Throughout my years seeking wisdom, I have come across very interesting people. People you would normally point out as empty turn out to be insightful. I guess that’s why they always say, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Today I want to share with you a precious piece of advice from 4 individuals, each one of them living their life in a different decade.
Wisdom in your 20s:
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle behind the scenes.”
I’m never going to forget several moments in my life where I thought, “I would’ve never imagined they are going through that.” This goes to show how easily we tend to measure people by our interactions with them, but fail to recognize the factors that we don’t see. Be graceful with the people you meet because you may never know what their circumstances may look like.
Wisdom in your 30s:
“Don’t get lost in the process, remember it’s all about the end result.”
This phrase always reminds me about the power of purpose and how important it is to look deep within you to find your goal in life. Sometimes life will throw curve balls at us, challenges that seem impossible at that moment and circumstances that seem unbearable. If we remember why we are here, the process will become transitory, a means to an end, a path to happiness. This is not an invitation to justify rightful unethical behavior, this is a message of encouragement to keep pushing through the ordinary to reach the extraordinary.
Wisdom in your 40s:
“Success is something you attract by the person you become.”
Although I later discovered this is a quote by the great Jim Rohn, the first time I heard it, I couldn’t stop repeating it in my mind. Think about this quote for a moment with me. We attract success by the person we become, meaning, not by the person we are now, but by the person we will be tomorrow. This sentence implies continued growth and that is why it’s so special, because it requires our constant effort in becoming who we are.
Wisdom in your 50s:
“Be persistent, patient and listen to people.”
The first time I heard this sentence I was getting ready to graduate from college. At that point in time I was preparing mentally for not only a big mental shift, but also a geographical one. This quote reminds me about the importance of discipline as a vehicle of persistent coordinated action, and of love as a method of patience and empathy towards those around you. Be kind to those around you by listening to them with full intention to understand their feelings.
Look around for the people you do life with, what can you learn from them? Also, please let me know if you would like more wisdom from different decades. I have met some pretty insightful 8-year old children that I know would like to share some wisdom with us.