You only live once.

Essential elements of a life well-lived:
Seek truth over validation:

It is far more damning to persist in ignorance than to admit when you're wrong.

Time spent searching for truth – as opposed to validation of currently held beliefs – is never wasted.

True wisdom is the product of allowing your mind to be changed.
Value knowledge over possessions:

Striving for the accumulation of "things" is futile.

Possesions get lost, thrown away, deteriorate, & lose importance.

Far more meaning is derived through the acquisition of knowledge & experiences.

Cherish that which creates memories.
Spend time in the service of others:

Altruism is contagious.

Studies have shown that when we witness acts of kindness, it has a rippling effect.

Kindness spreads.

Each day, make an effort to do something for someone else without the expectation of anything in return.
Understand life is fluid:

Opinions, thoughts, circumstances, all come and go with time.

What is important to you today often becomes irrelevant tomorrow.

You will change and so will those around you.

People who can adapt to the natural ebbs & flows of life win.
Desire to be challenged.

Strength is born out of struggle.

When faced with difficulty, the path of least resistance tends to be the easiest for a reason.

It's the road that's been traveled by everyone else.

•Push through
•Do what others won't
•Find strength in adversity
Focus forward:

Waste no time looking backward.

Set your sights toward the future and what is possible as opposed to what's behind you and cannot be undone.

What "could have been" matters less than what "could be."
Believe in the impossible:

Prior to 1954, no one had run a sub-4-minute mile.

On May 6th of that year, Roger Bannister did just that.

Once the psychological barrier was broken, 9 more runners recorded a sub 4 time in the next 2 years.

Hasn't been done ≠ Can't be done.
Come up for air:

Pause.
Breathe.
Let time pass.

In the heat of the moment, we tend to make irrational, emotion-fueled decisions.

Allow space to assess your feelings, weigh your options, and seek guidance from others.

Choices are only as good as the thought given to them.
Choose your lens:

Life is all about framing.

How we choose to look at things has a direct impact on how we respond.

The "frame" of meaning we ascribe to any specific circumstance, can dramatically alter our experience.

Think glass half empty or half full.

Choose full.
Calm your mind:

Sometimes the best thing you can do is be still.

Prayer
Meditation
Time spent in reflection

Bringing peace to your mind improves your health, aids in cognitive function, & gives clarity to complex situations.

Have faith - A higher power than you is in control.
Exceed expectations:

Additional effort rarely goes unnoticed.

When you do more than what is expected you inherently stand out from the crowd.

In addition to setting yourself apart, you also set a benchmark for those around you.

Never underestimate the impact of extra.
See the world:

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, & die...

It can introduce the idea that if we try & understand each other, we may even become friends.”

– Maya Angelou
Leave things better than you found them:

Add value.

This applies to all areas of our lives.

Work, relationships, our environment as a whole...

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” - Greek Proverb
Health:

It's your body and your mind and you only get one of each.

Take time to nourish both.

In the pursuit of success, our physical & mental health can sometimes take a back seat.

Be wary of pushing so hard toward the future you fail to take care of yourself in the present.
Practice gratitude:

Take nothing and no one for granted.

Don't assume people know you're grateful for what they've done for you.

Say it.
Make damn sure.

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

– Epictetus
Look for the good:

Give people the benefit of the doubt.

Every person has their own story, their own struggles, their own set of circumstances.

Assume they're doing their best.

Criticism & judgment rarely lead to positive outcomes.
Love:

Tell people you love them.

Every day.

Love them not because they've changed into what you want them to be, but love them for who they are.

In spite of their faults, their past, or missteps they may have made...

Love them anyway.

As they love you in spite of yours.
I'm thankful for you.

Follow me @blakeaburge for more threads on life, business, & building a better you.

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More from @blakeaburge

22 Nov
7 of the most amazing places on earth. 🧵
Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe:

Location: Le Puy-en-Velay, France

Constructed in 969 on top of a volcanic plug...

This Catholic chapel can only be entered by scaling the 268 steps carved into the rock.

Built without the aid of modern machinery, it is a marvel of human capability.
Son Doong Cave:

Location: Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

The largest known cave passage in the world by volume.

How big is it? 5.6 mi long, 660 ft tall, & 490 ft wide.

Per an article in Conde Naste Traveler, an entire New York block – including skyscrapers – could fit inside.
Read 11 tweets
20 Nov
Time can teach you many things a classroom can't.

10 things I'd tell myself 20 years ago if I could: 🧵
Learn to sell yourself.

There's a fine line between arrogance & confidence.

That said, don't be afraid to let people know what you bring to the table.

If you're not willing to sell yourself, don't expect anyone else to be willing to buy.
Say "I don't know."

When you're young, admitting you don't understand something feels like failure.

As you age you realize this couldn't be further from the truth.

You'll earn more respect admitting where your knowledge lacks, than pretending to understand things you don't.
Read 13 tweets
15 Nov
15 Quotes to start your week off right.🧵
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”

– Ayn Rand
“If Joan of Arc could turn the tide of an entire war before her 18th birthday, you can get out of bed.”

— E. Jean Carroll
Read 18 tweets
13 Nov
Reddit has 430 Million monthly users.

It's the 7th most visited site in the US & 19th in the world.

It'd be nice if you knew how to use it.

Here's Reddit 101: 🧵
First: What is Reddit?

Billed as "the front page of the internet" – Reddit is a melting pot of many things...

•Forum
•Social network
•News aggregator & more

Even for experienced users, It's tough to know where to begin.

Read on...
Do you need an account?

That depends.

If you're window-shopping and not quite ready to dive into the comments or post your own content, the answer is no.

On the other hand, if you're ready to up the ante & get involved, you'll need an account for that.

Super Simple:
Read 12 tweets
10 Nov
7 principles that will make you appear (and become) more intelligent today: 🧵
7/11 Rule:

Studies have shown that people make 11 assumptions about you within the first 7 seconds of interaction.

Things like:

•Economic status
•Percieved intelligence
•Trustworthiness & more.

The point is – first impressions matter.

Be confident, authentic, & honest.
Speak with authority & emotion:

Ever been in a room where two people say the same thing, yet one gets all the credit?

Here's why.

People who speak with authority & emotion are judged as being more intelligent.

Our brain says, "this person knows what they're talking about!"
Read 10 tweets
7 Nov
"Get busy living or get busy dying"

15 thoughts on living the life you were meant to live: 🧵
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

– Helen Keller
“I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, “aw shit, he’s up!”

– Steve Maraboli
Read 19 tweets

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