Act like the person you want to be, then you will begin to gain those characteristics. If you want to be an honest person, someone with integrity, then act like that. Envision an avatar of the person who displays the characteristics that you value most. Then, ask yourself, is this what that person would do?
Tag: philosophy
Taking Action: The cure to fear
Action cures fear. The more you do, the less you fear. Don’t spend time thinking or overthinking about a worst-case scenario of something that has not happened and is not likely to happen.
If there are major consequences to your actions, take the time to think about the best way to approach the situation. Be serious and focused, do your research, read, talk with experts, get advice. But eventually, you have to make a decision with the information at hand. At that point, give yourself grace no matter the outcome. You did everything you could and were thoughtful in your approach.
If there are NOT major consequences to your decision, stop wasting time worrying about it. Time spent worrying is time taken away from enjoying life.
Excuses and complaints
Don’t make excuses. Don’t catch yourself complaining to others or to yourself. You may get sympathy from others when you complain, but wouldn’t you rather have their respect? You’ll never gain somebody’s respect by complaining. Deal with the situation and move on. Don’t be the victim.
Bitterness and holding grudges
Never wish ill will on anybody. Don’t hold grudges. Be positive. If someone wronged you in years past, forgive them. Wishing them unhappiness means that you still have bitterness in your heart. Let it go. You will be happier for it.
Reading vs experiencing
Reading about something is not the same as experiencing it. A lot can be learned from reading, so this is not trying to discredit reading at all. But being a part of something/experiencing it is completely different than looking at it from the outside-in.
For example, I can read about D-Day, but I will never know what a soldier experienced during that battle. Or I can read about Yellowstone National Park is, but I can only imagine what it’s like to see it in person.
Read often and read broadly. It’s nice to have a good knowledge base of many subjects. But be humble enough to know that just because you’ve read about something doesn’t mean that you truly understand it. Go experience things as often as you can. When it comes to trying something new or going somewhere you’ve never been before, say yes. Because there is no substitute for experience.