The key to our problems were always at the hands of philosophers.
Recline your seat, grab your popcorn, and put your frames on; we are about to read a serious life-changing blog. Dear audience, before we begin you will see some tea splashing around; don’t duck, remember that it’s not sugar-coated.
Since the 7th century BCE, philosophers have enriched our mindset; providing an in-depth understanding of life. Allowing the common man to inherit an alternative perspective towards life, leading to change.
Talking about change, that is what we are going to be doing this year. Let’s go over the 5 best quotes to achieve the self-development that we desire.
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Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent — Ludwig Wittgenstein
To be honest, we speak more than we know even when we know it. Take this into consideration when you double-guess why you are always in a feud. Wittgenstein was clear with this statement: when you do not know about a topic, stay shut.
Go into 2021 with this mindset, avoid speaking of things that you are not well informed of, and watch your relationships flourish.
Take this into consideration. If you do not know much about politics do not speak about it with your political nerd friends, it will not end well. When you do not know about history, do not debate about it.
Talk only of what you know, it will save you so much time.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit — Aristotle
Going into this new year, we are all looking to form new habits. In a manner, we want to become an improved version of ourselves.
Like the saying you are what you eat, we are what we do. Simple as that.
If you want to be better, you do not have to do a single action; you have to make habits that form that new version of yourself. When you accomplish this, you will unconsciously be attaining your goals as the habits are integrated into your routine.
To get an in-depth understanding of this, I recommend that you read Atomic Habits by James Clear. It will guide you through the process of breaking bad habits and forming new life-changing ones.
The mind is furnished with ideas by experience alone — John Locke
Think of this, how did you acquire your ideas? Was there a certain experience that led you to think the way you do? Was there a certain person that influenced you? What experiences shaped you?
A lot of what we are has to do with our environment; we are conditioned to be influenced by the things around us.
If you think a bit deeper, you think the way that you do because of what you have experienced. For instance, if you have a conflict with someone you will associate the people that resemble that person with the problem. I think this is where racism comes from? What do you think?
Now, if you want to change how you think it is simple. You have to trace the idea back to its root; think about what caused you to think like that and how you can change that.
All that it takes is to see the experience from a different perspective.
I would recommend for you to create a journal, that single habit has allowed me to uncover so many bits and pieces of myself than ever before. You don’t have to do it extensively, just unwinding about your day is enough.
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself — Leo Tolstoy
This one is life-changing to me, I always thought that I had to change the world. I felt like I had to offer something, and often I forgot about myself and my needs.
As citizens of this world, we tend to think more about everyone than ourselves. But in all honesty, we need to think about ourselves more; thinking about you is not selfish, it’s called self-care.
Think of it this way, if you do not take care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health what are you going to offer to the world? What exactly are you going to change if you are broken?
First, think about yourself, give order to your life, and protect yourself. Then, at that moment you can aid others.
The moment that you become strong, you become a pillar for humanity.
Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings — Salvador Dali
Intelligence does not shape your rate of success, if you do not act upon your dreams you will never fly.
You can be as smart as you want but without ambition an idiot with a plan will pass right by you.
Let 2021 be the year that you get your self together and act, do not let those dreams, goals, and affirmations go unnoticed. Think of what you want and make a plan; plan how you will get there and how long it will take you.
Do not lose sight of where you want to go, always remember that you will obtain all that you want at the right moment.
Just act, do it.
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Change is at the palm of our hands, we just have to think about what we want to do and who we want to become. Writing this, I learned just as much as you did. Take a moment and be grateful, we made it to 2021.
If you have any quotes that have changed you, please share them in the comments. Let this be a learning environment.
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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Photo credit: Anna Gru on Unsplash