warning of what could happen:
If we don’t pay attention to and safeguard our rights and freedoms.
It has served as a warning of what could happen if we don’t pay attention to the limits of authority and the checks and balances within the government. For example, overreaches of the govt in the form of new policy on things like surveillance, data collection, and censorship need to be very, very carefully understood and analyzed before being passed because they could destroy our way of life.
1 - The ego - The ego is only concerned about the past and future. It wants to keep the past alive because without the past, who are you? It tells the story of you and projects that past self onto the present moment. It looks to the past and projects itself into the future. It is not concerned with the present moment – it looks at the present moment as a means to an end. It says things like, “ONE DAY WHEN I GET THIS OR I GET THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY!” This is a fallacy. The ego tries to keep itself alive and always seeks fulfillment in the future.
2 - Emotions - Emotions are a reflection of your mind in the body. The more identified you are with your thinking, the stronger your emotional energy charge will be. So, how do you move past it? Acceptance of the emotion combined with your presence is the key.
3 - The inner body - Our bodies wither and fade away. This ephemeral form is not “you”. Your body is more like an outer shell, or as Tolle says, it's a distorted perception of a deeper reality. But, your body can be used as a point of access into the realm of being.
The inner body is timeless, the physical body withers and dies. You will feel the same energy within you whether you are 20 or 80 years old. Try and feel your inner body throughout the day. Try and keep that connection open during your daily activities. When you keep your attention in your body, you will be anchored in the now.
BONUSES:
4 - We are all one - We feel a sense of fear and incompleteness because we have forgotten that we are a part of the whole. Your mind tries to cover it up in various ways, but the mind can never become the solution because it is part of the problem.
You will never be free until you stop deriving your sense of self from your mind/ego. You and “other” is a complete illusion. The screen of thought labels, judges, defines, conceptualizes, and creates a state of apparent separateness.
5 - Silence and space - "Silence is an even more potent carrier of presence… Listening to silence immediately creates stillness inside of you." Eckhart Tolle
6 - Enlightened relationships - First, stop judging yourself and second, stop judging others. Be the knowing rather than being the reaction and the judge. This allows for a clear space for the other person to be as they are. You cannot transform someone else – all you can do is create a space for that transformation to happen. Listen to your partner in an open and non-defensive way. Be present and give them space to express themselves.
If you get into an argument, observe how you become defensive as your own position is attacked. See how you cling to your viewpoints and your opinions. Do this enough and eventually you will realize that you have a choice – YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DROP YOUR OWN REACTION. You can let go of that whole mental-emotional drama that fights for power. When you can detach identification from the mind, true communication can occur.
Thank you for watching. Please like, sub, and comment if you can! :DWho Moved my Cheese? Animated SummaryWisdom for Life2020-09-03 | Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Robert Burns Life doesn’t always turn out the way we think it will. When change happens, a lot of us have a natural tendency to resist that change. Why? Simply put, we are afraid of change. Change represents the unknown which challenges our sense of safety and security.
Who Moved my Cheese? is a very simple story about change. It’s about seeing change, anticipating change, and adapting to change. Now, that sounds incredibly boring, but luckily the author, Spencer Johnson, has put a cool little twist on a boring topic and has interwoven the lessons of change into the story of 4 characters: 2 mice named Sniff and Scurry and 2 little people (the same size as mice) named Hem and Haw.
These 4 characters represent parts of us – they represent the simple and complex within each of us. As Spencer put it: “Sometimes we may act like Sniff who sniffs out change early, or Scurry who scurries into action, or Hem who denies and resists change as he fears it will lead to something worse, or Haw who learns to adapt in time when he sees changing can lead to something better!”
Read more at wisdom-for-life.comHow Large is the Universe? Bigger than you can Imagine?Wisdom for Life2020-08-15 | How big is the universe? Why even ask or attempt to answer that question? We’re all living our lives in our own little bubble, so why even think about something so abstract? I believe that we should explore and get a better understanding of the universe because it’s about self-discovery. Learning more about the universe tells us more about ourselves because in essence, it is us, we are the universe, we are not separate from it – we are literally it! As Alan Watts said, “we are an aperture through which the universe is exploring itself.”
My intent with this video is to show you, visually, just how large the universe is… and to also touch on what we can learn from that. Stick with me, because however big you think the universe is… it’s bigger.. much, much bigger.
Let's take a journey from the Earth and moon, to the solar system, to the Oort cloud, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Virgo Supercluster, Laniakea Supercluster, and finally the observable universe and beyond!
Intro: (0:00) Earth: (1:04) Earth and Moon: (1:33) Planets and Solar System: (2:28) The Theoretical Oort Cloud: (5:13) Our Closest Neighboring Star - Proxima Centauri - 4.2 LY away: (6:53) Interstellar Neighborhood - 50 LY: (8:06) Radiosphere - 160 LY: (8:42) The Milky Way - 120,000 LY: (9:20) Our Nearest Galaxy - 2.5 Million LY: (13:18) Virgo Supercluster 110M LY ~ 20,000 Galaxies: (13:34) Laniakea Supercluster ~100,000 Galaxies: (13:44) Billions of Galaxies: (13:56) Quasars: (14:02) Cosmic Background Radiation and Entire Observable Universe - 93 Billion LY: (14:10) Beyond The Observable Universe: (14:33)
Credit: openspaceproject.com ESO/L. Calçada/M. Music: The Golden Present by Jesse Gallagher
Blog: wisdom-for-life.comHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Animated SummaryWisdom for Life2020-07-23 | How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Animated Summary. Lesson 1 – Put a stop loss order on worry Lesson 2 – Three steps to reduce worry - identify worst case, accept it, do what you can to improve it Lesson 3 – Live in day tight compartments Lesson 4 - Get your mental attitude squared away - circumstances don't dictate your level of happiness, what thoughts are you focusing on? Lesson 5 - Get busy - goals, purpose, and helping others
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie bonus lessons: Reflect on history Forgive Gratitude and ingratitude Be yourself Criticism Remember to rest (eyes, neck, jaw, face, shoulders)
Thanks for watching - please like and subscribe if you enjoyed it. :)
wisdom-for-life.comThe Power of Now Animated SummaryWisdom for Life2020-06-05 | The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle - The concepts in this book can come across as very simple, but don’t let that trick you into dismissing them without any contemplation. these concepts, although simple, are profound.. The power of now gets into some deep stuff that needs to be reflected on way beyond a short video summary… With that said, keep an open mind going into this. You may get an initial reaction to resist what this book teaches, but just put your opinions and judgments to the side for a few minutes and consider the possibilities.
The three primary concepts I want to focus on are as follows: 1, you are not your mind, 2 - the present moment is all we ever have, and 3 - acceptance of what is. There are many other lessons in the book, but I want to focus on these for now just to keep it simple… and then maybe I’ll make a part 2. Let me know if you’d be interested in a part 2 in the comments.
Part 2 is here! youtu.be/N6hi6Tkb13MThe Old Man and the Sea SummaryWisdom for Life2020-05-10 | The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a short story that seems simple enough, but there are many life lessons interwoven throughout. At the heart of the story is an old Cuban fisherman who never gives up. The old man lives a tough life of unending struggle with fate and chance. His life is hard, but he works hard, maintains his integrity and inner dignity, doesn't complain, doesn't make excuses, doesn't boast, and he never surrenders. These are qualities that we all need to be successful in life.
You've been deceived to believe that you are this little me, this I, this ego, all alone in a strange world, fending for itself, fending for it's survival.
Your ego is almost inescapable and it creates this incredible sense of I, me, mine... you assume there is you and the world, self and other, you and other people, but this is not so...
Its all a great illusion.
The truth is, that you are not this helpless little me, this helpless little ego living on this strange rock that we call earth.. beneath this apparent separation we are unified - we are one.
You are not separate from the world at all - you are the world, you are it, everything, the entire universe. you are not separate from it in any way shape or form - you are literally IT. Your mind has fooled you into buying into this illusion of self and other.
Ultimately this means that you are much bigger than you think and you can never die. you are eternal and now. you are the universe experiencing itself.
as Eckhart Tolle stated, "You are not in the universe, you are the universe, an intrinsic part of it. ultimately, you are not a person, but a focal point where the universe is becoming conscious of itself. what an amazing miracle."Which Wolf Will You Feed?Wisdom for Life2019-06-10 | Which wolf will you feed? Hopefully the good one! :)
One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other wolf is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked, ‘Grandpa, which wolf wins?’
The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one that you feed.’
So, which wolf are you feeding?
What are you focusing on in your day to day thoughts? Do your thoughts revolve around anger, regret, greed, guilt and so on? Or are you focusing on things like peace, love, joy, kindness, and compassion?
We have a tremendous amount of power over our experiences. What you focus on grows. What you’re thinking about all the time is amplified in your life and in your experiences. If you’re focusing on lack, sorrow, resentment, superiority, and jealousy because of the hardships in your life, that is what you’re going to see more of.
The reason for that is simple. When you make a statement in your mind, like “I’m no good” or “people are untrustworthy”, your mind looks for the proof to validate that claim. That’s just how the brain works.
If you, instead, say to yourself, “life is amazing, people are generally loving, there is joy and kindness in the world”, that is what you will see more of. Your life will be filled with more of those experiences simply because that is what you’re focusing on!
I can illustrate this for you, right now.. I want you to look around the room you are in now and look for all of the red objects. I’ll give you 10-15 seconds.. go ahead.
Okay, do you have a list in mind? Now, without looking around the room, I want you to list all of the things that are brown. I imagine your list is rather small. Do you see what happened there? You weren’t focused on all the brown items. you were focused on all the red items. It’s the same with your mindset.
What you focus on grows! Don’t just read it and say, oh, that’s nice. Believe it, internalize it, and live it.
Whatever wolf we decide to feed will correlate to what we see in the world. Or said in reverse, What we see in the world correlates to which wolf we are feeding. It’s interesting to think about it both ways because they mirror each other.
Now, maybe you’ve been feeding the wrong wolf. That’s okay, because you can choose which wolf to feed from here on out. You can choose right now, today, which wolf to feed.
The wolf parable is very similar to the concept of Karma. Are you putting out goodness and kindness or are you giving out negativity and hate? Whatever vibes or energy you give and put out there, you get back in return.
The reason why we don’t always see this is because sometimes it’s not reciprocated right away.. it may take time, but overall, whatever you’re giving in the form of thoughts, words, and actions, is what you will receive in life.
So, look for the good, focus on what you want more of in life, and express gratitude for what you already have. Your life experience is all about your mind-set. It has nothing to do with what’s going on out there in the world – it’s all about what’s going on in your mind and in your heart. It’s your perception and your attitude that dictate your life experience.
So, which wolf will you feed?
Please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing! :)Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover | 7 Baby StepsWisdom for Life2019-06-03 | I just finished Dave Ramsey’s book – The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. I basically used this plan to get out of 40 thousand dollars in debt and now I actually have a decent amount of savings and a retirement account for the first time in my life. The 7 baby steps are as follows:
Step 1 – Save $1,000 Step 2 – Pay off all of your debt, except your house (if you have one) Step 3 – Save up 3 to 6 months of expenses (about $10,000 on average) for emergency fund Step 4 – Invest 15% of household income into retirement. Step 5 – Start a college fund for your children (if you have them). Step 6 – At this point, you are debt free, have a nice emergency cushion, are saving at least $500 per month for retirement, and saving $167 per month for your child’s college fund if needed. Next, if you have a home, pay it off early. Step 7 – Finally, build wealth and give. Once you have done steps 1-6, it’s time to start giving back as well as continuing to building your wealth.
Tips: Don't expect to get out of debt overnight. Don't go for those debt consolidation schemes. Create a monthly budget and a spending plan. Track your expenses.
wisdom-for-life.com/get-out-of-debt-and-save-for-your-futureHow to Create New Habits and Change Existing Habits - The Habit LoopWisdom for Life2019-05-31 | How to change your life forever through the power of THE HABIT LOOP! You always have the power to change the direction of your life by creating new habits and changing existing habits.
If you can change your habits, you can change your life.. because, after all, we are creatures of habit. When you wake up in the morning, you probably follow a certain routine… you check your cell phone, check your e-mail, drink a glass of water, get some coffee, and so on. Throughout the day you can count on other habits to occur, even if you are not fully aware of them. We think we’re making well considered decisions… but we're not. Most things that happen throughout the day happen automatically without much thought at all. Habits run your life. If you want to change your life, change your habits.
Fortunately, once you understand how habits work, you can change them with greater success. so i'm going to hit on what habits are, why and how they form, and how to change them.
There are three components to the habit loop: the cue, the routine, and the reward.
The cue is a trigger. for example let's say you drive by one of your favorite restaurants. This cue or trigger, puts your brain into autopilot. You follow a routine (eating at the restaurant), in order to get the reward (tasty food that you love). The cues can be feelings or thoughts, or they can be external, like the time of the day or a even picture.
The routine is the next part of the habit loop. This is the behavior that you take once you have been triggered. This is the behavior that will lead to a reward. This can be an emotional (getting nervous before a test), cognitive, or physical (eating at that restaurant).
The reward is why we do the particular habit loop. It can be physical (chocolate, sugar, etc.), emotional (I feel happy), or cognitive (excited about learning something new). If the activity is something worth doing, we will remember it and it becomes a habit.
In this video I'll talk about how to create new habits and how to change your existing habits! Let me know what new habits you're trying to implement and what habits you're trying to change.
This is a follow up to my previous video on Benjamin Franklin. I wanted to dive a little deeper into his daily routine. This is the schedule that was outlined in Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. Ben Franklin's routine is powerful because he started the day with an intention - what good shall i do this day? This simple question kept him on purpose! Ben Franklin also started the day with planning the day, connecting with spirit, and studying, which are all important to do in order to have a productive day!
Enjoy the video!Benjamin Franklin - How to Win at LifeWisdom for Life2019-05-27 | Benjamin Franklin Autobiography Summary! To be put on the 100 dollar, you have to be a pretty bad a$$ dude! Benjamin Franklin is that man.. He is someone we should all aspire to be like. There are some great lessons in his autobiography that I have summarized for you in this video. wisdom-for-life.com/live-like-benjamin-franklin
1 – Always be honest "I grew convinced that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life"
2 – Be humble
3 – Always strive for self improvement
When he was 20, he wrote down a list of 13 virtues he wanted to live by.
1 - Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 2 - Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 3 - Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4 - Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5 - Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 6 - Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful. 7 - Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly. 8 - Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 9 - Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. 10 - Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. 11 - Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12 - Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation. 13 - Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
He had this to say about his list
"Though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it."
"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man"
4 – See the true value of things He believed we need to look past the price of a thing and see the true value of it. He believed that you shouldn’t give up real things of value, like virtue, repose, and liberty for super flew us things like popularity, being a people pleaser, and for the accumulation of stuff (aka materialism).
"When the well is dry we know the value of water"
5 – Be self-sufficient Franklin had a do it yourself attitude and believed that we should all be able to do things for ourselves.
6 – Educate yourself and use your time wisely "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
"This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, for which I set apart an hour or two each day"
7 – Hard work and diligence pay off
8 – Associate with people of similar values
9 – Use your time to build wealth and help others
The more wisely you use your time, the more you can build your wealth… not materialism, but wealth. Franklin retired in 1748 when he was just 42. This allowed him to do whatever he wanted after that, which included reading, conducting experiments, and inventing cool stuff!
He didn’t want to live a foo foo poo poo fancy life. He wanted wealth so he could grow into a noble citizen who was able to serve others in his community.
10 – Wake up early "The early morning has gold in it’s mouth"
He allocated three hours each morning to read, study, plan, and prepare for the day. The morning is a great time to be alone with your thoughts, to read, to journal, to get clear on your goals and purpose, to exercise, and to plan a productive day.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" "Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes"
11 – Have a positive outlook and expect a good outcome "While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us"
"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight"
12 – Learn how to influence people and don’t let your ego get in the way
13 – Have a healthy sense of humor and laugh "He that displays too often his wife and his wallet is in danger of having both of them borrowed"
14 – Appreciate the little things in life "Happiness consists more in the small pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life"
15 – Be a kid at heart.. keep playing, dreaming, and creating "We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing"
16 – Live a life of balance. Franklin insisted that we make time for family, friends, and fun. Give each part of your life it’s time.
17 – Focus on what’s important "Never confuse motion with action"
Benjamin Franklin autobiography lessonsGetting your PMP - Application and Experience ExamplesWisdom for Life2019-05-26 | I recently completed my PMP certification and wanted to share what I've learned, plus some tips. I have some PMP application examples, which are very helpful in the PMP application approval process. In this video, I cover the entire project management professional certification process: PMP eligibility and requirements PMP application process PMP experience examples PMP audit PMP exam fee PMI and PMP and lastly, how to study for the project management professional certification exam and maintain it once you pass.
If you've ever said, "i don't know what to do with my life", then this video is for you!
We live in a time when we are becoming more and more isolated in our own little worlds and many of us are feeling a lack of connection and meaning in our lives. When we feel a lack of meaning, we may begin to feel alone and feel like something is missing from our lives. Like there should be something more to life.. that missing thing is your PURPOSE!
Key point about purpose - it isn't about achieving money, fame, and stuff... it's not about materialism. Purpose is about self-actualization, community, and being a part of something bigger than yourself.
To get clear on what your purpose is, you need to start asking yourself some questions:
1- What makes you completely lose track of time? What makes you forget to eat?
2 – When you're in the zone doing something you love, you will be so lost in it, you will forget everything else. That's when you know you're in the state of flow.
3 – What makes your heart race? What energizes you? What inspires you?
Your answers to these should shed some light on what you're passionate about and what you have enthusiasm for.
4 – What are your values and what's really important to you?
5 – What can you do with your time that is important? We have a finite amount of time, so we need to get clear on what matters to us and what we should actually be spending our time on.
6 – If you had unlimited money, let's say 10 billion dollars, what would you do with your life? If money were truly no object, how would you spend your free time?
7 – If you were going to die soon, what would you do for the remainder of your days?
8 – What does your ideal day look like? Literally write down what your ideal day looks like. Write down how you want your life to be. If you don't define it, it will never happen. You have to begin with the end in mind.
9 – Have you accomplished all you thought you would by now? Are you where you want to be? Be honest with yourself. What's missing?
10 – What did you want to do as a kid?
11 – What do you want to do on Saturday morning?
12 – What do you spend money to do? What hobbies do you enjoy?
13 – Follow your hobbies and find a way to make a living from it. How does that quote go? “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Plenty of people live their life this way and you can too!
Get clear on your purpose and create a purpose statement.
A purpose statement will keep you living life consciously and help you continue to be in alignment with your purpose when making any important decisions. It gives you direction and helps you stay on course. It's something you can constantly bounce your ideas and decisions off of. It puts the intention there and drives you. Write it down, keep it with you, read it often.
It's no doubt that our emotions are much more persuasive than our rational mind. I mean, in the heat of the moment, we listen and act on our feelings a lot more often than our logical mind. Right?
Let's be honest. we've all been to that place where you just lose your mind and go absolutely ape shit. And then after a little while, after you've cooled down, your rational mind kicks in and says, uhhh, whoa dude.. you shouldn't have done that!
Look at your daily decisions and you will see that we are constantly driven by our emotions. They dictate much in how we live our lives, but is that a good thing?
Sometimes we act on the wrong emotions or we act on our emotions too quickly, and that often leads to decisions we regret down the road.
So, how should we handle emotions?
Some emotions are great and we should get swept away in them. Joy, love, bliss, and so on. What we need to be more aware of are the negative emotions like rage, anger, bitterness, envy, and so forth - we need to learn how to handle these with great care. If you don't control these emotions, they will take over your mind and your life.
We all know someone who is seemingly angry all the time, right? What's happened is that they have let their negative emotions spiral out of control and they now run their life.
Don't let your anger and frustration get the best of you. Have the courage, strength, and nerve to remain gentle and calm during intense situations.
Anger and frustration are really just signs of weakness. They are signs of someone who is out of control, like the person who is angry all the time. Strive to be in control of yourself. What does that really mean though, to be in control of yourself?
Well, Stoics believe that we can't control outside events and we can't even control our emotions 100% of the time, but what we can control is our opinions that lead up to an emotion.
Opinions are different from emotions because you can control and influence them. What's interesting is that many of your emotions are caused by bad opinions. So, in an indirect way, you can control your emotions to a certain degree.
Let's look at an example: My truck was stolen. This sucks! I'm so pissed.
1 - My truck was stolen is a fact. 2 - This sucks is an opinion. 3 - I'm so pissed is an effect of the opinion.
So, don't try and control your emotions, try to control the opinions in step 2 that lead to those strong emotions.
Again, you can't control outside events. All we can control is how we respond to the different things that happen to us. Between stimulus (truck being stolen) and response (this sucks), there is a gap, and in that gap is where we have the ability to choose how we respond. That is our greatest freedom! That is where you decide how you're going to live your life.
It's all about how you view what happened to you. Learn how to look at seemingly negative events as opportunities - opportunities for growth. Find the good, find the silver lining in all situations. It takes practice, but learning how to turn adversity into triumph is huge. It shifts your whole life story from victim to creator.
This doesn't mean suppressing your emotions. You don't want to repress emotions, but you also don't want to be a slave to your emotions. Emotions are a good thing. We should value and enjoy them. They bring excitement into your life. They are real and important and it's a good practice to be in touch with your emotions so you can have more self-awareness.
We should, however, try to minimize irrational emotions and spend more time on the good ones. It is ok to be upset or sad from time to time, just make sure your opinion is really warranted before moving into an emotional state. Experience emotions as they come, but don't let them take over.
Now that you some idea on how to better manage those emotions, I also suggest that you find a healthy outlet to release emotions because emotions should never be bottled up.
Thanks for watching!Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Summary - DeathWisdom for Life2018-12-22 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Quotes about Death
Death is a natural part of life’s cycle and is nothing to fear. Bodies disappear and become something else, memories fade, and even those who remember you will soon be gone too. That is nature, so don’t be against it; welcome it. There is nothing wrong with death, only your opinion about it. Billions, if not trillions of things die every day, that's nature. That's life.
It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more. - maybe one of you out there knows who said that famous quote.. throw it in the comments if you do.
If you go into every day with the mind set that it may be your last, you won't waste the day away. you'll make the most of it. Which is better - a life of boring days where you think you have plenty of time or a life filled with meaning and excitement because you have a mindset that it could end at any time?
If you think you are nothing more than this particular life, this particular ego, then you're under an illusion. you are not separate from the universe - you are the universe. As Eckhart Tolle says, you are the universe expressing itself as a human for a little while. Or as Alan Watts said, you are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself - mind blowing!! The universe is intelligent - you didn't come into the universe as this separate thing... you came out of the universe. Think of it this way.. a plant doesn't come into the world, it comes out of the world. the world created it. You are just like that. you essentially grew out of the universe as it evolved. it took 13 billion years, but here you are.
Every atom in your body was once inside of a star - you are literally made of star stuff. you are the universe, a piece of it.. you are not some separate thing that is alien to it. you are it... but our ego tricks us into thinking we are separate. Ok, i'll stop there because i can go on and on.. but if you like where i'm going with this, please check out my videos on Alan Watts.
It is my belief then that death is not the "end". We don't know what it is, therefore, some of us fear it. consciousness lives on in some form or another. Even if you don't believe this.. .think about it this way, if you died, so would your consciousness.. the annihilation of consciousness cannot be experienced! therefore there really is nothing to fear whatsoever!
Don’t judge someone else’s actions. You have also done many things you believe to be wrong, so don’t be so fast to pass judgement. If you think someone has done something wrong, think about why you believe it is wrong. Is it really wrong or is that just your opinion of it? Maybe to him it is right. Once you see this, you won’t be angry with him.
Judging in itself causes separation and pain, so avoid it and see the bigger picture. people's behavior is based on their beliefs. usually, people do what they think is right...
You cannot accurately judge someone unless you are them. you can never judge them until you have walked in their shoes. All other judgments are biased.
Everyone says, hey, be yourself, and then we judge you when you do... we are all different, so instead of judging, try and understand more. everyone is living their own story, living their own struggles, so you should never pass judgment on them.
Don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you.
When you see something you don’t like in someone else (when you judge them), look at yourself first. Usually we resist the faults of others because we see that in ourselves. The judgement is in your mind, not theirs, so ask yourself, who is at fault? The person with the judgement.
Avoid gossip. Do not concern yourself with others faults and business. focus on your purpose and life's work. Life is so much easier when you don’t concern yourself with trivialities and other people’s drama. save the drama for your llama.
There is a reason why people have been meditating for thousands of years... it works! you don't have to be all hard core and do it for an hour.. just try it for 5 minutes.. or even less to begin with. even closing your eyes for 2 minutes during the day in order to clear your mind and relax can have great benefits.
Now there are many many different types of meditation, so find one that's right for you. it could be focusing on your breath or a candle flame or saying a mantra and so on. the one that works for me is something called the 3x3 (I adapted it from Tony Robbins). It goes like this: I lay down and think of 3 things I'm grateful for, next I focus my attention within my body - I place my awareness towards the center of my body and sort of feel my inner energy field, and lastly i think of 3 things i want to create.
I also try some other types of meditation from time to time just to mix it up. Again, do what works for you.. even 5 minutes. There have been tons of studies showing the benefits of meditation and i urge you to do it - if you're intimidated, then try a guided meditation on youtube.
Contemplate your existence and place in the universe. Think about pain, pleasure, death, and opinion. Contemplate about how small we are, how vast the universe is, the enormous time scale of the universe, and the small amount of time we have on Earth.
These are things i reflect on almost daily and it really puts things into perspective for me. You don't want to get lost in the details of life... think about the big picture more often and it will keep you calm, relaxed, and focused on what's important to you in life.
We are only here for a short time and we are a very small speck in the universe. Everything is soon forgotten. really, everything is soon forgotten. Do you remember that thing you were worrying about 5 years ago? no? exactly. it has been forgotten.. so stop worrying about things that won't matter in a week or a month or a year's time. do not give a second thought to people's opinions or judgment of you because it will all soon be forgotten anyways..
Really reflect on that. reflect on the shortness of life.. the short amount of time we have here and you will start to really focus on what matters.. you will stop focusing on frivolous matters, you;ll start enjoying your time more and directing your energy towards the things you love.
We are all one; we are all interconnected. god, nature, the universe, is all one thing - and it is everywhere, it is everything. Additionally, everything that happens, is supposed to happen. everything is harmonious. The universe is harmonious, therefore, do not act against others because if you do, you are only acting against yourself. what a great attitude to have right? Lastly, the stoic is never too early and never too late. i like that.. we should never feel rushed, that just leads to being anxious.
Whether you believe in a God or not, there is no denying this one fact - We are all a part of this world and this universe. We are all a part of this whole entire system - we are not separate from it. With that in mind, shouldn't we act in accordance with it? Shouldn't we accept that which happens to us because it is benefiting the whole in some way? We shouldn't fight and struggle against what happens to us, we should go with it. When you fight reality, when you are fighting nature, you are fighting yourself. you simply can't win that battle. lastly, take action to make your life better, but be content with the way your life is now and how it turns out.The Importance of Gratitude - Marcus Aurelius quotesWisdom for Life2018-10-31 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
"Think not so much of what thou hast not as of what thou hast: but of the things which thou hast select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought, if thou hadst them not."
1 - If you want to live a miserable life, think about all the things you don't have. Think about all the things that are lacking in your life. If you instead, appreciate what you do have. Express gratitude for those things you appreciate in your life. Consider how lucky you are to have everything you do. Your life will dramatically improve.. Do this on a daily basis for just a couple minutes. Gratitude is so powerful because what you're really doing is shifting your focus. And what you focus on grows!
Pretend that your life is over. That's it.. you're dead. Maybe it was a great journey and experience or maybe it just sucked. Either way, move forward with this mentality. Be thankful for what life granted you and live the remainder of your days paying it forward, living everyday as a gift, and living for your true purpose in life.
Marcus talks a bit about helping others in his Meditations. He stated: "Give help to all according to thy ability and their fitness. There is only one fruit of this terrene life, a pious disposition and social acts"
1 - Help others. When you help someone, 3 people benefit from it - the person you are helping, yourself, and the person who witnesses the act.
2 - Help others and don't expect anything in return. Seriously, you need to give with zero expectation of return. When you expect something in return, and you don't get it, you become resentful. You'll be better off by not expecting anything in return because it's simply not healthy to walk around feeling like the world owes you this or that. Give unconditionally. Giving makes you feel better about yourself, connects you with that person in a special way, makes the world a better place, improves the life of another, and once you improve their life a little, they might pass that new positive energy to everyone they meet. Lastly, don't go around gloating about your good deeds. nobody wants to hear about it and you will look like a bit of a fool. Nobody likes a boaster. You don't need to impress or seek approval from anyone! Do it for the sake of doing it.
As cheesy as it sounds, expressing gratitude for life and paying it forward by helping people is what makes life exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling. Gratitude and altruism improve your physical and psychological health, they open the door to more relationships, improve self-esteem, reduce aggression, improve empathy, reduce stress, and foster resilience. Help out someone when the opportunity presents itself. Just one small act a day can go a long way. And take a few minutes every day to think about what you are grateful for and what you appreciate instead of complaining. Develop an attitude of gratitude.Marcus Aurelius Meditations quotes - Being PresentWisdom for Life2018-10-15 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
Most of the time, our minds are completely consumed with thoughts of the future (usually in the form of worries) or thoughts of the past (usually in the form of regrets). We are very rarely in the present moment. Just observe your mind for a day and you will see that your mind is constantly going back and forth between past and present. The focus of this video is to help you break out of that habit because it's not serving you. It is keeping you locked in a perpetual prison of fear, anxiety and regret.
You can't control the future and you can't change the past - all you can do is BE in the moment you're in.
Focus on the present moment because that is all we will ever have!
So, how can we help break the past/future mind-set? By bringing awareness to your thoughts, by watching your mind. Constantly try and watch the way your mind operates.Marcus Aurelius Meditations quotes - ThoughtsWisdom for Life2018-10-01 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
Your habitual thoughts shape who you are, they shape your character. So, ask yourself, are your thoughts constructive or destructive? Do they build you (and others) up or do they tear you down? Do your thoughts consist of complaints about your life and reality or are they accepting of it?
Many of the greats say the same thing.. when you complain, you are resisting reality. you cannot fight what already is. Instead of complaining, either, accept it as it is, walk away from the situation if you can, or make a plan to change it if it is within your control (and then act on that plan).
There is no good or bad, there is only the opinion of something’s nature. As Shakespeare said, "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".
1 - see the opportunities and advantages in so called failure. what you can learn from it, and how to apply that learning to the next thing. 2 - keep trying even if you fail.
The failure itself is not really the problem.. it's how we are viewing failure that is the problem. when we fail, it's natural to feel like we've lost something.. it's natural to feel like we just suck. but remember, you are learning something from every single failure. Failure is how we grow, adapt, and eventually succeed.
"You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did"
Why do we care so much about other people's opinions? We are social creatures and many of us learn from an early age that we need to fit in. We don't want to be labeled as the weird or different, so we conform and try to fit in with everyone else. We simply don't want to be outcasted. It starts as a child and goes right into adulthood.
As we grow up, we also develop a self image. This self image is how we see ourselves and how we want others to see us too.
"I am not what I think I am and I am not what you think I am; I am what I think that you think I am". Charles H. Cooley
Constantly trying to validate your ideal self image through the opinions of others is a doomed practice. You are basically handing over your self-worth to someone else.
"Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner" Lao Tzu
Don’t waste time thinking about the opinions of others. Here are some reasons why:
1 - When you are living your life based on others opinions of you, you’re giving up your own authentic inner voice. You’re not being your true self and not living to your potential. You won’t be happy living a life dictated by other people.
2 – People who live by their inner voice are leaders. Those that don’t are followers. Followers are never the first to do something of importance.
3 – You will be more respected for being your own person and upholding your values, opinions, and morals. Someone won’t agree with your opinion no matter what it is, so why not express your real one?
4 – You will respect yourself more. If you live by your terms, you will have a higher level of respect and self confidence.
5 – When you are not putting your values first, you’re not developing yourself or really doing any good. The world doesn’t need more yes men. Pursue your own agenda. Go after your dreams and don’t worry how it will be perceived.
6 – People who are guided by their own voice in the face of objection change the world. Inventors, visionaries, and creatives of all kinds are shunned and told they don’t know what they are talking about all the time! But they still do it and they change the world. Need examples of outcasts and people who stood up for their beliefs even when everyone was against them? Galileo, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, Robert Oppenheimer, Vincent VanGogh, and Edgar Allen Poe.
7 – It’s empowering! When you are true to yourself, you feel like you can do anything.
8 – People will always judge you and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.
9 – Most people don’t care what you are doing anyway. They don’t care because they are too wrapped up in their own drama. They are probably too worried thinking about what people think of them. Want proof? What’s the first think you look at when you look at a group photo? Probably yourself, right? People in social situations are the same way. They are focusing on themselves, not you.Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Dealing with Other PeopleWisdom for Life2018-08-28 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
1 - Treat others with respect, be modest, kind disposition 2 - Do not be disturbed by others - you choose to react 3 - Respond/react peacefully and with kindness 4 - Be genuine, help them, and show them the way 5 - Avoid flattering men and being vied at them 6 - Be open and willing to listen 7 - Don't become defensive, be more understanding 8 - Don't take attacks personally
I think we can all agree that our lives are overly complex and way way too busy.. We are trying to do too much... when in reality, only a few essential tasks really need to be done in order to meet our wants, needs and goals… The rest is just filler, busy work, and just a waste of our most precious commodity - time! we are over stimulated and if you want to start being relaxed and less anxious all the time, you need to simplify your life.
1 – Remove unnecessary acts and thoughts from your life. If it doesn’t have a good purpose, then why are you wasting your time with it? 2 – Always seek the easiest, most effortless path. Be like a river – it flows and follows the least path of resistance.
Practical tips: 1 - Identify your most important tasks 2 - Identify essential vs non essential tasks 3 - Focus on 1 thing at a time 4 - Manage e mail and internet time 5 - De-clutter your spaceMarcus Aurelius Meditations Quotes on AcceptanceWisdom for Life2018-08-14 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
Acceptance of situation - It's not the event that causes you suffering.. it's your reaction to it - and I will illustrate this quickly.. Let's say you're driving down the road and you get a flat tire.. You have two types of people - one will change the tire, and move on. The other will whine and complain and fight the reality of the situation for 15 minutes..they will blame the road or someone else or their bad luck.. and then they will change the tire. You see, fighting reality did nothing. Complaining solves nothing. You can either change it, leave the situation if possible, or accept it.
Analyze the emotion, try and understand why you are feeling that way, what event led you to think the way you are thinking? Try and see that it's your thinking that caused it. Is it warranted? Is it worth the time and energy? There is nothing wrong with being emotional when it is warranted, but most of the time we create unnecessary drama.
Your mind creates an illusion... if you interpret what someone says to you the wrong way, your mind creates the back story and the sense of being irritated or angry. If you can't analyze, then the next best thing to do is to accept the feeling.. let it be there without fighting it. Without resisting it.Marcus Aurelius Meditations summary - PurposeWisdom for Life2018-08-09 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
Victor Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning Summary - Must Watch - youtu.be/SVhuCpgLCTE
Stoics are big believers in living by your beliefs and values, no matter what.. because at the end of the day, that's what defines you... not what's happened to you, not how much money you have, but how you've responded to those challenges that test you in life. so i'm going to talk about that. i'm also going to talk about purpose. stoics are not lackadaisical as some tend to believe.. they don't just idly sit by. they have plans, purpose, and meaning in their life.
1 – Always speak the truth. Being truthful is so much easier. additionally, stick to your values and do not be easily swayed. There is nothing stopping you from living by your values, like benevolence, courage, kindness, authenticity, etc. right now. and no matter what happens to you, always live by your values.. if you don't, then what are you?
2 – Whatever your purpose, it should be to serve the common interest somehow. If you do that, things will flow happily for you. Are you in service or are you out of service?
3 - Follow your passion, your calling, the thing which you love doing.
4 – Ask yourself - is what I’m doing (and thinking) right now helping me fulfill my purpose? Life is short, so stop wasting your time and focus on what’s important.
5 - What is success to you? Do you think it is fame and praise? No, it is not. Fame and praise are absolutely pointless. Do you think it is owning lots of stuff? again, no. success is doing what you love, pursuing your dreams, and being happyMarcus Aurelius Meditations Animated SummaryWisdom for Life2018-07-29 | Meditations by Marcus Aurelius summary and quotes: wisdom-for-life.com/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-life-lessons
Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism - Part 1 What is stoicism? in a nutshell, the main theme of stoicism - to understand what is under my control and what's not?
- can control my reactions, my emotions, living by your virtues and doing the right thing
- can't control external events (cutting you off), illness - you can try and be healthy, but you may still get sick or get an injury, and so on, you can't control fame, reputation, what people think of you, and so on.. you can't control most outside events..
You can only really control one thing - your own reaction to the things that happen to you. that's it.
You have to accept what's out of your control, have the courage to change the things you can, and know which is which.
Beyond that, stoics are also big on trying to understand their emotions. they analyze emotions and understand that emotions are based on beliefs (sometimes false beliefs) and expectations. they don't become the emotion.. they think about the thinking that created that emotion.
Conform to reality rather than have reality conform to their desires.
They love to turn tragedy into triumph .. they turn adversity into advantage.Dealing with CriticismWisdom for Life2018-07-28 | Dealing with criticism - constructive criticism and destructive criticism
There is only one way to avoid criticism - do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. Aristotle How to deal with criticism - both constructive criticism and negative criticism. I not only cover receiving criticism, but also giving criticism.
Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do and damned if you don't. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Focus on the positive Don't dwell on negative thoughts Do not complain or blame Don't take criticism personally.
Check out my blog - wisdom-for-life.comTerrence McKenna - Go it AloneWisdom for Life2018-02-06 | Terrence McKenna speaks about trusting yourself and going it alone.
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Email wisdomforlife at gmail dot com
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
1.) This video has no negative impact on the original works
2.) This video is also for teaching purposes.
3.) It is not transformative in nature.
4.) I only used bits and pieces of videos to get the point across where necessary.Terence McKenna s Final InterviewWisdom for Life2018-02-06 | Wise words from Terrence McKenna! This guy is on another level.
Wisdom for Life does not own the rights to these video clips. They have, in accordance with fair use, been repurposed with the intent of educating and inspiring others. However, if any content owners would like their images removed, please contact us by
Email wisdomforlife at gmail dot com
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
1.) This video has no negative impact on the original works
2.) This video is also for teaching purposes.
3.) It is not transformative in nature.Almost Got Scammed $5,000 - Craigslist Babysitter ScamWisdom for Life2018-01-18 | Craigslist Babysitter Nanny Scam - Don't get scammed on Craigslist.
My wife has been using Craigslist to find some side jobs lately and she applied for a babysitting gig. She replied to this short Craigslist add:
"I'm seeking a good reliable somebody to work 4-5 hours daily Monday through Friday...Duties are:- light cleaning, babysitting and run domestic errands like shopping groceries. Pay-$375 per week."
Quick summary on how the babysitter/nanny scam works:
1 – They are out of town and will be moving to your town soon. 2 – They hire without any kind of interview whatsoever. 3 – They send you a check for the first week's salary and it is way more than expected. 4 – They ask you to deposit the check into your account and then tell you to send the excess cash to a third party for rent/renovation/etc. (spoiler – it's really just going back to them). 5 – Several weeks later the bank informs you that the check is fraudulent. The bank will then deduct the amount of the check from your account or otherwise seek repayment from you.
Bottom line, never, ever accept a cashier's check from someone on Craigslist.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or file an electronic complaint via their Internet site at http://www.ftc.gov.
Internet-based scams can be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov.