Actions to Live Out
Actions to live out. A different way of of saying, “words to live by.”
We all have a lot of words (values) we live by, but few of us really take action on. I personally know that intent builds up in my mind, and it manifests itself as action. It’s the thought that counts. If I just tell myself to be kind and honest everyday, then it must be true. After all of these thoughts, what did I really take action on? Who did I really help? Did I truly express and show kindness, and honesty?
I tend to think most of us have values. Possibly handed down through generations, from a sibling, mentor, or coach.
What really makes a difference in our life and those around us? Knowing that we really aligned our actions with these values everyday. We may not really appreciate and understand them until we write them down, but even then they may still seem vague.
We hear these all too often:
- Love and kindness
- Honesty and truth
- Compassion
- Empathy
- Gratitude
- Hard work
- Creativity
- Learning and teaching
- Family first
- Be happy and healthy
- Set goals
- and on and on
But how can you really see a benefit on any of these concepts without action? They are just words, until applied physically, consciously, and meaningfully. They are skills. They require practice. They are outcomes of successfully exercising each of their characteristics every day. Practicing this day in and day out is what gets you to the essence of achieving anything worthwhile.
After all, when we say we value something, we are sharing our thoughts and intent. But people don’t remember intent — they remember action. What did you actually do? Not what you tell yourself to make you feel better.
Reading a lot has quickly made me come to the realization that nobody really knows the right answer. They just had a unique experience and story worth sharing, and within these stories are principles that can be related across many other stories. However, books tend to sell means, not necessarily principles. You have to really look deeper into them to figure out the core principles.
Even quotes. How many motivational and inspiring quotes do we have to read until we take action?
I have a long list of quotes I enjoy collecting in a Google Document, but I can barely remember any of them. Sure, sometimes I can recall them and they may help me move on during a difficult situation, but where’s the value in trying to seek help opposed to having acquired the ability to boost yourself?
Be your own saviour while you still can.
There is nothing wrong with asking for help, I’ll be the first to admit it. But the main principle here is that YOU must have you own principles.
So knowing my basic values, how can I turn them into daily practices that will allow me to build my own unique principles — ultimately helping you truly live out each of your values?
My Ultimate Guide for Success
“Can I leverage this action (behavior, thought) to better myself and those around me? Yes or No.”
This has been a thought that I have been referring to often. It’s turning out to be my metric for successful behaviours, which will ultimately yield to success and how I have defined it. If my answer is ‘No’, I will know that I am not moving forward in the direction I need to be going.
I have been applying it to many aspects of my life. From the food I chose to eat, exercising, investments, creative projects, meeting new people, travelling, budgeting, what clothes to wear, and everything in between.
By asking this question often, I realized that I began to fully immerse myself in this moment. Appreciating that I can only do the best I can at whatever it is I’m doing, and not letting anyone’s behavior negatively influence my own.
Hopefully this thought can help push you into a relentless desire to improve yourself, and those around you in THIS moment.
There are two phrases that I constantly remind myself of. They help put things into perspective, and allow me to embrace any given moment, no matter the situation. They are ‘amor fati,’ and ‘memento mori.”
Amor fati means to love your fate. You must learn to embrace everything — including your obstacles and setbacks — as opportunities.
It is our perspective of events that matter. This is because external events are out of our control. When they happen — whether from our will or against it — it is ultimately our perspective of the event that will dictate our mood and behavior. The event has already occurred and there is literally nothing we can do to change it.
But what we can do is adjust our perception, reflect on the event, and adjust ourselves accordingly. Getting angry, and frustrated offers you and those around you absolutely no value.
Memento mori means to remember your death. You could leave life right now, so don’t hesitate. Take a positive action now. Because whatever it is you’re doing, it could be the last time you do it.
I’m not a big quote person. I have a few that I enjoy and refer to often . All of these quotes and phrases are means by which you must accept reality for what it is. Then it’s about bringing as much love and kindness to every one of your actions every day.
From a place of honest, and loving self-compassion comes good character, health, and relationships. Again, all just words until applied. Which leads us int our:
5 Minute Action
- (Love) — Call three people you hold close, and tell them you love them, and how much they mean to you. Do it in whatever way makes you feel the most comfortable. (I say, “most comfortable.” This doesn’t mean it will feel comfortable).
- (Kindness) — Ask someone if they need help with anything. Then help them.
- (Self-Compassion) — Witness your breath by breathing in and out slowly 10 times, without expecting anything from this exercises. When you inhale, say to yourself “Breathing in.” When exhaling say, “Breathing out.” When a thought arises say, “Thinking.” That’s it. Simple, but not easy.
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