It Starts With You: The 3 Great Thoughts That Can Change Your Life

This post is about you, exactly as you are right now. It’s not going to suggest for you to become someone, or tell you that you have to get somewhere or gain anything material.

It’s not going to suggest any of these things, because the greatest gifts are already inside you, waiting to be uncovered. And once they are, everything in your life will flow naturally, because when you start with yourself, the world around you will change.

If you wish for unconditional love, love yourself unconditionally.

If you wish to be accepted as you are, have the courage to accept yourself as you are.

If you wish to live a life with value, value your life.

And it is with this spirit that this post is written. I offer three simple wisdoms that will help you uncover your greatness, by digging for the treasures that are already within.

It Starts With You: The 3 Great Thoughts That Can Change Your Life

Don’t waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden and the butterflies will come.

- Mario Quintana

Your greatest love affair is you

There is one person you will have with you your entire life. One whom, if you love, will always reciprocate. One that needs your love more than anyone else. And that person is you.  

The greatest love affair you will ever have is with yourself, and you need to treat it like a great relationship. Too many of us give our love so freely to others, but do not give ourselves the same love. So many of us are willing to stand up to anyone that criticizes a person we fancy, yet do not stand up to that little voice in our head that puts ourselves down.  

It is time to love yourself, and to build this relationship. To reward that voice in your head every time it compliments you, to show yourself appreciation, and to allow and help yourself to find the enjoyment in life which you desire.

When you love yourself, you will find it easier to love others and the world around you. And they in turn will find it easier to love you.  

When you let your self shine, the world realigns

It's important to let your true self shine, and to share your true gifts with the world. The beauty that dwells in your mind and that comes from your unique perspective on life needs to be heard. You will suffer criticism. But their opinions don't matter, because you have to be you. By being you, you will attract the right people into your life and repel the wrong people, so that soon you will be predominantly surrounded by those who love you for who you are. 

For a life of value, value your life

Western society has sold us the idea that material possessions define you. But the truth is that little defines you but you, and that these “things” do not lead to long-term contentment, but often to the opposite.

The majority of us, through our work, trade our time for money, which we then use to purchase things. It can feel like you're just spending paper bills or numbers on a bank statement, but the truth is that whenever you buy things, you are literally spending your time.  

You may not realize this, but when you buy things, you are valuing these purchases as much or more than the time it took you to make this money. Time which could possibly have been better spent with your loved ones, enjoying life, helping others, and doing what is important to you. And once you realize this, that money is your time, you start to view money differently.  

You might realize that buying an expensive car isn’t worth the precious time you have to sacrifice in order to get it.  

You might realize that maybe you don’t admire a person’s post on Instagram displaying their new purchases from Gucci.

Instead, you think of all of the more meaningful and exciting ways they could have spent their time. You start to value your time more than unnecessary, superficial purchases which depreciate in value. You realize that these “things” do not define people, and that your time is worth more than them.  

But this isn’t just about buying things that you don’t need.  

Your life, in its essence, is purely a collection of moments in time. Where you spend your time, you spend your life.

So you have to have a laser-like focus on what is most important to you. One way or another you are going to spend your time. But it is how you spend your time that will make the difference between a good life and a mediocre one.  

So spend your time wisely. Spend your time on what is most important to you. Spend it in a way that will ensure a good life. And naturally, you will have one.