“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Jonathan Figaro on lessons learned in life.
Jonathan is the author of the blog, TheDropOutKid.com. If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we each have to figure out the game of life.
Without further ado, here’s Jonathan on lessons learned in life …
Lesson 1 – Live your own life.
So many people are told how to live their lives. Every book in self help, self improvement or personal advancement seems to be about how to make you think and act differently. With aspects such as this combined with all the advertisements telling you who to be and how to act, it’s no wonder why so many people are confused. I was confused also and here is what I did. I asked myself what life I wanted to live. It became very detailed and evolved during the past few years. I then asked myself, whether I was willing to pay the price for what I want. Yes, I was willing to pay the price, and then I started to work towards it even though I didn’t know exactly how to go about it. Along the way, I learned that the how doesn’t matter when your desire to achieve is greater than your doubt.
Lesson 2 – Believe in yourself.
We all have heard this cliché. None the less, this is the starting point of all successes. One of the hardest things for me to overcome was to believe that I could become a New York Times Best Selling author (e-book on the way guys). I’ve pushed my doubt aside and focused on what I want to achieve. I’m still learning and growing but success starts with a belief. Start to believe in yours.
Lesson 3 – Love yourself and all that mushy stuff.
This is not something I enjoy talking about. I guess I’m too * manly for this* but the premise is, if you don’t love yourself no one else will. In my younger days (I’m only 22 now…LOL) I sought appreciation in all those around me. I learned you have to love yourself if you want to give it away.
Lesson 4. Time is precious.
While I was writing my e-book, I did one thing which I kind of regret now. I isolated myself from the rest of the world for long periods of time, at a clip. All I wanted to do was create my masterpiece. I regret all the times that I skipped the chances for get-togethers and events. My lesson here is, enjoy the moment, balance out your life, and spend your time where it’s precious. There are some things money just can’t buy.
Lesson 5. Don’t lose the one that cares about you the most.
We all have stories of the one that got away. I had my chance and I lost it. She would call me even when I didn’t have a dime to my name. I hear she’s married now and doing very well for herself. My lesson here is, don’t get so involved in your dreams that you forget about those who care about you the most.
Lesson 6. Family first.
I didn’t always have friends and family high on my priorities. I used my business as a scape goat and I spend my time in a forest of self-deceit. Eventually I learned that money, cars, and fame mean nothing, compared to friends and family. My first priority now is to take care of my family. It’s all too easy to fall for the trap of chasing desires and obsessions. only to look back and ask, where did all your precious time go? Then the next thing you know, you lose somebody close to you and life starts to hit you a bit harder than just corporate documents and copy righting expenses. I learned success is about being happy and successful, but also keeping close ties with your friends and family. No matter how hard you work or how big you get, keep your friends close, and family closer.
Lesson 7. Close yourself off from the world.
We all need time to reflect. I used to run around looking for peace and seeking happiness in the lips of my girlfriend, or hanging with my homies. Then I started to meditate and my world began to change. My thoughts began to flow in a better way. I was no longer stressed. My writing was liberated and I felt like a Zen master, in control of my destiny, but rolling with the punches. I found another route to peace and self-mastery, from the inside out.
Lesson 8. Live every day like it’s your last.
I remember there was this girl I liked a lot. It felt almost too good to be true. When I had the chance to kiss her, fear held me back. After that, she didn’t talk to me anymore. She ended up thinking I didn’t like her. To this day, I’ve regretted how I let fear of rejection hold me back.
I’ve played these questions over in my mind …
- What if she was the one for me? And now she’s gone forever?
- What if she passed away and I never got to tell her how much I still love her?
- What if she could be my wife?
Life is short. We have to take our chances. You know the saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Well it’s true. My lesson here is … Live everyday like it is your last. Take hold of every opportunity and make it count. Sure you’ll make mistakes along the way, but it’s the chances that you let slip through your fingers that you’ll regret the most.
