[aF 1]

Since this is the 20+ forum, I think we have a fairly good amount of life experience under our belts.
Share some of your life changing lessons/moments of enlightenment here.

[watcher]

read and exercise, it will bring you ultimate freedom
every failure is a sign pointing you in the right direction
love is a verb
you're marriage will usually be as successful as you are in your relationship with parents
give to others when you can, but do it freely
doing something somebody else tells you to do is still your decision. own up to it
treating someone out to a nice meal is usually the best way to become close friends [outside of a singular life changing event]
set the half-life of your career to every 3~4 years [nothing is forever...except maybe a diamond ]
friends come and go, but good friends will give you a 2nd and 3rd chance
be good to your folks [doesn't mean you do everything they say, just be kind to them]
when the weather gets hot, work out and look sexy
guess i ran out of stuff...

[yudori]

my random words of wisdom for the day:

fair does not mean equal.

[Myss Blewm]

I generally quote from Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket when it comes to "words of wisdom".

The one I've lately related well to:
"The sad truth is that the truth is sad."

[aaandy]

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters."

[709394]

U can pour your 150% into sonmething but there will always be people putting 60% in and still do better than you - life isn't fair.
Women are selfish when it comes to love, ultimately.
Friends will come and go. Choose wisely which ones to keep and drop, in time you'll realize whos real.
If you dont step up your game, you'll get trampled on in the real world; stop being nice and "get real!" (haha, reminds me of the real world intro...)
Don't take your family for granted. We're selfish when we're young and want to hang out with friends and such, but family will always be family, period.
Life is what you make of it, stop sulking and DO SOMETHING.

[jon]

Since spring is in the air, "take time to smell the flowers". Life often gets so hectic and crazy that we often forget to appreciate the simple things in life and the beauty that surrounds us.

[dunpingy]

1) people don't always say what they mean

[tee.pee]

big things happen to those who dream big.

from the movie ice princess =)

[SeoulStylez]

READ AND EXERCISE. Truth that.

Although I don't read much, it always took my mind off of "bad" things happening in my life.. same with exercising... endorphins ftw.

[suki_*]

If you're still looking for more good reads on you free time you should read this:

The Sacred Canopy
By: Peter Berger

basically, what you have talked about, this guy breaks is hella down and magnifies the whole development of 'man' in every way possible.

good luck, good to hear you are getting better

my favorite quote is: "God never gives you something you can't handle." it picks me up immediately and pulls me back to sanity.

or "if dreams are real while they are happening, what more can we say about life?" --havelock ellis. this is more of a general inspiration quote.

[Bl@h]

wow~ this is pretty inspiring...
i have a lame one~ lol~ but live by it~ so

do only for others wat u would do for urself

[xkrnxdrmrx]

stop b*tching about being overweight... just get off ur butt and go DO something. go walk ur dog... go jog. go climb stairs...
u dont have the right to complain if ur not trying to change ur bad habits.

Marriage:
Marriage is sacred... but don't rush into it. Sometimes, it works out when u get married at a young age... but i'm 20... married when i was 18.. divorced just a year ago... I rushed into it. Don't feel trapped. If you're not happy, admit it to urself... to him/her... if u can fix it.. than by all means.. but if it goes beyond it than move on... it's hard, but worth while. Don't rush into it. The one u love isn't going to just leave, so don't get married out of fear... that's not love.....

[suki_*]

stop b*tching about being overweight... just get off ur butt and go DO something. go walk ur dog... go jog. go climb stairs...
u dont have the right to complain if ur not trying to change ur bad habits.

Marriage:
Marriage is sacred... but don't rush into it. Sometimes, it works out when u get married at a young age... but i'm 20... married when i was 18.. divorced just a year ago... I rushed into it. Don't feel trapped. If you're not happy, admit it to urself... to him/her... if u can fix it.. than by all means.. but if it goes beyond it than move on... it's hard, but worth while. Don't rush into it. The one u love isn't going to just leave, so don't get married out of fear... that's not love.....

are these suppose to be inspiring quotes or... a response to the topic starter?

[D_K]

Since this is the 20+ forum, I think we have a fairly good amount of life experience under our belts.
Share some of your life changing lessons/moments of enlightenment here!

Here's mine:
Ive had a pretty ordinary childhood up until around the age of 18. Upon entering college, things changed for the worst. I spent the next 4 years battling with depression, anxiety and generally self-destructive/suicidal thoughts and behaviors. I looked desperately for any way to assuage the excruiating pain of daily life. I read every self-help book I could get my hands on. I tried to numb the pain through binge eating, video games, gambling, sleeping etc. This only helped me cope temporarily but led to even greater pain when i had to face the unpleasant consequences of these actions (losing thousands of dollars, academic probation finally leading to dropping out of college). At first, I thought I was just suffering from 'malfunctioning brain chemistry' and I even went to a psychiatrist to get some medication. Unfortunately this didnt help either because the medication just made me feel like a zombie. So then i turned to religious/spiritual alternatives. Discovering Buddhism provided a great source of hope and eventually led to me to believe that I was not suffering from flawed brain physiology. Rather, depression and anxiety were just symptoms of something larger. I finally came to understand that the root of all and I mean ALL my problems were stemming from my internal belief system. Yea, it sounds cliche and you've probably heard it/read it (like i have) a million times. But sometimes you dont get it, until you 'get it' (if that makes any sense)
What I've learned is that, our subconscious belief system is the creator of our reality. What that means is that, each and every single action/feeling/emotion you have or experience will be in perfect synch with what you believe. Our belief system is also the filter by which we experience reality. No person in this world will or can experience reality objectively. Thats why, two people can have two totally different experiences of the same event. Our subconscious belief systems function so perfectly, that our beliefs eventually become self fulfilling prophecies. If you believe that life is hopeless, you are going to see hopeless things and create (subconsciously) hopeless situations.
Fortunately, we do not have to be victims to our beliefs. We have the power to change them and use the subconscious systems we have to our advantage. I am living proof of this - since then. I have not had a single bout of depression, my once debilitating anxiety has become a thing of the past, and I am well on my way to achieving my financial dreams and creating my ideal reality.

I dont know what compelled me to share this but thank you for reading. It is my deepest desire that it provides hope to those who are going through tough times because believe me, I know how hard life can be. And if you ever want to talk, feel free to PM me.

Glad to hear that you're doing well. I also suffered from depression in my first year in college, which led me to fail most of my classes, get heavily in debt, and ultimately have my life in an uncontrollable mess. I too needed a wholesale change in personal philosophy in order to start my road to recovery. Now, years later, I can't even imagine why I was so self-destructive in the first place.

I too agree that our perception of reality is filtered through our individual experiences. But regarding our belief system, isn't it also formed through our experiences? To me, they are one of the same, and one (our belief) does not have the power to change the other (experience) The only conclusive thing that is 'real' is me. I know I exist because I am able to think, and once I cease to think I cease to exist.

"I think therefore I am"

[Sycho1ogY]

whenever i doubt my abilties i think:

* I'm not dumb and he/she is DEFINITELY NOT that smart. So heck yeah, I can do it too!

here's another and this thought always helps ground me and helps me look beyond the superficial and seek deeper meaning, most because I have no other choice lol it may sound a little self deprecating but hey it works

* honey, I'm sorry but you're (insert random body part here) is NOT the problem....

after that i'm able to refocus my energy on things that actually matter lol

[LaydeeMel]

Don't procrastinate ... :x

[jinjin<3]

I love what you said, aF 1. I think it's so true that 90% of what affects us is what we believe in.
1. It's okay to walk away from people first. Sometimes that's meant to happen. People come in and out of our lives and we do the same. There's a little part of you in everyone you encounter. Sometimes letting go of people is the only way to set yourself free and to truly find yourself.
2. Rejection is okay whether it's rejection from school, people etc. You'll grow from it. You'll be happy again. The rejection will bring you to who you really are.

[viper2788]

imagine looking back on your life when youre 80 years old... live without regret.

[theMightyRaincoat]

"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."