Although he lived a relatively short life, John Lennon gave the world timeless music. This man of unfathomable creativity was also an advocate for peace that spoke for a generation. More than four decades have passed since Lennon died, but his words of wisdom still inspire people all over the world.
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On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot by a former fan who was enraged by his lavish lifestyle and by the fact that the Beatles were considered “more popular than Jesus.” But bullets don’t kill legends. His music and messages are gifts that will remain forever.
"We need to learn to love ourselves first."
Full Quote: "We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create."
A lot of people carry on a daily battle trying to love themselves or to at least accept their imperfections. Beauty and other standards created by society constantly make us feel like we’re not good enough. But if we always dwell on our imperfections, that’s exactly what we’re going to do when it comes to others.
You have to accept that you’re still going to be flawed no matter how hard you try to reach perfection. The fact that you’re trying to become a better version of yourself already makes you a wonderful person. So love yourself for that and then you can fully open to your ability to love others.
"It matters not who you love..."
Full Quote: "It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love or how you love, it matters only that you love."
You’ve probably created the ideal partner in your mind, but the heart wants what it wants. You’ll most likely end up falling in love with someone that doesn’t necessarily meet your expectations, or those of your friends and family. At the end of the day, what matters is how happy you actually are. And if you’re happy, who cares about other details?
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You also need to stop asking yourself “why do I love him/her?” If you don’t, you’re just going to go back to your list of criteria for people worthy of your love. And if they won’t tick too many boxes, you’ll start doubting the love you have for them. Simply love without asking questions. It must be right if it feels right.
"Love is like a precious plant..."
Full Quote: "We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it."
Psychologists say that love lasts around two or three years, tops. Well, they’re really referring to intense love and passion. And while lust may have its ups and downs, love can last forever if you tend to it.
You can have the love you see in the movies, but only if you nurture it. Just like you do with a precious plant. So make time for your partner, play and laugh together, and don’t forget to tell them you love them as often as possible.
"Love is all you need."
In a world full of ignorance and evil, where the only things we seem to chase are money and careers, love is what we truly need. It may not be all we need, but it’s definitely in the top three essential things in life.
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Love gives us strength to carry on whenever the going gets tough. Once we love and are loved back, we feel like we can overcome whatever life throws at us. Love makes us kinder and more compassionate about everything that happens around us. And these are the things we need in order to build a better world. Without it, all is lost.
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end."
Now, here’s a great piece of advice everyone should remember when things get rough -- everything will eventually be okay. No dark moment lasts forever.
We all go through periods that drain us and we sometimes feel we can’t catch a break. When life hits too hard, we can’t always think straight. It’s only natural to get a little bit irrational and feel like there’s no way out of the pain or bitterness we’re feeling. But every now and then, take a deep breath and tell yourself that everything will be okay, because it will.
"Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones."
Ever get that feeling that if you’re giving your most honest opinion regarding something, you might lose a few friends? Even if it’s not about something that concerns them directly? You keep walking on egg shells because you’re afraid that their feelings might get hurt and they’ll stop talking to you.
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You can keep hiding your true opinions and maintain a few relationships that will fill you up with frustration. Or you can say what’s on your mind and lose a few. You don’t need a lot of friends, you only need the right ones.
"Imagine..."
The Imagine lyrics are some of John Lennon’s most beloved. The track captures a cry out for a fairer world, for peace and unity. It’s played in all countries, regardless of culture, and when people sing it together, everything instantly seems better.
In an interview with David Sheff for Playboy, Lennon said the song was inspired by the concept of positive prayer. If you can imagine a world at peace, where politics, possessions and even religion are of no interest, then it can be true.
"I wrote down happy"...
Do you remember what you wanted to become later in life? Was your answer “happy?" Probably not, because we’re taught to associate this question with answers that refer to career choices -- whether it’s something we’re fascinated by as kids or something our parents have already decided for us.
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There’s a great life lesson in this quote. We should teach the young ones that whatever they choose to be in life, they first and foremost have to be happy. After all, life usually doesn’t go as planned so we might as well try to get the best out of it.
"Happiness is just how you feel when you don’t feel miserable."
Some people either overrate happiness or confuse it with temporary contentment. It’s all about perspective. Some associate happiness with certain life events, others with wealth, and still others (the more pessimistic ones) believe it can’t be achieved.
But as John Lennon says, “happiness is just how you feel when you don’t feel miserable." Sometimes it’s just about peace of mind, about being content with what you have or about coming home to your loved ones. If you’re not sad, then you must be happy, right?
"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."
It’s terrible how often we feel guilty for taking time off to do something we actually enjoy. We constantly prioritize the stuff that “must be done” and if we dare to take a break, we blame ourselves for wasting precious time.
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But we all need some “me time” every now and then. And it doesn’t matter what you choose to do with that time as long as it brings you joy. You’re not wasting it, you’re investing it in your own wellbeing.
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