In honor of my birthday today, I wanted to share these life lessons; my life’s biggest shifts in perception.
Each of these could most certainly be its own post (and perhaps will be in the future!) or perhaps even an entire book.
My List of 38 Life Lessons
1. You are not your thoughts. If you were, you couldn’t observe them.
2. What you ask is infinitely more powerful than what you say.
3. Everyone does his/her best. All the time. No exceptions.
4. Responsibility and blame are two very different things.
Watch Your “Shoulds”
5. Your fantasies about how people should be will hurt you. Kill the fantasies.
Kill the fantasy of who you think someone should be.
6. Forgiveness isn’t about letting someone off the hook—it’s about letting yourself out of your own cage.
7. It’s impossible to “get even.” Stop keeping score.
8. Giving and receiving are equally divine. Anyone who tells you otherwise wants something from you. Let go of your guilt and be a good receiver.
9. Acceptance is about peace in your life, not resigning yourself to negativity.
You’ve Got This
10. You can handle the worst case scenario. You have in the past. Chill.
11. You are offended when someone says or does something that gives you evidence for your negative self-talk.
12. Be curious. Listen. And if you don’t get it, ask more questions.
13. Shame is by far the most powerful emotion that has people living lives they don’t want. If your major life decisions are based on what you’re avoiding (rather than what you truly want), it’s time to re-evaluate.
14. Guilt is a close second.
15. Happiness is about peace and contentment, not euphoria.
Peace Is The Way
16. Living a peaceful life is seriously underrated. Living peacefully does not mean you lose drive—in fact, by letting go the negative emotions that “keep you motivated,” you are more powerful and have more energy.
17. We re-create what is comfortable, not necessarily what is healthy.
18. Only dogs love unconditionally.
Ginger agrees that only dogs love unconditionally.
19. The most powerful forces in the world are your beliefs about it.
20. “Abuse” is a perspective, and not the healthiest one. You are only a victim as long as you want to be.
21. Dark Chocolate Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups are the greatest creation known to man.
22. No emotional scar is permanent. It can all be undone. You can let go.
Let Go
23. People will only improve their lives when they want to. Stop trying to make the horse drink the water.
24. The truth really will set you free.
25. Nothing is that serious. Seriously.
26. We’re all made of the same stuff. You have much more in common with people you see every day than you think. Chimpanzees, too.
27. Be here now. Everything else is just a thought.
28. Random acts of kindness are best when no one finds out it was you.
29. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is a choice.
Reframe: Life Lesson #30
30. No task is unpleasant. Only the way you think about it is. Reframe.
31. You are your own biggest obstacle. Only your thinking gets in your way. Don’t be afraid of introspection. You’re just human.
32. Asking for help is much braver than denial.
Yum!
33. There are few things in life more wonderful than a glass of red wine. Except maybe two glasses.
34. Talking is not the same as communicating.
35. You really are what you eat. Eat real food.
36. Your worst life experience might just be the thing to put you on your path.
37. Have stuff. Do not possess it and let it become your identity. Everything is borrowed anyway—including your body.
38. Gratitude helps fill feelings of emptiness. Be grateful.
How About You?
What were your biggest shifts in perception?
Paul Strobl, MBA, CPC
Owner of Confide Coaching, LLC
Paul is a Master Life Coach for GenX and GenY executives and business owners. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has been location independent for most of his adult life. He currently resides in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria near the Greek border with his brilliant wife, 13-year-old stepson (officially adopted in 2021!) and a Posavac Hound rescue.
