9 HARDCORE LIFE LESSONS
Freedom is the will to be responsible for oneself.
Life can be tough, an unpredictable journey full of highs and lows, challenges, and unexpected turns. In the midst of this complexity, people navigate through experiences that shape their character, resilience, and outlook on life. Within the crucible of existence, hardcore life lessons emerge, offering invaluable insights that transcend the ordinary. These lessons, often learned through the school of hard knocks, serve as guiding principles for those seeking understanding and growth in the face of adversity. As we explore these lessons, let's delve into the hardcore realities that life presents and discover the profound teachings that emerge from the crucible of experience.
1) Govern yourself
“He who cannot obey himself will be commanded.”
Most people need an external force to motivate them into action, or to keep them in check morally.
Freedom is the will to be responsible for oneself.
It’s imperative that a man learns to be his own leader, to act in accordance with his own beliefs, and to use his own values as a moral compass. Such a man becomes elevated from a yes-man to a Superman.
2) Follow your own path
“You have your way, and I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it doesn’t exist!”
Never let anyone interfere with your life, and you should never interfere with anyone’s life. No one has the license to dictate your life’s trajectory.
3) Seek wisdom over knowledge
“There’s a lot I don’t want to know. Wisdom sets limits, even to knowledge”
Wisdom makes you stoic, but stoicism won’t make you wise. Overconsumption is harmful, whether it’s food or knowledge. Knowing that you know next to nothing is the beginning of wisdom.
Self-introspection through writing or meditation is more beneficial than accumulating information.
The stronger your awareness, the more receptive you become to life’s deepest mysteries. These are called spiritual downloads. Become a person of presence, and you'll naturally be guided by divine intuition & intelligence.
4) Speak your truth
“A truths that are kept silent become poisonous”
Your worldview is as unique as your fingerprints. Be confident enough to share your perspectives honestly, fearlessly & conscientiously. Never smolder your truth to make anyone comfortable. Be authentic in everything you say & do.
5) Break free from herd mentality
“Meaning and morality of one’s life must come from within oneself. Healthy, strong individuals seek self-expansion by experimenting and living dangerously.”
To find yourself, you need to think for yourself. Intelligent & creative people don't follow society’s rules blindly. If you find yourself thinking like the majority, you're merely imitating.
Seek your own truths.
6) Spend time in solitude:
“I go into solitude so as not to drink out of everybody’s cistern. When I am among the many, it feels as if they want to rob me of my soul”
There’s no wisdom without self-awareness, no self-awareness without contemplation, no contemplation without solitude.
A sound mind is forged from silence, in the kiln of solitude.
7) Embrace failure
“You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame. How could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?”
For the weak, failure is fatal. For the wise, failure is feedback. A fear of failure means you are incapable of handling success, and life doesn’t reward the incompetent.
8) Be a minimalist
Learn to speak less, or increase the value per word spoken.
But minimalism is also applicable in every facet of life:
You don’t need to do everything, focus on the most essential.
You don’t need 1000 friends, get 10 loyal ones.
9) Amor Fati
This is one of my favorite quotes from Nietzsche
“My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it… but love it.”
Your spiritual maturity is shown by your face & bear misfortunes. Train your spirit not to be distressed by every minor setback. Be optimistic for the best, yet prepared for the worst - for it's hard for a thief to loot a rich man's house who is well prepared in advance.
Embrace change, learn from failures, invest in relationships, and nurture a positive mindset. Apply these lessons, and share them with others. Life is tough, but armed with these lessons, we can face its challenges with courage, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to growth.