There are many lists.
We all like to have a to-do list, a shopping list, or a list of actions to take to achieve a particular outcome or result.
But are there really just three actions that can shape and improve each person’s life?
One of the first things we can do right away, and adopt as our first motto, is: “Treat people the way you’d like to be treated.” I don’t think there’s anything older than that. And the amount of wisdom contained in this short phrase could resolve many of the problems we see every day—from those we witness in the daily news to the most mundane situations—which could be completely transformed, and many instances of pain and suffering entirely avoided.
“Treat others well on your way up, because you may need them on your way down.” We all experience ups and downs throughout our lives. We may think we’re immune to many situations and that we have some financial “breathing room,” for example, but we increasingly realize that life isn’t as we idealize it, but as it actually is. It’s not inevitable, but certainly not all of our situations are predictable. In fact, most of them are actually a real surprise. And of course, it’s not just adversities that come as a surprise. There are situations we wouldn’t expect that manifest in our lives and turn out to be absolute blessings. How often, from a less-than-ideal situation in our lives, do we see that later on we are presented with, or that something positive appears or emerges from that less-than-ideal episode? How many of us, when analyzing more objectively a particular episode we considered harmful, realize that that very episode helped us avoid a more serious situation, or led us to seek an alternative to what we previously took for granted, and that this alternative turned out to be an advantage over the approach we previously thought was the best possible?
And the third simple piece of advice we can take to heart in our lives can be summed up in the following phrase: “It’s good to be important, but it’s more important to be good.” If we are responsible for our own self-determination, you will find a way to achieve it. By not comparing yourself to others, nor blaming others for your situation or your “fortune,” you gain a sense of responsibility and a presence in the here and now, not allowing the past to have the greatest influence, because that no longer matters. If something from the past brought you “here” and if you made certain decisions that led to setbacks, it’s important now to look at what you have in the moment and take the reins, doing the best you can with what you know and what you can change and choose.
These three simple rules, though very straightforward, end up being very difficult to follow. Not because they’re complex, or even incomprehensible, but because we’re always quick to blame others, or the situation we find ourselves in, for the life we lead, and we don’t look at what we can actually do differently, or how we can view the present in a more conscious and responsible way. Whether for others or for ourselves.
I hope you enjoyed this little reflection of mine today.
Take care, and see you tomorrow.
Image by IDarca from Pixabay
Original text written by 
