- Don’t take advice from people you wouldn’t want to end up like.
- If they’ll do it to someone else, they’ll do it to you.
- Tell the truth, most if not, all darkness comes to light anyway.
- You do not have the power, and shouldn’t try, to change anyone.
- No one else can rescue you.
- You are the most powerful person in your life.
- Show me who your friends are and I’ll show you who you are.
- Forgiveness is a selfish gift.
- Forgiveness is not the acceptance of continued bad behavior.
- Being a victim is a choice.
- Love doesn’t hurt.
- Your ego will rob you of all joy if you let it run unchecked.
- In any situation, you can always choose peace.
- This life is not a dress rehearsal.
- The quality of a relationship is as good as the parties’ communication abilities.
- Anything is possible.
- Stay away from people who cause you harm.
- When it comes to children, what they see is what you get.
- Children see everything, even what you hide.
- Take the time to examine why you do what you do.
- The purpose of your life lies in your heart’s desires.
- You are your best and worst friend, the choice is yours.
- People tell you their story, not yours.
- Upsets that won’t matter in an hour, day or month don’t matter now.
- All human response is love or a cry for it.
- Loving and forgiving the world does not mean absolving them of accountability or responsibility.
- Take care of yourself.
- Good for you and easy, comfortable, or risk-free are rarely synonymous.
- No one, other than you, can or will complete you.
- You are the knight in shining armor.
- There is no something for nothing, no free ride, no easy street. Â Every situation demands something from you.
- Fear is a warden eager to imprison you for life, but you give him the key.
- Your days are numbered.
- Opportunities do not exist in the past or future.
- Nothing has power over you, without your agreement.
- A man who leads, protects, and provides is always sexy.
- A woman who knows how to encourage, receive, create and revel in her beauty is always sexy.
- The value of money lies in what it can do for you.
- Prevention of problems is easier, more efficient, cheaper and less stressful than curing them.
- Be the person you admire.
- It takes a champion to say: I was wrong, thank you, I’m sorry, and I love you.
- A parent’s job is to raise self-reliant, secure and empowered children.
- Eliminating the habits that stand between you and your good is a #1 priority.
- You must know when and how to say, “No.”
- Count your blessings, not your troubles.
- “They,” don’t exist. Stop living for them.
- Age is a number independent of emotional maturity and physical ability.
- We all have a last-minute, don’t wait for it to do what you’ve always dreamed of.
- Even if you aren’t (yet) aware of it, there is a solution to every problem.
- Repressed negative feelings don’t go away, they magnify and transform, find safe spaces to express them.
- The height of ignorance is believing that oneself knows everything, most everything or often even anything.
- The words “I don’t know,” signal the beginning of wisdom.
- Casual sex is an oxymoron.
- Self-actualization is being independent of the good (or bad) opinion of others. Â (Maslow)
- Listen to the aches of your heart, they are sacred.
- You will never harm another without harming yourself.
- Hope never dies.
- Life follows belief.
- Beliefs can be chosen and changed.
- You are (fill in the blank) enough. Â Go live.
- Know where you’re settling for less than you want and why.
- Don’t settle for less.
- Never check your common sense at the door.
- Improving the world begins with you.
- Success is a daily choice.
- Life conspires to help those who help themselves.
- The past is over.
- When you’ve done all you can, let go.
- People facing an untimely death only ask for two things: more time and more love.
- The value of a relationship is in its substance, not it’s title.
- You are your primary parent, protector, advocate, and caregiver.
- Anticipation is worse than the thing anticipated.
- You are rich, right now.
- Some things we can’t get over, only through.
- Light always follows darkness.
- In the darkness, we learn the beauty and value of light.
- The people who are the hardest to love, need it the most. Â (Peaceful Warrior)
- Your actions, or inactions, show people who you are and how you feel about them.
- Never stop chasing your woman.
- A woman must know how to provide for all of her needs and how to let someone else provide for them, too.
- Standing aside and allowing a man to be a man is a priceless gift.
- Connect with your spiritual source every day.
- Eat plants, drink water and move your body.
- Be willing to help and be open to being helped.
- Giving and receiving are as interdependent and inhaling and exhaling.
- Begin to improve life by working on one area at a time. Â Rising tides lift all boats.
- Often the very thing we’re holding onto is the thing blocking our good.
- Letting go doesn’t mean giving up.
- Fires don’t burn without fuel.
- Only love survives.
- What others think of you is none of your business.
- What you are seeking is seeking you.
- Fulfilling your heart’s desire serves the world.
- Whatever has occurred, you can always begin again.
- Every negative experience can be used for good.
- Emotional walls of defense do nothing to protect from harm, they just keep out the present joy.
- Change follows focus.
- Don’t run from what you do not want; run to what you do want.
- Learn to delay gratification.
- If not now, when? Â Someday isn’t coming.
- What good is wisdom without application?
~ Cynthia
Perfect and thank you. I will be putting alot of thought into this and sharing it with two of my best friends. I know there will be long discussions over tea or wine. I truly thank you for so much to think about.
Well, Nicki, how was the tea or wine discussion? I’m wondering which beverage makes the list more meaningful. Hopefully, it’s the tea. 🙂
Woo! Cynthia! This is great! Thank you for always making me THINK!
Thanks for taking the time to read it Tiye!
What a great list! It is clear that a lot of life experience is contained in those nuggets of wisdom. Your life to date, and your life's story, should be an inspiration to all.
Thank you, Gary.
#5 – Do I smell buddhist influences? 🙂
#11 – Oh, it's so easy to think otherwise.
#23 – Funny AND true.
#40 – I just love this one!
#41 – "Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong" (Ghandi)
#46 – If only more people would understand this…
#64 – From a certain point of view, it begins and ends with you.
#86 – I've always felt that improving in one area provides you with an overall improvement of yourself.
Thanks, I enjoyed reading this post 🙂
Hello Mihai!
You seem quite fluent in the wisdom of this list. Is that so? and are you living a life you enjoy? I hope so.
Cynthia
In answer to your question……tea, wine, conversations over the phone with my first cup of coffee in the morning, over dinner with my family – – you get the idea. We have read it through once and we all feel that it takes awhile to absorb it, think about it and talk about it. My friends and I go back and re-read little chunks at a time. We have been carrying it around with us all week. Thank you
Nicki –
Game changer #102 – Beyond all else, love, marvel at, and appreciate life’s unexpected treasures. Your answer fits here.
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to join in your conversations.
Cynthia
Yes, Mihai, I agree. That is one of the tremendous benefits of maturing. We have such influence over our lives when we become aware of how our beliefs and behaviors shape it.
Have an outstanding week,
Cynthia
I love your site!! Cynthia…amazing and very inspirational…thank you
Pete
Thank you for reaching out and telling me, Pete. I really appreciate it.
Cynthia
This is so great! I’ve copied and put them on nice paper with pretty borders and I’m giving them to my friends! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
9 and 46 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW4r72nJObw contradicts with the goal a bit, but I love this…..wish I had it….
32 & 70 <3
I’ve heard Oprah say something similar to 2 and I’ve found it to be so true!
I’ve heard Oprah say something similar to 2 and I’ve found it to be so true!
I’m working on 68 and 88
I’m working on 68 and 88
i like the one about how people tell you their story, not your story.
i like the one about how people tell you their story, not your story.
That one has been a tremendous help in my life Sarah Rae Wells. <3
88 and 92
88 and 92
I intend to work on 43, 50 & 55.. thank you for this Cynthia x
95 is at the top of the list, although there are definitely others. I have a form of autism, milder than some, that makes it so I do not read/process body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and I am very literal. As a result, I do not always have appropriate facial expressions or responses to situations, even to the point of hurting others feelings. If I experience a situation where I do not respond correctly or someone misunderstands me or I am tactlessly impulsive in a response, I have a very difficult time in making that negative incident into a positive one.
I struggle with the idea that being wrong in a social situation (especially) does not equate being bad. And an incident can put me into weeks and months of self-doubt, that I am a terrible person, tearing myself apart and placing all blame on myself.
95 is at the top of the list, although there are definitely others. I have a form of autism, milder than some, that makes it so I do not read/process body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and I am very literal. As a result, I do not always have appropriate facial expressions or responses to situations, even to the point of hurting others feelings. If I experience a situation where I do not respond correctly or someone misunderstands me or I am tactlessly impulsive in a response, I have a very difficult time in making that negative incident into a positive one.
I struggle with the idea that being wrong in a social situation (especially) does not equate being bad. And an incident can put me into weeks and months of self-doubt, that I am a terrible person, tearing myself apart and placing all blame on myself.
43, 73 and 95;-)
43, 73 and 95;-)
Erin Bisco – I’d turn up the self love and thicken your own skin. Be kind to yourself. Accept yourself and move through the world with a mantra that goes something like this: “I always do my best, my intentions are good, I am not alone and the right people will show up and understand me. I deserve love, happiness and acceptance, beginning with my own.”
I knew a girl with a similar challenge and often she visited the same ABUSE on herself (yes tearing yourself up is ABUSE). When she accepted the totality of her situation, the challenge HER WORTH AND ALL THE GOOD about her, she was able to say early on in meeting people (she even had it written on a card)- Hey I have a developmental disability that sometimes interferes with my communication – I may appear to be upset or take things literally – Hang in there with me because I’m a total softie inside. Her inner shift of viewpoint and communication information changed everything. Sure there will be people who are put off – that is the case no matter what. Thank them for doing you the favor of removing themselves. Those who stick around will be better for you.
Never harm or give up on you. You are worth every good thing. <3
Erin Bisco – I’d turn up the self love and thicken your own skin. Be kind to yourself. Accept yourself and move through the world with a mantra that goes something like this: “I always do my best, my intentions are good, I am not alone and the right people will show up and understand me. I deserve love, happiness and acceptance, beginning with my own.”
I knew a girl with a similar challenge and often she visited the same ABUSE on herself (yes tearing yourself up is ABUSE). When she accepted the totality of her situation, the challenge HER WORTH AND ALL THE GOOD about her, she was able to say early on in meeting people (she even had it written on a card)- Hey I have a developmental disability that sometimes interferes with my communication – I may appear to be upset or take things literally – Hang in there with me because I’m a total softie inside. Her inner shift of viewpoint and communication information changed everything. Sure there will be people who are put off – that is the case no matter what. Thank them for doing you the favor of removing themselves. Those who stick around will be better for you.
Never harm or give up on you. You are worth every good thing. <3
Bless you, Cynthia. The more you speak and write, I truly believe that you are a guiding light, a lighthouse through the stormy waters and rocks of life.
Its a recent diagnosis and I know that I am finally coming to the understanding and knowledge that I am different, not broken, not less, and certainly deserving. I help people and horses get through pain, every day, I am a “fixer” and it took some time before I started to realize that my autism isn’t me being broken, its a part of me, and its what allows me to be able to do what I do.
Some days, I have to remind myself of my deserving more than others. Being around horses helps. They put you in the now, the present. If you do not believe you are deserving of that movement in dressage, that you allow fear to stop you, then you will NOT achieve that moment of pure movement, harmony and balance.
Bless you, Cynthia. The more you speak and write, I truly believe that you are a guiding light, a lighthouse through the stormy waters and rocks of life.
Its a recent diagnosis and I know that I am finally coming to the understanding and knowledge that I am different, not broken, not less, and certainly deserving. I help people and horses get through pain, every day, I am a “fixer” and it took some time before I started to realize that my autism isn’t me being broken, its a part of me, and its what allows me to be able to do what I do.
Some days, I have to remind myself of my deserving more than others. Being around horses helps. They put you in the now, the present. If you do not believe you are deserving of that movement in dressage, that you allow fear to stop you, then you will NOT achieve that moment of pure movement, harmony and balance.
Erin Bisco, you are such a treasure.
Erin Bisco, you are such a treasure.
#67, #87 and #88 are doing it for me today.