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17 Kurt Vonnegut Quotes on Understanding the World We Live In
Speakers

17 Kurt Vonnegut Quotes on Understanding the World We Live In

Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer who beautifully blended literature with science-fiction and humor.Each of Vonnegut’s novels reveals a unique world where happenings of the 20th century are presented with a touch of irony and revolve around unusual characters. Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions are just three of the books that cemented his reputation.RELATED: Top 20 Stephen King Quotes Before attending University of Chicago, Kurt Vonnegut joined the U.S. army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was caught and became a prisoner of war. Vonnegut managed to escape because he was working in an underground meat locker.For his contributions to literature, Vonnegut was made a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library was opened in Indianapolis in his honor.Here are 17 Kurt Vonnegut quotes about being kind and noticing your joyful moments.We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music.Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before.There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- ‘God damn it, you've got to be kind.’Being a humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead.And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point.Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter could be said to remedy anything.Science is magic that works.If you can do no good, at least do no harm.There is love enough in this world for everybody, if people will just look.Wake up, you idiots! Whatever made you think that money was so valuable?Give me knowledge or give me death!People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they'll have good voice boxes in case there's ever anything really meaningful to say.We're terrible animals. I think that the Earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us, as well it should.Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.

What Is a Sapiosexual? 6 Signs You’re Attracted to Intelligence
Relationships

What Is a Sapiosexual? 6 Signs You’re Attracted to Intelligence

A chiseled jawline. Well-defined abs. Full lips. The hourglass figure. No matter which way you swing, when it comes to sexual attraction, there are certain cliches that stand out in terms of qualities people look for. Those mentioned are, admittedly, superficial. But beyond an obsession with physical appearance lies an attraction to the mind. Someone who finds intelligence sexually attractive is termed a “sapiosexual."Rooted in the Latin “sapere,” sapiosexual wasn't added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary until 2020. The concept is integrated into society, however; some dating apps offer it as a clickable preference. (In 2014, OkCupid listed sapiosexual as an option when choosing sexual orientation and mate preferences.) But what’s behind the trend? Does the thought of intelligent conversation turn you on? Are you sexually attracted to someone who prefers reading books to hitting nightclubs? Are you a sapiosexual person, and is sapiosexuality truly on par with other sexual orientations?What Is Sapiosexual Preference? Talk Nerdy to MeSapiosexuality is being “sexually attracted to highly intelligent people." It speaks to those who view intelligence as the most important trait. The term's Latin root, sapien (the same as Homo sapien), means wise or intelligent.In 2019, Marlène Schiappa, France's minister for equality, described herself as sapiosexual, and singer Mark Ronson apologized for “coming out” as sapiosexual during a TV interview. That same year, OkCupid decided to remove the option from its app.Why the uproar? Sapiosexual people self-identify. And, as with most online trends, it is more superficial than meets the eye. What's more, sapiosexuality has been criticized for its potential to be ableist or discriminatory, and that it’s a sexual preference, rather than a sexual orientation.The Controversy of Sapiosexuality as a Sexual IdentityPhoto by Toa Heftiba on UnsplashThe language to describe sexual orientations has evolved. In addition to the traditional labels of heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality, there are a multitude of orientations, most added within the past decade. They include:Pansexual: attraction not related to sex or gender identityDemisexual: sexually attracted to someone based on emotional connectionAsexual: someone who doesn’t experience sexual attractionAndrogynosexual: attraction to someone with an androgynous appearanceThese sexual identities go beyond desires or fleeting experiences. Although, in the past, different sexual interests wouldn’t define someone’s identity, the trend is growing. “The model of sexuality as an inborn thing has become so prevalent that people want to say ‘this is how I feel, so perhaps I will constitute myself in a particular way and understand this as an identity’,” William Wilkerson, a philosophy professor at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, told Quartz in 2018.That can result in “identifying” with preferences, or seeing certain qualities as part of a wider personality. It’s not easy to define intelligence, either. Is sapiosexuality related only to academic achievement or intelligence in fields of science, literature or math? And what about other forms of intelligence, like emotional or creative?Online quizzes add to sapiosexuality's problematic nature. Questions on sites like BuzzFeed ask readers whether they’re "repulsed by the idea of having sex with someone who had never gone to college, or had no interest in higher education." With that in mind, it's best to take the term with a pinch of salt. But that doesn’t mean a sexual attraction to intelligence isn’t a reality for many people.The Psychology of Sexual AttractionPhoto by Pavel Danilyuk from PexelsThe first scientific study into sapiosexuality were published in 2018 in the Intelligence journal. Although most people look for intelligence in a partner, the study found that a small percentage reported sexual arousal to high degrees of intelligence. In ranking desirability in a partner, intelligence was second, behind “kind and understanding,” and ahead of “exciting personality” and “easygoing.”Interestingly, the desirability of smart people reached a peak with an IQ of 120 (people smarter than 90 percent of the population). And it dropped between 120 and 135 (people smarter than 99 percent of the population. In other words, according to the study, there's a limit to the connection between attraction and intelligence. An ability to quote Nietzche or to wax lyrical about sociopolitical issues might be a turn-on, but being a misunderstood genius? Maybe not so much in the same way.Again, human attraction is complex. Certain animals are sexually attracted by certain traits, but human attraction includes multiple factors, including intellectual curiosity. Yes, it involves physicality, along with biological cues like pheromones — chemical signals that are detected unconsciously. Still, we’re the only species attracted to personality traits.The Difference Between Attraction and Romantic Love There's a distinction between attraction, intimacy and romantic love, too. “Probably the most unexpected discovery, and the one that really changed my own thinking, was the fact that sexual orientation doesn’t necessarily ‘orient’ one’s capacity for romantic love,” psychologist Lisa Diamond told the Association for Psychological Science. She adds:“In my research. I found that lesbian women sometimes fell in love with their close male friends, even when they weren’t attracted to them, and heterosexual women sometimes fell in love with female friends. I soon found that this has been true throughout human history, and it led me to investigate the biobehavioral independence of sexual desire and romantic attachment.”Lisa DiamondAroused By Intellectual Conversation?Why is that relevant? There are different types of intimacy, and not all are sexual. The common forms include emotional intimacy, physical intimacy, spiritual intimacy and, of course, connecting on an intellectual level. That means intellectual intimacy can be enjoyed and experienced. But what makes a sapiosexual different is that intellectual intimacy, or even witnessing intelligence, leads to arousal.The emphasis, here, is sexual attraction. To put this in context, other types of identities may be drawn to certain traits, such as intelligence, as a form of attraction or intrigue, without the sexual dimension being involved. For sapiosexuals, however, talk of quantum theory of reinterpretations of French Renaissance poetry is as good as foreplay.Signs That You’re Sexually Attracted to Intelligence“Like any sexual orientation or preference, [sapiosexuality] exists on a spectrum,” Dr. Tari Mack, a psychologist and relationship expert, told Bustle in 2015. “Some sapiosexuals are purely attracted to people based on their intelligence and some find it simply one of the most attractive qualities in a potential partner.” So, how do you tell the difference? How do you know if intelligence is part of your sexual preference, or if you’re a fan of intellectual intimacy? Here are a few signs to look out for.1. Deep Conversation Is a Turn-OnSmall talk probably won’t cut it, at least not if it’s the default with your romantic partner. The desire for intellectual intimacy and deep conversation is common, but if you’re sapiosexual, intellectual conversations with a smart person is essentially an aphrodisiac. That involves sharing yourself through conversation, but also through the way you feel while witnessing your partner talk. Does their articulation draw you in?2. Intellect Is More Important Than Physical AppearanceIt’s difficult to place concrete categories or hierarchies of attraction. That said, for sapiosexuals, intelligence is a priority of attraction. That doesn’t mean physical appearances aren’t important. But someone who displays a high level of intelligence may catch your attention, even if they don’t look the way you may have envisioned.That point has drawn some criticism. In a fairly unforgiving take, Rajvi Desai wrote in The Swaddle, “[Sapiosexuality] is [...] a trait that’s less about a peculiar attraction to intelligence in others, and more about staunchly positioning oneself as someone not swayed by conventionally beautiful people, or not looking to have a mindless one-night stand.”Harsh words, but helpful guidance. It's tempting to feel above certain primal desires, attaching to the idea of only being attracted to intelligence. Being able to discern between ego-based superiority, or dating-app posturing, and a genuine attraction to intelligence, helps to reveal where your true sexual desires reside.3. Your Dating Rituals Center Around Intellectual Stimulation(Tetra Images / Getty)Favor poetry slams over picnics? Prefer browsing someone’s bookshelf to scrolling through their Instagram photos? Your dating rituals provide insight into your level of sapiosexuality. If your idea of a good time involves an environment that is intellectually stimulating, it says a lot about your attraction. That’s not to say fun is off the table (these activities are fun, for those who enjoy them). But there’s a certain level of importance when it comes to bonding.A sapiosexual will want to bond in a way that prioritizes intellectual stimulation. However, there can be a mix, too. And it’s not necessarily the only way you will court a potential suitor.4. Building Rapport Includes Sharing Intellectual LikesIn addition to dating, when two people get to know each other, they find common ground on which to build a connection. For sapiosexuals, a large part of the bonding process will involve recommending books, art or music. It’s a way to display intellectual flair. Conversely, receiving well-thought-out recommendations can be a powerful way to discover deeper levels of compatibility.5. You Appreciate a Partner Who Is Self-AwareLike all things, even the topic of sapiosexuality circles back to self-development. One reason sapiosexuality is so difficult to define is that intelligence itself is difficult to define. It depends somewhat on perspective. According to a famous quote, usually attributed to Albert Einstein, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”There are many forms of intelligence. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence are one; you may find yourself attracted to a partner who is willing to learn and grow. That doesn’t only mean reading or gaining knowledge, but also working to create a deeper understanding of communication and human interaction. When it comes to relational harmony, it doesn’t get more intelligent than that.6. Your Level of Attraction Grows Over TimeHumans are infinitely rich. The process of “getting to know someone” is never-ending. Even couples that have been together for decades can learn new insights about each other. For sapiosexuals, that's great news. It means attraction levels continue to build as you get to better understand someone’s mind.Physical attraction doesn’t have to be superficial. However, it can fade, especially after the honeymoon period. When sexual attraction is linked to multiple areas, you’re more likely to keep the fire burning, and keep the passion alive.In ConclusionWhat purpose does all of this serve? Considering the controversy around the term sapiosexual, and the debate surrounding whether it's an orientation or a preference, it's best to use this knowledge skillfully. It comes down to self-awareness. Whether you're on the dating scene or looking to deepen understanding and intimacy with a current partner, having an idea of your own likes and dislikes allows you to communicate what you need, and what works for you.If you realize you have a strong attraction to intelligence, it’s something not to overlook, especially if that is a deal-breaker. Get practical, and consider the ways in which you can invite this into your romantic life: Participate in a book club with your partner, or look for new lovers who explicitly display an interest in intellectual pursuits you enjoy.Keep in mind, though, Cupid’s arrow is largely mysterious. You can’t plan to whom you're attracted. What's more, it's likely what attracts you will evolve over time. So, above trying to identify qualities, or creating rigid labels about who, or what, attracts you, remain true to yourself. And from that source of truth, you’re much more likely to experience true attraction, and deep love, as the rest of the jigsaw pieces fall into place.KEEP READING Demisexuality: When Emotional Bonds Are Essential For Sexual Attraction

95 Depression Quotes for When You're Feeling Down  
Mental Health

95 Depression Quotes for When You're Feeling Down  

Sadness is a feeling we all experience from time to time. We probably wouldn’t know what happiness was without it. But what if the sadness won’t go away and turns into hopelessness and despair?According to the World Health Organization, depression is a common mental illness with more than 300 million people affected worldwide.How depression manifests varies from person to person, but the mental health issue’s symptoms include feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in daily activities once enjoyed, sleep and appetite changes, irritability, problems focusing, loss of energy, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. The more symptoms you might have, the more serious your condition might be — and it’s imperative to seek professional help. The good news is that with help and support and adequate treatment, those symptoms can be improved.Depression hits everyone a little differently, sometimes just a few words can sometimes help you remember there is light at the end of the tunnel. Read through some of the depression quotes below, and you may find that your mental and even physical health starts to improve over time!Depression quotes about sadness and despairSadness is a basic human emotion we all feel every now and then, and sometimes it can be quite painful - even to the point that you don’t want to be alive anymore. This constant feeling can feel like a thousand pounds on your shoulders, making it difficult to move forward. But just remember: trying to ignore those feelings is not the way. It’s okay to feel sad and in fact, in many ways it is healthy to allow ourselves to feel the whole range of possible emotions as they come up, instead of suppressing them.Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow(FPG / Staff / Getty)The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it. Not ever.Nina LaCourEveryone wanted me to get help and rejoin life, pick up the pieces and move on, and I tried to, I wanted to, but I just had to lie in the mud with my arms wrapped around myself, eyes closed, grieving, until I didn’t have to anymore.Anne LamottThat very deadened feeling, which is so very different from feeling sad. Sad hurts but it’s a healthy feeling. It is a necessary thing to feel. Depression is very different.J.K. RowlingI saw the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colors and shades I knew existed.Katie McGarryDepression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is.AtticusThat’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end.Elizabeth WurtzelA melancholy-looking man, he had the appearance of one who has searched for the leak in life’s gas-pipe with a lighted candle.P.G. WodehouseI’ve got a bad case of the 3:00 am guilts – you know, when you lie in bed awake and replay all those things you didn’t do right? Because, as we all know, nothing solves insomnia like a nice warm glass of regret, depression and self-loathing.D.D. BarantI am in that temper that if I were under water I would scarcely kick to come to the top.John Keats(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)There were days when she was unhappy, she did not know why,–when it did not seem worthwhile to be glad or sorry, to be alive or dead; when life appeared to her like a grotesque pandemonium and humanity like worms struggling blindly toward inevitable annihilation.Kate ChopinThere are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.Laurell K. HamiltonAnyone who has actually been that sad can tell you that there's nothing beautiful or literary or mysterious about depression.Jasmine WargaGrief is depression in proportion to circumstance; depression is grief out of proportion to circumstance.Andrew SolomonKilling oneself is, anyway, a misnomer. We don't kill ourselves. We are simply defeated by the long, hard struggle to stay alive. When somebody dies after a long illness, people are apt to say, with a note of approval, He fought so hard. And they are inclined to think, about a suicide, that no fight was involved, that somebody simply gave up. This is quite wrong.Sally BramptonThe sadness of the world has different ways of getting to people, but it seems to succeed almost every time.Louis-Ferdinand CélineDepression on my left, Loneliness on my right. They don't need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well.Elizabeth GilbertSadness is but a wall between two gardens.Kahlil GibranI saw the world from the stars' point of view, and it looked unbearably lonely.Shaun David HutchinsonWhat depression feels like quotesIt can be difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never experienced it, whether it comes in the form of physical symptoms, feelings or even memories. Depression takes different forms with everyone, and sometimes it’s helpful to read something you can connect to, in order to make better sense of it all. Knowing other people understand what you’re going through can make you feel less alone and provide some reassurance that it’s possible to feel happy again, even if for now it feels completely out of reach. If you or someone you know is depressed, we hope these quotes about depression bring comfort in challenging times.It’s so difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never been there, because it’s not sadness. I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling — that really hollowed-out feeling. J.K. ROWLINGWhen you’re surrounded by all these people, it can be lonelier than when you’re by yourself. You can be in a huge crowd, but if you don’t feel like you can trust anyone or talk to anybody, you feel like you’re really alone.Fiona Apple(David Corio / Contributor / Getty)Then night falls again and again, and you still have no idea where you are, and it’s time to admit that you have bewildered yourself so far off the path that you don’t even know from which direction the sun rises anymore.Elizabeth GilbertI am so demanding and difficult for my friends because I want to crumble and fall apart before them so that they will love me even though I am no fun, lying in bed, crying all the time, not moving. Depression is all about If you loved me you would.Elizabeth Wurtzel"Because wherever I sat—on the deck of a ship or at a street café in Paris or Bangkok—I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour air."Sylvia Plath"I could see millions and millions of people, all slotted into their lives; then I could see me—I’d lost my place in the universe. It had closed up and there was nowhere for me to be. I was more lost than I had known it was possible for any human being to be."Marian Keyes"Because that’s the thing about depression. When I feel it deeply, I don’t want to let it go. It becomes a comfort. I want to cloak myself under its heavy weight and breathe it into my lungs."Stephanie Perkins"I didn’t want my picture taken because I was going to cry. I didn’t know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat and I’d cry for a week. I could feel the tears brimming and sloshing in me like water in a glass that is unsteady and too full."Sylvia Plath"When you are depressed, the past and future are absorbed entirely by the present moment, as in the world of a three-year-old. You cannot remember a time when you felt better, at least not clearly; and you certainly cannot imagine a future time when you will feel better."Andrew SolomonDepression and anxiety quotesIt often happens that depression and anxiety go hand in hand. When you don’t feel drained you may experience symptoms of anxiety. For no particular reason, your heart starts racing and you might feel like something bad is about to happen, and there is not always a straightforward response you can make to turn this feeling around.Depression can ten affect all areas of your life. When you experience it at a deeper level, you might ignore your friends, your partner or your job. At some point you might realize that you’re pushing people away, or fear that you’ll lose your job. That’s when anxiety kicks in and you enter a vicious circle where you worry about things and people that you may lose, but you also feel like there’s nothing you can do about it.Here are some depression and anxiety quotes you may resonate with.I tend to get pretty depressed and I have some issues with anxiety and things like that… For me, it’s more psychological. Exercise is a means of expelling those demons.Ryan Reynolds(Han Myung-Gu / Stringer / Getty)I didn't want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that's really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you're so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.Ned VizziniIt weren’t too loo long before I seen something in me, had changed. A bitter seed was planted inside of me. And I just didn’t feel so, accepting, anymore.Kathryn StockettI go dreaming into the future, where I see nothing, nothing. I have no plans, no idea, no project, and, what is worse, no ambition. Something – the eternal ‘what’s the use?’ – sets its bronze barrier across every avenue that I open up in the realm of hypothesis.Gustave Flaubert(Getty)But when you get that depressed you don't care. Apathy, because you've lost a sense of worth. It doesn't matter whether you feel better because you have no worth.Philip K. DickThis fall I think you're riding for -- it's a special kind of fall, a horrible kind. The man falling isn't permitted to feel or hear himself hit bottom. He just keeps falling and falling.J. D Salinger(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)In every way that counted, I was dead. Inside somewhere maybe I was screaming and weeping and howling like an animal, but that was another person deep inside, another person who had no access to the lips and face and mouth and head, so on the surface I just shrugged and smile and kept moving.Neil GaimanSome people are just not meant to be in this world. It's just too much for them.Phoebe StoneIt is very hard to explain to people who have never known serious depression or anxiety the sheer continuous intensity of it. There is no off switch.Matt HaigI can't eat and I can't sleep. I'm not doing well in terms of being a functional human, you know?Ned VizziniDepression quotes about fighting and overcoming itFighting depression is really demanding because you have to confront your own irrational thoughts. It can drain you of your energy, rob you of your motivation and leave you feeling hopeless. Once, your mind was your ally, but now it has become your enemy. How will you become functional again when your mind seems to be working against you?The truth is there’s no universal recipe to recovering from depression. We are all unique, have different problems and experience emotions at different levels. However, there are small steps that we can take each day — little things that we can tell ourselves to slowly overcome our condition.We hope that the following depression quotes on fighting and overcoming it will inspire you and make you feel better, even if just for a moment.I can do this… I can start over. I can save my own life and I’m never going to be alone as long as I have stars to wish on and people to still love.Jennifer ElisabethStart by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.St. Francis of AssisiA positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you.Joyce MeyerYou must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; it will not let you fall.Rainer Maria RilkeWhen you are depressed, you need the love of other people, and yet depression fosters actions that destroy that love. Depressed people often stick pins into their own life rafts. The conscious mind can intervene. One is not helpless.Andrew SolomonIf you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.HippocratesThere are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.C. S. Lewis(John Chillingworth / Stringer / Getty)Meditation can and will order your thinking and therefore your mind. As we heal the wounded places in our minds, we grow.Iyanla VanzantWhen you do not get to the root of the problem, you cannot solve it in any meaningful manner.Robert GreeneYou have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.Louise L. HayWhen one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don’t see the one that has opened for us.Alexander Graham BellPromise me you’ll always remember -- you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.Christopher RobinSometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.Thich Nhat HanhNoble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.Dodie Smith(Hulton Deutsch / Contributor / Getty)If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.Fred RogersOne of the most healing things you can do is recognize where in your life you are your own poison.Steve MaraboliOnly you can make yourself strong. Nobody else can do it for you.Kim PapeMan is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.Fyodor DostoevskyAlthough the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.Helen KellerOnce you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you will start having positive results.Willie NelsonWhat the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.Richard BachIt has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly.Isaac AsimovIf you have been brutally broken but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with a heart of an angel.Keanu ReevesIn the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.Albert CamusThe most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.Elisabeth Kübler-RossA section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived.Katie McGarryIn times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.Lee IacoccaHave patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew.Saint Francis de SalesI’m learning. I’m learning to make things nice for myself. I’m learning to save myself. I’m trying, as I always will.Charlotte ErikssonWhen one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don’t see the one that has opened for us.Alexander Graham Bell(Historical / Contributor / Getty)I wonder if that's how darkness wins, by convincing us to trap it inside ourselves, instead of emptying it out. I don't want it to win.Jasmine WargaSeek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me,’ and when you have found that attitude, follow it.William JamesInspirational depression quotesDepression can feel overwhelming. You may feel sad, hopeless, unmotivated and start questioning if you will ever feel better. Sometimes, it can be helpful to draw on the wisdom of others to inspire a shift in perspectives and brighten up your mood. Battling depression can lead feelings of isolation and there is comfort in simply knowing someone else understands what you’re going through.A simple yet thought provoking sentence can give you insight into your own experience with depression and hopefully, if the message resonates deeply enough, it may as well serve as a great catalyst for your healing. If you’re living with depression, take your time reading through these inspirational depression quotes to help you navigate your struggle, and let them remind you that you’re not alone.You’d have to have personally been trapped and felt flames to really understand a terror way beyond falling.David Foster WallaceIf we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one.Goldie Hawn(Art Zelin / Contributor / Getty)Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine.Charlotte BrontëThere is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.T.H. WhiteMental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say My tooth is aching than to say My heart is broken.C.S. LewisBelieve that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.William JamesThere is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, 'There now, hang on, you'll get over it.' Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes.Barbara KingsolverThere are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.Albert EinsteinLosing your life is not the worst thing that can happen. The worst thing is to lose your reason for living.Jo NesboFind meaning or don’t find meaning but 'steal' some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.Albert Camus(INA / Contributor / Getty)Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.Steve MaraboliIn times of pain, when the future is too terrifying to contemplate and the past too painful to remember, I have learned to pay attention to right now. The precise moment I was in was always the only safe place for me.Julia CameronThose who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.Viktor E. Frankl(United Archives / Contributor / Getty)Uplifting quotes for when you're feeling downIt’s time to move to happier and more positive thoughts! Since we have already enlisted quite a few sad depression quotes, we thought it would be a great idea to share with you some quotes that can instantly lift up your mood.While we need other people’s insight to better understand what’s happening to us when we’ve been sad for too long, we also need some uplifting sayings. The following positive quotes about depression will help you see that all is not lost and that you are resilient enough to overcome your current mood. I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me.Dr. Seuss(Dr. Seuss / Getty)You say you're 'depressed' - all i see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn't mean you're defective - it just means you're human. David MitchellGood humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.Greenville KleisserThere is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for. J.R.R. Tolkien(Haywood Magee / Stringer / Getty)Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.Jacques PrevertThe pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God. Victor HugoI will be stronger than my sadness. Jasmine WargaDepression quotes about strength and hopeLiving with depression can make you feel like you’ve been stripped of your own power and of any sense of hope for the future. Hopelessness is a heavy emotion and a key element of depression that can keep you feeling stuck in a downward spiral that seems impossible to overcome but the truth is, change is possible even when you’re feeling defeated.There are actionable steps you can take to break free of depression, and the first thing is to acknowledge how you’re feeling. If you or someone you know is struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, these powerful depression quotes will remind you of how resilient you are and hopefully inspire a change in perspective, towards a more positive outlook.I hope to one day see a sea of people all wearing silver ribbons as a sign that they understand the secret battle, and as a celebration of the victories made each day as we individually pull ourselves up out of our foxholes to see our scars heal, and to remember what the sun looks like.Jenny LawsonStrength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.Rikki RogersOnce you choose hope, anything is possible.Christopher ReeveYou may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.Margaret Thatcher(Richard Baker / Contributor / Getty)Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.Thich Nhat HanhEditor’s Note: Struggling and feeling hopeless? You are not alone. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Bob Marley Quotes That Will Shift Your Perspective for the Better
Musicians

Bob Marley Quotes That Will Shift Your Perspective for the Better

Bob Marley was—and indeed, is—a world-famous Jamaican reggae musician. Born in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica in 1945, Marley was a living legend known not only for his beautiful, inspiring music, but for being a politically conscious figure who integrated concepts of empowerment, love, contentment, spirituality, and social justice into his art form. He truly never avoided making a statement, even if controversial. He was known for denouncing society’s obsession with western consumerism and the constant race for money and material things.Early careerMarley began his career in a band called the Wailers in the early 60s. (Getty)By the late 1960s, he had become a Rastafarian, which influenced his music heavily. In the 1970s, he formed the band Bob Marley and the Wailers, and the group released several highly successful albums that effectively introduced the entire world to reggae. In 1981, however, Marley’s life was cut short when he died of cancer at the age of 36. Life after death(Al Pereira / Contributor / Getty)At his funeral, Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga delivered the final eulogy to Marley, saying: “His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds. Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation.”Although his life was cut tragically short, Marley’s musical talents and inspiring messages are still very much alive. His music was teeming with meaningful lyrics which encouraged listeners to seek a higher purpose in life and his messages are still here to expand the hearts and minds of anyone willing to listen.Bob Marley quotes to brighten your dayBob Marley was a major proponent of the power of positivity, and you’d be a damn fool not to enjoy a few of his best quotes on the topic.----“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”“One love, one heart, one destiny.”(Jacques Pavlovsky / Contributor / Getty)“Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright.”“Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me.”“One love, one heart…let’s get together and feel all right.”“You just can’t live in that negative way…make way for the positive day.”“My future is righteousness.”“Things will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”“You’re on a positive road. You have some type of direction where you’re going, so you have to just keep ongoing.”“When one door is closed, don’t you know, another is open.”Bob Marley inspirational quotesMost of us could use some quality motivational quotes now and then; after all, the world as we know it can be a discouraging place. Of course, Bob had a few words of wisdom on the matter. ------“Just because you are happy it does not mean that the day is perfect but that you have looked beyond its imperfections.”“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.”“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”“You have to be someone.”(Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty)“My feet is my only carriage so I’ve got to push on through.”“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”“You not supposed to feel down over what happen to you. I mean, you’re supposed to use whatever happen to you as some type of upper, not a downer.”“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake up and live!”“If you don't start somewhere, you're gonna go nowhere.”(Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty)“My fear is my only courage.”Bob Marley quotes about love and relationshipsWoman or man, it’s a rare one among us who can’t use a little guidance in the arena of love. As luck would have it, Bob had many thoughts to share with the lovers of the world.------“You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible.”“Love hard when there is love to be had.”“If she's amazing, she won't be easy. If she's easy, she won't be amazing. If she's worth it, you wont give up. If you give up, you're not worthy. ... Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.”(Getty)“You say you love rain, but you use an umbrella to walk under it. You say you love sun, but you seek shelter when it is shining. You say you love wind, but when it comes you close your windows. So that's why I'm scared when you say you love me.”“There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are.“The winds that sometimes take something we love, are the same that bring us something we learn to love. Therefore we should not cry about something that was taken from us, but, yes, love what we have been given. Because what is really ours is never gone forever.”“You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon.”“The biggest coward of a man is to awaken the love of a woman without the intention of loving her.”“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can ... a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end.”“If you can love the wrong person that much, imagine how much you can love the right one.”“I will never regret you or say I wish I’d never met you, because once upon a time, you were exactly what I needed.”“Don’t trust people whose feelings change with time. Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes.”“There will never be no love at all.”Bob Marley quotes on material wealthMost of us spend a good deal of our time chasing down money, wealth, stability. But Bob Marley saw the limitations of the material world very clearly and was able to articulate what he saw with great eloquence and wisdom.-------“Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.”“In the abundance of water a fool is thirsty.”“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”“The day you stop racing is the day you win the race.”(Chris Walter / Contributor / Getty)“Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together - black, white, Chinese, everyone - that's all.”“Money can’t buy life.”“If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.”“When the race gets hard to run. It means you just can’t take the peace.”“Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end.” “Love, friendship, laughter...some of the best things in life really are free.”Bob Marley quotes on justice(Gie Knaeps / Contributor / Getty)We can’t talk about the wisdom that Bob Marley imparted without addressing the strong thread of social, racial, and class justice woven throughout everything he did. Let the following quotes inspire you to do right by the world around you. “Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned—everywhere is war, me say war.”“Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.”“Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.”“Judge not unless you judge yourself.”“The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?”“Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight.”(Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty)“Free speech carries with it some freedom to listen. ”“Tell the children the truth.”“You entertain people who are satisfied. Hungry people can't be entertained - or people who are afraid. You can't entertain a man who has no food.”"Prejudice is a chain, it can hold you. If you prejudice, you can't move, you keep prejudice for years. Never get nowhere with that.”(Getty)“If you know your history, then you would know where you coming from, then you wouldn’t have to ask me, who the heck do I think I am.”Bob Marley quotes on spiritualityBob Marley was a strong proponent of the Rastafarian faith and its values, which is reflected strongly in the spiritual flavor of so many of his lyrics. Whether you identify as spiritual/religious or not, there are lessons to be gleaned from his many powerful statements on higher purpose and power.“I don't stand for black man's side, I don't stand for white man's side, I stand for God's side.”“If puss and dog can get together, why can’t we love one another?”“I don’t believe in death, neither in flesh nor in spirit.”“Truth is the light, so you never give up the fight.”(Allan Tannenbaum / Contributor / Getty)“If you get down and quarrel every day, you’re saying prayers to the devil, I say.”“Some people say great God come from the sky take away everything and make everybody feel high, but if you know what life is worth, you will look for yours on earth.”“Life and Jah are one and the same. Jah is the gift of existence. I am in some way eternal, I will never be duplicated. The singularity of every man and woman is Jah’s gift. What we struggle to make of it is our sole gift to Jah. The process of what that struggle becomes, in time, the Truth.”“And no matter what game they play, we got something they can never take away.”“Never expect God to do for you what you don’t do to others.”“What important is man should live in righteousness, in natural love for mankind.”Strong Bob Marley quotes on life(Rob Verhorst / Contributor / Getty)If you move through life without the occasional need for some quality perseverance quotes to fortify you, you’re a rare exception! Drink of Bob’s illuminating insight, why don’t you?“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?”“You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”“The problem is people are being hated when they are real, and are being loved when they are fake.”“Your worst enemy could be your best friend and your best friend your worst enemy.”“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.”“When the root is strong, the fruit is sweet.”“Well, the biggest man you ever did see once was just a baby.” “In this bright future you can't forget your past.”(Getty)“Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.”In conclusionThat’s it—your dosage of life-altering sagacity for the day. If you’d like to deepen the Bob Marley experience even further, try listening to some of his tunes—at full volume, of course! One love.

101 Quotes on Passion to Inspire
Quotes

101 Quotes on Passion to Inspire

Passion can be a little bit hard to define, but any of us can recognize it once we see it – whether in ourselves or others around us.Some attribute passion to work and others to hobbies. Some think about passion only romantically and others are simply passionate about every little thing that brings them joy. In an attempt to define it, we’ll say that passion is an intense feeling towards something or someone. A feeling that gives you endless energy and enthusiasm when it comes to an activity or interest. When you’re passionate about something, nothing that has to do with it will ever become boring or tiring. You’ll always think about all the positive outcomes that certain activity brings you, so getting over some of its “not so great” parts will never exhaust you.The following inspirational quotes on passion focus more on the enthusiasm towards different interests, activities and work. They’ll teach you how to find your passion and stick with it. Finally, the words below will help you keep a keen interest in life in general.Find your motivation with these 101 passion quotes:Work passion quotes One thing’s for sure – it is enough to like what you do for a living to make the hours fly by, unnoticed. However, when you’re really passionate about your work, every goal is more easily achieved. You’re never too tired and nothing about what you do will seem tedious.Not many can brag about making an income out of their passion, but those who do are definitely happier. In hopes that you’ll someday be this lucky, here’s our list of work passion quotes to help you live life on your own terms.Chase your passion, not your pension. Denis WaitleyTrue passion attracts. If you have passion in your business, the right people will be attracted to your team. Robert T. Kiyosaki(Patrick McMullan / Contributor/ Getty)Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.UnknownNo alarm clock needed. My passion wakes me. Eric ThomasTo succeed you have to believe in something with such passion that it becomes a reality. Anita RoddickPassion is so key in leading and creating excellence that I will hire passion over education and talent every time. Dave RamseyMake your passion your paycheck. UnknownA great leader’s courage to fulfil his vision comes from passion, not position. John C. MaxwellBe spectacularly great at what you do. Wear your passion on your sleeve and hold your heart in the palm of your hand. And work hard. Really hard. Robin S. SharmaThe biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else…The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career! Earl NightingaleWork hard! In the end, passion and hard work beat out natural talent. Pete DocterForget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, harness your power to your passion. Honor your calling. Everybody has one. Trust your heart, and success will come to you.Oprah Winfrey(Adam Bettcher / Stringer / Getty)A passion for one’s work makes life happier, and work no longer work. UnknownI believe you are your work. Don’t trade the stuff of your life, time, for nothing more than dollars. That’s a rotten bargain. Rita Mae BrownTo be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work. Sister Mary LaurettaTrust not what inspires other members of society to choose a career. Trust what inspires you.” Ernie ZelinskiNothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.Jon Bon JoviOne person with passion is better than forty people merely interested. E. M. ForsterYou can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support.Sabrina BryanDesire! That’s the one secret of every man’s career. Not education. Not being born with hidden talents. Desire. Bobby UnserThere is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it’s the aspiration of an athlete or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson. Anthony RobbinsMy mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general, if you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.’ Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.Pablo Picasso(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances are you’ll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous. Bob BlackYour work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. UnknownDon’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Howard ThurmanIt is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. It’s also a very clear path to happiness. Sheryl SandbergYes, in all my research, the greatest leaders looked inward and were able to tell a good story with authenticity and passion. Deepak Chopra(Michael Tran / Contributor / Getty)Follow your passion. Nothing—not wealth, success, accolades or fame—is worth spending a lifetime doing things you don’t enjoy. Jonathan SacksJust making it another day doesn’t get us where we truly want to be. We must move with vigor, passion, and fixed determination to achieve our goals. UnknownHire for passion and intensity; there is training for everything else. Nolan BushnellBuild your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs. Farrah GrayIf you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development. Brian TracyA person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm. Charles M. SchwabSkills are cheap. Passion is priceless.Gary Vaynerchuk(Roy Rochlin / Stringer / Getty)More passion quotes to inspireA few words said the right way can (re)ignite passion. They can remind us of something that we used to love doing, but got lost on the way. The little time we often have for ourselves made us put everything else above our passions.We’ve handpicked the following passion quotes to inspire you and to remind you that you should never let go of anything that puts your soul on fire.A true passion that burns within your soul is one that can never be put out. Zach ToelkePassion will move men beyond themselves, beyond their shortcomings, beyond their failures.Joseph CampbellMy mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Maya Angelou(Riccardo S. Savi / Contributor / Getty)The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. Ferdinand FochAs long as you’ve got passion, faith and are willing to work hard, you can do anything you want in this life.UnknownYour passion is waiting for your courage to catch up. Isabelle LaflecheDreams and passion are more powerful than facts and reality. Gail Lynne GoodwinRest in reason; move in passion. Kahlil Gibran(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)Know your passion. Follow it. Dream it. Live it.UnknownPassion is born when you catch a glimpse of your true potential. UnknownAlways go with your passions. Never ask yourself if it’s realistic or not. Deepak ChopraOur passion is our strength. Billie Joe ArmstrongI have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. Albert Einstein(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty)Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. Anthony J. D’AngeloIt is obvious that we can no more explain a passion to a person who has never experienced it than we can explain light to the blind. T. S. EliotPurpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights the way. UnknownThere is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life. Federico FelliniIf passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. Benjamin Franklin(Stock Montage / Contributor / Getty)Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot. D.H. LawrencePassion kept one fully in the present, so that time became a series of mutually exclusive ‘nows.’ Sue HalpernIf we could live without passion maybe we’d know some kind of peace… but we would be hollow… Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we’d be truly dead. Joss WhedonChase down your passion like it’s the last bus of the night. Terri GuillemetsLight yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn. John WesleyYou have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out. Steve JobsOnly passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. Denis DiderotIf we resist our passions, it is more through their weakness than from our strength. François de la RochefoucauldWithout passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark. Henri Frederic AmielNever underestimate the power of passion. Eve SawyerI would rather die of passion than of boredom.Vincent Van Gogh(DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI / Contributor / Getty)It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.Mae JemisonYou can’t fake passion. Barbara CorcoranNobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.Martha GrahamPeople with great passion can make the impossible happen. UnknownNothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion. George HegelPeople like to warn you that by the time you reach the middle of your life, passion will begin to feel like a meal eaten long ago, which you remember with great tenderness. Meg WolitzerCreativity is not merely the innocent spontaneity of our youth and childhood; it must also be married to the passion of the adult human being, which is a passion to live beyond one’s death. Rollo MayServe someone such as by charity and if not money simply by helping people in pursuing their passion or motivating them. UnknownPassion is the genesis of genius. Anthony Robbins(The Washington Post / Contributor / Getty)How to find your passionHave you ever found yourself in this situation where you know what you like, yet you can’t say that you’re passionate about something in particular? We frequently see our friends doing things out of pure passion, but none of those things appeal to us.That’s okay! Sometimes it takes time to discover your true passion. It can often be something you’ve never thought about – a hidden talent or an activity that you haven’t even tried yet.Maybe the following sayings will help you discover the things that bring you joy faster, so check out our list of quotes on how to find your passion.When you identify your passion and align it with whatever you’re doing, a magical synergy happens that will effortlessly carry you to rarefied heights. UnknownIf you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose. T.D. JakesThere is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. Nelson MandelaIf you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it. Wanda Sykes(Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty)Love what you do and do what you love. Passion is the key that opens the door to joy and abundance. David CuschieriEvery great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet TubmanIt is the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion. Rebecca WestJust don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong. Ella Fitzgerald(Express Newspapers / Stringer / Getty)The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. George Bernard ShawIf you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion. Mia HammThe things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling. UnknownAnything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing. Hunter S. ThompsonAlmost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.Steve Jobs(Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty)I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do. Georgia O’KeeffeWe cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it. Che GuavaraPassion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. Oprah WinfreyIf there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen for you, to you and because of you. T. Alan ArmstrongPassion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose, you will normally find it’s something you’re tremendously passionate about. Steve PavlinaThe voice of passion is better than the voice of reason. The passionless cannot change history. Czeslaw MiloszFollow your own passion – not your parents’, not your teachers’– yours. Robert BallardThe two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain(Bettmann / Contributor / Getty) Passion isn’t something that lives way up in the sky, in abstract dreams and hopes. It lives at ground level, in the specific details of what you’re actually doing every day. Marcus BuckinghamI have to face life with a newly found passion. I must rediscover the irresistible will to learn, to live and to love. Andrea BocelliPassion is your joy, it is the essence of who you are. You have to unwrap it and find it. Jackie St. OngeWhen your passion and purpose are greater than your fears and excuses, you will find a way. UnknownPurpose may point you in the right direction but it’s passion that propels you. Travis McAshanBe fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. Jennifer LeeFinding your passion isn’t just about careers and money. It’s about finding your authentic self. The one you’ve buried beneath other people’s needs. UnknownThe very basic of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. Christopher McCandless

10 Quotes That Will Make You Stop Caring What Others Think
Quotes

10 Quotes That Will Make You Stop Caring What Others Think

We all want to be loved and accepted, but this most human desire to connect and belong can hamper us when we let the opinions of others decide how we ought to live our lives. Pursuing our own passions can seem a lonely road in the short run, and it carries the risk of sometimes alienating those we love. Yet if we allow our courage and self-love to speak louder than our fears, we ultimately learn that the road we thought "harder" -- that of harnessing our unique potential without regard to the pressures and opinions of others -- is the only one that can lead to success and fulfillment. And it's the only road that leads to true connection as well, built on the support and cherishing of your differences that lie at the heart of all genuine affection.Here, to help you to block out the noise, are 10 Quotes That Will Make You Stop Caring What Others Think.Here Are 10 Quotes That Will Make You Stop Caring What Others ThinkCare about people's approval, and you will always be their prisoner.- Lao TzuBe who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.- Dr. Seuss (read more Dr. Seuss quotes)If you have an over-preoccupation with perception and trying to please people's expectations, then you can go mad.- Benedict CumberbatchYou have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It’s their mistake, not my failing.- Richard P. FeynmanSome people say you are going the wrong way, when it’s simply a way of your own.- Angelina Jolie (read more Angelina Jolie quotes)Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.- Albert Einstein (read more quotes)Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.- Mark TwainYou probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do!- Olin MillerNo one can make you feel inferior without your consent.- Eleanor Roosevelt (read more Eleanor Roosevelt quotes)There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.- Aristotle

The Value Of Introspection For Personal And Spiritual Growth
Self-Development

The Value Of Introspection For Personal And Spiritual Growth

The world is full of distractions. Bright, shiny objects are always competing to grab our attention, be it our phones, TV screens, our work, our relationships, social media, billboards, shopping malls, supermarket aisles. Smells, sounds, sensations, sights, the richness of the external world is alluring, enticing, demanding.There’s a lot of beauty in the world, and focusing attention on the external is absolutely vital to live as an engaged member of society. However, when all of our attention is fixed on the external, at all times, we miss the richness and beauty of the inner world. Turning attention within, in a process of introspection, is the key to all forms of self-knowledge and self-growth.From the most profound spiritual teaching to experimental social psychology research, many solutions and insights rely on introspection and self insight. But there’s more to introspection than thinking, or being caught in your own thoughts, or daydreaming about potential futures. As a purposeful act, introspection illuminates the fullness of your truest essence, shining a light on your wants, desires, shortcomings, and the fullness of your unique expression.This article will cover the main qualities of introspection — self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-knowledge — along with the benefits of introspection for self fulfillment. By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of how to turn attention inwards with intent and purpose.The history of psychology and introspectionIntrospection, in its simplest term, is examining your own thoughts, feelings, emotions, and inner life. The word itself translates from the Latin introspicere, meaning “to look within.” In psychology, it’s a form of meta-cognition, of observing the inner world and how it operates. It’s a way of understanding conscious experience and offers an overlap between the “objective” world and the subjective experience of being. Introspection has been part of the fabric of human understanding for thousands of years, stretching back to ancient Greece. Socrates, who died around 399 BCE, was an advocate of the maxim “Know Thyself.” Plato, his famed student, also saw introspection as a path to wisdom, truth and greater well being.Science, as the strict discipline we know it to be today, originated in the 17th century, thousands of years after ancient teachings of the value of introspection. Psychology is a relatively new scientific discipline, forming in the 19th century. Around that time, in the 1800s, German psychologist and philosopher Wilhelm Wundt introduced introspection to the field of experimental psychology, which uses the scientific method to research and find data on the human experience.The introspection illusion and objectivityWundt's approach, of objectively observing people’s processes to understand the mind, led to psychology becoming closer aligned to the scientific method. Wundt believed that a great deal of the problem for introspection in psychology is the introspection illusion. Most people have inherent cognitive biases within their own minds, making self-reports difficult. Psychology became less introspective with fields such as behavioral psychology, although more recent cognitive psychology and positive psychology place value on subjective experience.This is the curious paradox of psychology as a discipline — although a verifiable scientific method, psychology is reliant on the subjective in nature. You can’t strip away the subjective conscious experience from the human experience. William James, a pioneer of modern psychology, articulates this issue beautifully. He wrote:“That unshareable feeling which each one of us has of the pinch of his individual destiny as he privately feels it rolling out on fortune’s wheel may be disparaged for its egotism, may be sneered at as unscientific, but it is the one thing that fills up the measure of our concrete actuality, and any would-be existent that should lack such a feeling, or its analogue. would be a piece of reality only half made up.”That’s where behavioral psychology falls short. Looking at people’s outward behavior and motivation from outside, relying on self-reporting, is a reality only half made up, and the wrong way to go about it. That means introspection, and exploring the truth of being, is a personal experience of self observation. Whereas the use of introspection can help understand the components of our psychology, it can also go a step further, to understand the soul.Introspection and spiritual growthMainstream Western psychology is a recent discipline, but look to the East, and the subjective nature of the self has been studied extensively in many ancient traditions. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, for example, lists Svadhyaya as one of the Niyamas, the qualities of living a spiritual life according to yogic philosophy.Svadhyaya comes from Sva (Self) and Adhyaya (lesson, lecture or reading). The translation of the term, then, means self-study. Patanjali’s sutra proclaims: “Study thyself, discover the divine.” This is a step beyond a lot of conventional Western approaches. Eastern esoteric traditions (eso - inner) teach that divinity itself, our pure true essence beyond all objects, is attained through introspection. In this context, introspection isn’t a practice only to view the objects of mind and understand our individual psychology, but to connect to the soul. This is supported by a wider worldview that explains consciousness as part of the fabric of reality, which is in its own right objective and knowable through inward focus.Introspection and self-reflectionWilliam James coined the term reflective awareness as a mechanism of mind. Not only are humans able to witness their inner-process, and are self-aware of their place in the Earth and wider cosmos, but are able to analyze and assess these processes. Part of this is sense-making. In other words, many people self-reflect to understand themselves deeper, to know why they did or felt things in the past.(m-gucci / Getty)Reflection is a practice that is careful and attentive. For me, introspection and self-reflection go hand in hand, as self-reflection is an introspective process and can lead to positive change. I view self-reflection as linked to past events, in a process of looking back and reflecting on behaviors and processes to create a deeper understanding in the present. The biggest benefit of this is that, so often in life, we become caught up in reactivity, emotion, or distraction. It’s only upon careful reflection do we uncover deeper truths. When setting aside time to reflect, then we view past situations from a more balanced and grounded perspective.Introspection and self-awarenessAs well as reflecting on past behavior, introspective improves self-awareness. That’s because not all information is available to us, consciously, at any given moment. As Carl Jung said: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” The power of introspection is that, by turning attention within, unconscious contents become conscious. Information that isn’t available to us is revealed, igniting a journey of self-discovery.When we self-reflect and become aware of this information, or the particular tendencies or personality traits, we become more self-aware. As the practice of mindfulness reminds us, this process of introspection and observation is best achieved with non-judgment. The information revealed isn’t there to be seen as good or bad, but simply acknowledged, leading to a process of self-acceptance.As self-study begins to create a clear picture of unconscious processes and self-awareness increases, then we’re able to change, grow, and to move beyond limitations. “The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude,” wrote William James. Greater self-awareness leads to conscious decisions to act in ways that aren’t on autopilot, or dictated by the unconscious. Then, and only then, do we become truly in control of our lives, resulting in stronger relationships and a happier life.Introspection and self-knowledgeBecause mainstream psychology, at one point, merged with the scientific method, it placed a lot of emphasis on objective validation. However, stretch back to Socrates and Plato, and look at Eastern traditions, and you’ll find that introspection has always been seen as a way to gain knowledge. Not only of the Self, but of the wider cosmos and nature of reality. Christianity, too, saw introspection as a means to attain knowledge. Gnosis, which translates from the Greek “knowing,” talks to the divine knowledge or understanding that is found within. What does introspection mean on a personal level? Self-knowledge is a path of discovery. At the very least, because information becomes conscious, the process of self-discovery leads to surprising revelations and insights about yourself.Keep in mind, the latest scientific estimates believe unconscious processes make up for 95 percent of mental activity. There’s a whole universe to explore, metaphorically and, maybe, literally.Four practices of introspectionAnyone who has spent time ruminating or replaying past events in mind will know not all introspection is equal. That’s not to say introspection is good or bad. The practice itself is neutral, but the way it is applied makes a world of difference to what benefits are found. Below are a few practices of introspection you can try, to boost self-knowledge and begin the process of knowing yourself.1. The “Who Are You” exercise(brizmaker / Getty)Studies into self-awareness have found that most people believe themselves to be more self-aware than they actually are. It’s not surprising, considering the magnitude of the unconscious mind, and the low value society places on skilled introspection. Although it can feel frightening to accept that there could be much more to “You” than you’re consciously aware of, the process of self-discovery often leads to deeper fulfillment and joy in life.One exercise is the “Who Are You” exercise. This involves the repetition of the question, followed by as many answers as you can find. You might begin with many I am… statements, such as: I am Ricky. I am 31-years-old. I am a writer. I am a son. I am a brother. Eventually, though, you will reveal deeper and deeper beliefs about who you are.The purpose of this exercise is to highlight ego-based stories about your identity. The answer reveals the building blocks of the self-image that you hold in mind. Ultimately, who you really are is constantly changing. You can never be reduced to a thought or a belief. And there’s always more to discover.2. Observe thoughts without judgmentWe touched upon the value of mindfulness and meditation in revealing the nature of mind through introspection. The basic practice of mindfulness is to allow the mind to be, without interference. Often, we either run away or chase thoughts or feelings. If something is unpleasant, we don’t enjoy the experience and want it to end. If something is pleasant, we want it to last forever.Take time to start a meditation practice where you observe the thoughts, emotions, and sensations running through your conscious experience. Can you observe these without labeling them, or turning them into stories? Can you view these as “objects” that aren’t actually “You”? The more you do this, the more you’re able to identify with the witness, the unchanging, incorruptible nature of the self.3. Start a self-study routineIn our hyper-productive society, it’s easy to be drawn into the desire to attain knowledge from the outside world. This might be learning new skills, or reading up on philosophy or psychology to add to our repertoire of information. But as we know, for thousands of years, great scholars and spiritual teachers have taught that self-study is a valid form of knowledge. I recommend self-study make up the majority of your self-development practice.It helps to understand the role of knowledge and the purpose for learning. This article, for example, provides context around self-knowledge, explains its value, and offers instruction to boost your level of introspection. This knowledge is gained with the purpose of directing you back to yourself. It’s a form of instruction.Learning about psychology alone is purely entertainment unless applied to yourself. Remember this at all times. And make sure to balance the process of learning and discovering the nuances of your inner world with learning new information. Many people avoid actually facing themselves by instead stocking up on facts, theories, or concepts, feeling that is the work.4. The “this thought isn’t mine” exerciseDo your thoughts belong to you? Take a moment to ponder this question. The default state is to identity, unconsciously, with all of our inner processes and thoughts as if we own them, as if they make up who we are. In truth, most of our thoughts aren’t even ours, but a symptom of being conditioned from a number of outside sources. This includes our family, our peers, our education, our government, our media.This is a powerful exercise because it creates a sense of objectivity towards the nature of mind. When you experience a thought process, know it’s not who you are, it’s an experience you’re having. Then ask the question: is this thought mine? Did I choose it? Or did someone else choose it for me?A big part of spiritual growth and self-development is unlearning. Let’s face it, collective psychology is a mess. We’re disconnected from ourselves, mental illness is growing, bigotry and hate rule supreme, and we’re instilled with unconscious biases from racism to sexism or selfishness. The process of identifying when thoughts have been internalized from outside allows you to begin to discern and distill the authentic you from the external noise. You’ll be amazed how much junk is in there, and what’s more, often that junk influences our behavior from the unconscious! Ditching the junk, and purifying the mind, is a true path of self-discovery.In conclusionThe world is full of distractions. Bright, shiny objects are always competing to grab our attention. However, having read through this article, my wish is that you see the value of turning your attention within, and taking time to turn away from distractions. (m-imagephotography / Getty)Through the process of introspection, suddenly those objects become less shiny when compared to the blistering light of your inner, true essence.

How to Tell if It's Too Soon to Move on From Your Breakup
Heartbreak

How to Tell if It's Too Soon to Move on From Your Breakup

Breakups are incredibly complex and necessitate many layers of healing to fully, completely move on. When relationships matter-- truly, deeply matter-- there’s no off switch when you agree to call it quits. Love and memories still remain.Throw intense emotions, a restructuring of your schedule, a loss of physical intimacy, possibly the loss of your ex’s friends and family into the mix and a one-size-fits-all answer to how soon is too soon to move on becomes almost impossible to figure out.Moving on takes time When you're in the eye of the storm, feeling all the feelings, it’s understandable to seek a fixed and certain time limit on the grieving process. I get it. I know the feeling. Being with your sadness is an act of courage. It’s natural to question how long the process might take. However, my intention is not to provide solid answers or a timeframe. Instead, I wish to share a few tips that, in my personal and professional experience, have yielded a healthy approach to moving on.What is "moving on" after a breakup?I’m a lucky guy. I’ve fallen in love numerous times. Yet, break-ups never get easier. However, I’ve learned that regardless of what led to the end, if I valued and cared enough to establish a consistent, intimate relationship with someone, those feelings of love wouldn't simply go away.Perhaps this sounds obvious. But as years have gone by, I’d attempt to sanitize my feelings, as if moving on meant feeling completely indifferent towards my ex. Naturally, framing it this way led to lots of frustration because the love still remains.My first full relationship ended 10 years ago. I still love her. Another relationship ended four years ago. I still love her. Another ended three years ago. I still love her. Another ended just under a year ago. I still love her too. See the recurring theme?It's a non-linear, illogical processThe difference is although I love my exes and want the best for them, I no longer crave to be close to them or wish to rekindle a romance. Would I like them to be involved in my life to some degree? Perhaps. But I accept that this isn’t always practical. And I accept and have gratitude for the times we shared.If love remains then what does moving on mean? Well, firstly, moving on is a gradual process. It isn’t linear. It doesn’t make sense. I can have days following the breakup where I feel completely fine but then, experience a rough day years after it happened. Matters of the heart aren’t logical. They’re completely absurd. Don’t waste too much time trying to work it all out. The importance is to allow yourself to feel.However, over time, there’s less emotional charge to the memory of an ex. The love — a calm, soothing unconditional love — remains. But there’s no giddiness, ferocious sadness or grief at the loss of what once was. Instead, I find happy memories cause positive reflection.Consequently, I notice storylines around “what could’ve been” settle in my mind. In the aftermath of all breakups, I struggle to see the reasoning. Even when I know it’s the end, part of me wants to plead and bargain, to just find a way because surely love is enough, right?After some time, this bargaining fades and I reach the final stage of grief, which is acceptance.What about meeting someone new?For many people, including myself, the process of moving on may appear to be concluded when we meet someone new. A word of caution on this topic: meeting a new person after a relationship is a tricky territory. It isn’t always a bad decision. But when meeting someone soon after a break-up, it takes a little soul searching to uncover our motives. Does it come from a genuine, healthy place?The most important aspect of moving on is healing. In the past, I’ve moved into new relationships to avoid feelings of pain. I’ve tried to fill the void by meeting someone new. This is an approach that avoids processing and acknowledging pain, and will cause issues to resurface down the line.It must be said though, that it is entirely possible to grow and heal with someone else, if your new partner is understanding and accepting, and awareness is brought into the healing process.That’s a far cry from falling into a new relationship and denying any aspect of pain that remains from a fresh breakup, essentially using the love and attention of someone else as a mechanism to enhance self-worth. Developing a strong sense of selfI’ve previously written about the importance of retaining independence in romance and avoiding Cupid’s Timeline. If the relationship you’re leaving was healthy, then it’s entirely possible you’ll leave with a fuller, whole sense of self. However, codependent traits can seep into any relationship, even with the best intentions.For example, after I’d done a lot of work around codependency, I met someone whose chemistry seemed to ignite the shadow part of myself I naively assumed I had healed. But I’d done the work away from relationships. I was aware of certain tendencies. But it was only after meeting this person that these behaviors and emotional patterns got triggered. Therefore, I needed to confront them in as they occurred in real-time and not in meditation or reflection.Break up the patternI learned that if there’s conflict in a relationship, I have a tendency to project my emotions onto my partner. I expect them to take joint responsibility, as if I were entitled to it. Healthy relationships are supportive, but my emotions are my responsibility. And unless I build and strengthen my ability to process them, the pattern will repeat over and over.For example, let’s say I feel really sad after a breakup. A reflex of mine is to project my sadness onto a partner, for them to make me feel better. After losing my partner, I struggle to process this sadness on my own. Then, I meet someone new, and all of a sudden I feel better and the sadness eases.Without consciousness, I can move from one relationship to the next as a mechanism to handle sadness without ever confronting it. Again, mutual support is essential in loving relationships. But if I always require someone else to process my sadness, anxiety and feelings of insecurity, I will always fall into codependent relationships. This can lead to addictive or poor decision-making when looking for future partners.So how soon is too soon?To conclude, there’s no definitive timeline for moving on. But it’s important to consider the key points of healing from a heartbreak. It is a process that involves forgiveness, processing grief, acceptance, and re-building independence. Honesty with ourselves is required to really check in with how we feel about the loss of someone who, no doubt, has had a big impact on our lives.I know how difficult it is to be with the pain. The impulse is to run, escape, find something to soothe. However, to really grow through a break-up, and move on in a healthy way, we have to sit with the pain, and learn from it. I’ll leave you with these words from Pema Chödrön in When Things Fall Apart:Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape — all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.Breakups suck, there’s no doubt. But if you have the courage to confront your pain, the process of moving on will act as a huge catalyst for your personal growth.More helpful articles:How Not Talking About Relationship Anxiety Hurt My New LoveThese Are the Two Types of Forgiveness You Need to Move onI Lost My Identity in My Relationship — Then I Found Myself in the Breakup

What Emma Watson Really Means When She Says She's "Self-Partnered"
Self-Development

What Emma Watson Really Means When She Says She's "Self-Partnered"

Emma Watson announced in a British Vogue interview that she has changed her relationship status from "single" to "self-partnered," and everyone's busy talking about it. Compared by many to Gwyneth Paltrow’s reframing of her divorce as "conscious uncoupling," Watson is known for her willingness to engage more deeply than most celebs with the social issues and activism she encounters, particularly around gender. As strange as it may sound, self-partnering is simply about trying to focus on being happy and complete as an individual— ultimately investing time in getting to know oneself without bowing to pressures to seek fulfillment in a partner. It doesn’t mean you’re not open to it. It just means you're with yourself first. Emma Watson is all grown up nowWhat is "self-partnered"?Watson recently told British Vogue that as her 30th birthday approaches, she’s finally happy with being single. "It took me a long time, but I'm very happy. I call it being self-partnered," she said. Let’s face it, the reality is, 2019 though it may be, the pressures facing single women on the precipice of 30 (or older) are still quite real. Personally, I found myself dealing with the breakup of a longterm relationship at the age of 29, and all I saw was my same-age ex-boyfriend getting hit on by women both "age-appropriate" and far younger. At the time, I was suffering a lack of confidence—out of character—which allowed mainstream notions of "aging women" and where we should be in life (with a man and kids—before it's too "late") enter my sphere. Close to a decade later, I now feel these prescribed pressures far less, having seen their true potential to block happiness—whether they’ve been fulfilled or not. It's about having choicesWatson’s role in the upcoming remake of Little Women is seemingly an extension of the way she approaches real-life feminism. To that end, she says that she’s dedicated to learning about and expanding on what being a feminist truly means. Although the story’s eldest March sister, Meg (who Watson plays) isn’t traditionally understood as a feminist—especially compared to the rebellious, free-spirited Jo-- Watson wants the world to understand, once and for all, that for her, feminism is about the right to choose, regardless of what it is that one chooses. "Her choice is that she wants to be a full-time mother and wife," says Watson. "To Jo, being married is really some sort of prison sentence. But Meg says, ‘You know, I love him and I’m really happy and this is what I want."Just because my dreams are different from yours, it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.The importance of intersectionality in all thingsWhile Emma Watson has indeed been stealing headlines with her coining of the term "self-partnered," it’s important to point out that while the new label works to reframe singledom, it also happens to derail more complex, less snappy conversations Watson has had about her experiences learning intersectionality (aka intersectional feminism). What is intersectionality, you may ask? Why, the inherently interconnected nature of social categories like race, class, and gender, of course, and how they overlap to create systems of discrimination or disadvantage. As Lola Okolosie writes for The Guardian, Watson has done the work necessary to understand criticism she's received in the past."When I heard myself being called a ‘white feminist’ I didn’t understand (I suppose I proved their case in point). What was the need to define me — or anyone else for that matter — as a feminist by race? What did this mean? Was I being called racist? Was the feminist movement more fractured than I had understood? I began... panicking,” said Watson. “It would have been more useful to spend the time asking myself questions like: What are the ways I have benefited from being white? In what ways do I support and uphold a system that is structurally racist? How do my race, class and gender affect my [feminist] perspective?” She went on to thank other feminists for calling her out. Should we all be self-partnered?If the collective "we" should find ourselves willing to draw valuable lessons from the work and life (thus far) of Emma Watson, let it be the following: the importance of remaining open— always open— to new ways of framing experiences, new definitions of well-worn terms, and even altogether new ways of understanding the ways of the world at large. You do that, and you'll be your own best partner.More inspiring celebrities:Inside Missy Elliott’s Secret Illness and Triumphant ComebackMeryl Streep Fought Through the Tragic Loss of Her First Love to Find HappinessWho is the Real Angelina Jolie? Hero or VillainLinda Hamilton’s Terminator Journey Took Her Full Circle

What We Can Learn From Bill Gates' Regrets About Paul Allen
Entrepreneurs

What We Can Learn From Bill Gates' Regrets About Paul Allen

When you think of Microsoft, Bill Gates comes to mind immediately. However, numerous sources reveal the company's co-founder, the late Paul Allen, was also instrumental to the brand's success. The Netflix docuseries Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates recently explored many facets of the world's most famous billionaire, including his personal life and the things he regrets.Let's explore why Gates may view Allen as his biggest regretGates and Allen met in the late1960s at Seattle's Lakeside School when Gates was in eighth grade. Allen wastwo classes ahead.The schoolmates landed in hot water with the school when they exploited a bug in a teletype terminal to give themselves usage privileges. Since computer terminals were rare at the time, it cost people up to $60 to use them. Allen and Gates were fascinated by the terminal, but the expenses proved prohibitive. They worked out an arrangement touse the system for free in exchange for alerting the school to any flaws. Gateslater mentioned the terminal asthe object that broughtthe two together. They shared the same dreamComputers were not fads for Allenor Gates. In the 1970s, Allen was working as a programmer in Boston, whileGates was a student at Harvard University. After beginning as a pre-law majorin 1973, Gates quickly changed his focus and sped through some of the mostadvanced computer and mathematics courses Harvard offered. In 1975, Gates made a fateful call from his dorm room to a company that had built an early personal computer called the Altair 8800. Gates offered to develop software for the system. The firm accepted and paid him $3,000 plus royalties for the work. Due to this contract, Gates left school to focus on a venture he called Micro-Soft. The enterprise ended up being a team effort between Allen and Gates-- they co-founded Microsoft on April 4, 1975. The company went public in 1987, and Bill Gates became a 31-year-old billionaire only a year later. How did Paul Allen fit into Microsoft? For starters, he arranged to buy an early operating system from a Seattle programmer. Once Gates and Allen tweaked the system's code, it helped IBM's first personal computer function in 1981. Moreover, Allen persuaded Gates todrop out of college to pursue software development. Plus, he came up with theMicrosoft name and focused on its goal of providing software for smallcomputers, rather than the earliest models that filled entire rooms. Friendship under strainMicrosoft launched in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, in 1979 — a year after the company's sales topped $1 million — it relocated to Bellevue, Washington, a Seattle suburb. There, Gates and Allen's grew rocky relationship. In 1983, Allen left the company and clarified some of the reasons.Allen said he disagreed with Gates on numerous things, including product and hiring-related decisions. In his memoir, Idea Man, Allen wrote:Over the years, the result of these and other incidents has been the gradual destruction of both our friendship and our ability to work together.Tech betrayals are nothing newAllen does not stand alone among tech company founders as someone who disagreed with his colleagues. Take Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, as an example. People have tapped Zuckerberg as the next Bill Gates, mainly due to his pioneering efforts in digital technology. Another thing that links Gates to Zuckerberg is the unrest between co-founders. In 2005, Zuckerberg diluted co-founder Eduardo Saverin's stake in the company and then ousted him. Saverin, who met Zuckerberg at Harvard Unversity, invested the initial $15,000 to build and host Facebook. Six months after the site's launch, the company relocated to Palo Alto, California. The story, from a clandestine school meeting to a move and falling out, is a similar one. Is it possible Saverin is Zuckerberg's' Paul Allen? Saverin played an instrumental role in Facebook's origins — much like Allen with Microsoft. Farhad Manjoo, a techindustry expert from Silicon Valley, believes the corporation is too big tofail.In a 2018 New York Times piece, Manjoo questioned whether Zuckerberg should still lead Facebook. He pointed out how the leader's shares have 10 times the voting power of normal ones, making him far more influential than others at the company. Allen claims disagreements withGates led him to leave the company. However, company shares also played a rolein his decision to cut ties. Allen's health suffered while their friendship fell apartIn April 2011, Paul Allen published a book called Idea Man that shed light on some of the friction between himself and Gates. An article from The Wall Street Journal said the printed work positioned Gates as a confrontational taskmaster and someone unsuitable for Allen's more laid-back personality. In the book, Allen described himself as the person who sparked many of Microsoft's ideas.Idea Man also revealswhat Gates did to maximize his monetary benefits. Gates first insisted on a60-40 split with Allen in Gates' favor. However, he later renegotiated it to a64-36 split.The last straw for Allen was when he overheard Gates talking to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The discussion centered around how to dilute Allen's equity due to complaints of his alleged lack of productivity. Allen had recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and viewed the talk as an exploitation of his weakest moment.Their final days togetherGates and Allen reportedly didn't speak for a year after Idea Man came out. However, they eventually patched the rift, and Gates was looking forward to spending more time with Allen. In one interview, Gates anticipated yacht trips, saying he'd already traveled that way with Allen, but was planning more once the kids left for college.After Allen's death in 2018 due to cancer complications, Gates emphasized the extent of his bond with Allen, saying: Paul was a true partner and dear friend. Personal computing would not have existed without him.In Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates, the billionaire didn't say much about the relationship between himself and Allen, but he admitted he he had been tough on Paul at times. Bill's wife, Melinda, says two talked more as they repaired their friendship. We had times with Paul, we would sit for hours. They were like two little boys laughing together over these old stories.Can business and friendship co-exist?According to the Netflixdocumentary, Gates reconnected with Paul when he publicized the return of hiscancer. He claims the friendship was more important than anything that camebetween them. Even though their interpersonal drama eased, Gates may stillsee their longstanding tension as a regret.Allen and Gates both possessedbrilliant minds. If they had resolved their differences sooner, they could havecontinued to work together. They may have brought Microsoft to even moreprominence. Disagreements are frequent in the business world, especially among people with big ideas. However, it's a mistake to let them get in the way of progress.Allen and Gates' collaboration made Microsoft possible and though their friendship suffered, it was clear they valued it greatly, as shown by their rekindling of it in their final days.In our desire to reach our dreams, we shouldn't lose sight of the people we love and those who help us along the way. Finding a work to work with those who support us rather than butting heads is the surest path to accomplishing our goals.