From Andy Murphy

Thanks to Joseph Dragone

1. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts”

For when I have peaceful thoughts, I’m more open and compassionate. When I have angry thoughts, I’m more closed and irritable.

2. “You have power over your mind — not outside events”

Viktor Frankl famously said:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

“Realise this,” Marcus Aurelius added, “and you will find strength.”

3. “Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?”

Carl Jung came to a similar conclusion: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

This is when the blame game stops and honest self-reflection starts. I’ve found it’s also where enormous growth lies.

4. “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact”

And… “Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

Our minds are coloured by how we were raised, the values and beliefs that were instilled in us, and our life experiences. But that’s only a fraction of the story.

There are billions of versions of the truth because each life is unique.

It took me a long time to realise that it’s much better to choose compassion and curiosity than it is to be “right”.

Because what is right, anyway?

5. “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury”

Most things aren’t worth the energy they need to fight back.

The best revenge I can think of is to rise above the noise and settle into a peaceful heart.

6. “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live”

For if a good life has been lived, there’s nothing to fear or regret.

It is only those who hold back or wait until tomorrow that end up on their deathbed feeling like they missed something.

7. “Understand that your time has a limit set to it”

It has been said that “the gods envy us” because we’re mortal, because any moment could be our last, and because we are doomed. This, the theory suggests, makes everything in life more beautiful.

It also makes me less complacent and more appreciative of what I have. So whether true or not, it’s hard not to see the value in it.

8. “Love the human race. Follow the divine”

The real gold comes when the divine is seen within ourselves and every other living being. Then only love pours from our hearts and invites others to do the same.

9. “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself“

That seems like a pretty good place to end.