A Grandfather's Instructions for Life - Part 2
Back with the second half of instructions that will not only help you, but will help everyone around you as well
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Life:
When I was a kid, my Granddad, and hero/mentor/idol gave me a list entitled, “A Grandfather’s Instructions for Life.” Confused, I read through this extensive list not having a strong grasp on what all these rules meant. My Granddad simply told me to refer to this list often throughout my life, and always keep a smile on my face. I took his word for it, and as I grew up, I referred to this list more times than I can count. Even as a grown man I still read through the sentimental list when I am needing Grandad’s advice.
As I was pondering the topic of my next newsletter, it dawned on me that rather than keeping this wisdom to myself, I should share it with others in the hopes that it will help you all in the way that it has helped me so many times. I will be listing out each instruction, one by one, and giving a little blurb of my own thoughts and feelings. Grandad was a very thorough man with lots to share, so this the second half of his life instructions.
Without further a due, Grandad’s Instructions for Life - Part 2:
Read as often as you can.
This is a great rule to start with because we live in a world where there is an abundance of content being produced by such amazing minds. Utilize the resources around you and try to read something not on a device daily. Be a curious person and read about subjects you wish to know more about. Reading is what helps our brains to grow and expand into purposeful and critical thinkers.
Be willing to lose a battle to win the war.
This is a metaphorical way of saying, remember to shift your perspective into long-term thinking rather than short-term and narrow-minded thinking. Realizing you cannot win everything will bring you so much peace.
Avoid gossip.
Gossiping is often a guilty pleasure and/or something we do subconsciously when interacting with others. Gossiping is also, however, a toxic and hurtful behavior that can only cause problems. Assumptions are the basis of gossiping, and you know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of u and me. Get it? It spells assume.
Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
If I had helped Grandad write these life instructions, I probably would have suggested a different word other than “beware” because this makes it sound spooky, which it is not at all. This rule means you should always keep your eye out for people who have the least to lose – they will often be the ones taking the biggest risks. This might be someone you want on your side for bold, creative ideas, or it could be someone you need to be hesitant around as they might do something rash. Use your judgement on that one, but just know “beware” is a bit harsh.
When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail.
Nothing would ever get done in this world if we all just stopped when an obstacle presented itself. Shifting into a growth mindset will work wonders on your ability to persevere through a challenging or difficult task. Develop the ability to shift into that mindset to set yourself up for a lifetime – personal and career – for success.
Don’t spread yourself to thin. Learn to say no politely and quickly.
I am just going to flat-out say that this is a very difficult skill to have. I can attest to how difficult this can be because I always feel like I am being mean or rude. The bottom line is, though, there are not enough hours in the day for us to do everything we have to do and everything we want to do. Practicing being direct and polite is the goal everyone should strive for when turning something down.
Don’t expect life to be fair.
Life is not always fair, people!! Do not let that tear you down, stop you from trying something, or reaching for your goals. There are many paths out there that you can take to reach your goals. All you must do is find them. Pick yourself up when you get knocked down and show life that you aren’t just going to roll over.
Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.
This one is short and sweet. With forgiveness, comes peace of mind. When you forgive, you often find closure. Closure is what helps you move from one phase of life to another with no regrets, no grudges, and no bridges burned.
Substitute the word opportunity for the word problem.
Think of problems as blessings in disguise. Problems are only problems if you give them the power to be. There is usually a way to get around many problems you face on a day-to-day basis. So go out and find the one that works best for you!
Never walk out on a quarrel with your spouse.
I am sure everyone has heard this pearl of wisdom from their parents as well. Walking out on any argument is wrong, but especially with you partner or your spouse. Okay, yes, sometimes we get into intense arguments with people where the only way to diffuse the situation is to walk away. The second piece to this rule is to never go to bed angry. Do not let your spouse or family member go to bed angry either. Work through your disagreement before the day is over.
Be bold. When you look back on your life, you will regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did.
If there is one thing that you have always wanted to do but never have, ask yourself: Why haven’t you? Live with the excitement and feeling of making your dream happen rather than the feeling of regret and missed opportunity. For all we know, we only have one shot at this thing called life, don’t waste it wondering, “what if.”
Forget committees. New, noble world changing ideas always come from the one person working alone.
It is a misconception that working in a group is always better than working independently. If you want to do something, just start, and surely other like-minded people will follow. The word entrepreneur has become such a buzz word today based on this idea. If you create something great, great people will follow.
When faced with a serious health problem always get a second opinion.
There is not much to say on this matter, it should be common knowledge to always have health issues and health concerns evaluated by a team of experts. Make sure the medical team you have around you is a strong one and are people whom you trust with your life…literally.
After encountering inferior service, food, or products, politely bring it to the attention of the person in charge. Good managers will appreciate knowing.
Key word here is politely. We all have those friends who are rude to service workers. That is not what this life instruction is insinuating. Companies/people want to know how they can improve their work, so handling it in a polite way will serve everyone better in this situation. Always be kind when bringing this to someone’s attention, you never know the kind of day they are having.
Do not procrastinate.
Procrastination kills. Literally. Most things in your life that never get done are because of procrastination. So, start shifting to a growth mindset here, and taking note of when you feel like you are procrastinating so you can fix those behaviors.
Do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.
Basically, don’t procrastinate. In the words of television and cinema star, Shia Labeouf, “JUST DO IT!”
Wage war against littering.
We live on a planet that gives us more than we could ever need. So, why are we trying to hurt it by littering? Take it upon yourself to stop littering and pick up garbage when you see it to keep our Earth clean. Do you really want to have to leave and move to Mars or something?? The inconvenience of that thought should be all the motivation you need to pick up garbage.
Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his deathbed, “Gee, I wish I’d spent more time at the office”.
Do what you are passionate about and remember to live life. At the end of the day, we reflect on the things we did in life, not work. So, go live it!
Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” or “I’m sorry.”
These two phrases are so powerful because people under use them. Swallowing your pride and using one of these simple phrases instead of deflecting or not taking ownership will benefit you in ways you might not understand. Think back to how well something went when you apologized, or a time when someone apologized to you for their wrongs. Do what you know is right and send that good energy out into the universe.
Make a list of 25 things you want to do in your lifetime. Refer to it often.
We might not be able to do everything on our bucket list, so make a shorter list of what you want to do. It might be a shortened version but keep your dreams big. Then, refer to this list as you plan ways to complete these things in your lifetime.
Never stop learning. You can never know enough.
I cannot emphasize this last instruction enough. Never give up on learning, never stop being curious and seeking answers to things you wonder about. Let yourself continue to learn, grow, evolve, and reach your fullest potential.
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How Much Home, Car, and Debt Can You Afford on a 30, 50, or $100,000 Salary?
By: Marcus Garret
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You Should Definitely Share: The In-Between Newsletter
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