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Some things never change. No matter the advancements in technology or psychology.
Change in life is constant. It is the only certainty. We are growing and learning, making decisions and mistakes.
Our problems seem unique to us, in business, within a company, or in a relationship. The truth is these problems have always existed in some form for centuries.
There is a reason why the New Testament and Old Testament still endure. Their stories are still relatable to us today.
The Richest Man in Babylon is a finance book that has stood the test of time. Written in the 1920s, much of the advice is still applicable.
Despite changes to the stock exchanges. Despite how we invest or move our funds. The primary advice in that book is still just as valuable.
You'll see patterns if you read enough personal development books or blogs like this. They all cover many of the same topics, just in different ways.
The core business skills haven't changed. There are new training regimens, supplements, and dieting trends. But some people get just as toned, cut, and muscular on bodyweight workouts.
Think about modern sports stadiums. Archeologists found stadiums in ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures. Coliseums have existed for millennia.
What this means is the knowledge to succeed exists. It has existed in books and texts for a long time ago. It is available across Youtube and Tiktok.
Here are three pieces of information that have lasted centuries and can help you become the best version of yourself.
Live with Purpose
A book by Holocaust survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, tells us to seek purpose. The prisoners who fared were those with a purpose greater than themselves.
They sought to survive to reunite with loved ones. They believed their lives had meaning. Here is one quote:
"In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice."
When we give meaning to our lives, we feel we are in control. Surveys have shown people who struggle in life feel as if they are not in control of the trajectory of their life.
Purpose gives you a feeling of control which creates confidence.
Only Focus on What You Control
Teaching my son to play T-Ball (Baseball) has been a growth experience for me. When I started, I would emphasize his performance: the hits, the catches, and the great throws.
I watched a Youtube video for more advice on how to improve form. The instructor said something that changed my whole approach to many areas of my life.
He said you praise the attempt, not the success. In schools, especially in the United States, we praise the result.
Kids can't control the result. They can swing the bat but might not always get a hit. Instead, we praise the swing when it's correct. This does more to boost confidence.
A tactic in sales is to control how many people you contact. You do not control how many sales you will make. You can control how many phones calls you to make.
This also increases happiness. When you feel in control, you tend to live a happier life.
Life has a Time Limit
Roman emperor and stoic Marcus Aurelius routinely contemplated his eventual death. He said, "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."
A commencement speech delivered by Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs reiterated this point. Steve Jobs said, "Every morning, I looked in the mirror and asked myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I do today?"
We often think of life as this monolith that'll last forever. It is the longest thing we do, after all. I watched some videos by Les Brown, a motivational speaker. He said to think about the people who have died and the list of things they would do.
Only they never got to do it. Act now. Understand your time is limited.
What's Next?
This advice isn't the end all be all. There are so many great pieces of advice. Find the things that resonate with you the most. Embody it. Become it.
Live with purpose. Find something that drives you to be your best self.
Focus on what you control. Understand and accept the things you cannot control. Don't let those things rule your life. Focus on what you can control. Find ways to use it to build the life you desire.
Our time is limited. It doesn't mean you can't have fun. Just understand that project you are postponing may never get completed. Don't spend time living a life you are not proud of and act.
Great minds have given us excellent advice over the centuries. Those that pass the test of time are incredibly relevant and valuable.
I hope you find something here that moves you to take action. To move toward the life you want to live.