A poem from American singer-songwriter, Portia Nelson, describing her life. I hope it resonates with you. It sure did with me. Chapter 1 -------------- I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost… I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 -------------- I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in this same place. But, it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3 -------------- I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter 4 -------------- I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter 5 -------------- I walk down another street. #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

I just started reading "The Comfort Crisis" by Michael Easter. Here's a quote summarizing the main take-away so far: "A radical new body of evidence shows that people are at their best - physically harder, mentally tougher, and spiritually sounder - after experiencing the same discomforts our early ancestors were exposed to every day. Scientists are finding that certain discomforts protect us from physical and psychological problems like obesity, heart disease, cancers, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, and even more fundamental issues like feeling a lack of meaning and purpose." #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." -- Anne Lamott #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

I came across this checklist by Matt Gray: 10 habits that will lead to the #goodlife. His selection is spot on. I couldn't agree more!

"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." -- Mary Oliver #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough." -- Richard Feynman #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever." -- Carl Sagan #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

I can't help coming across the Harvard Happiness Project. Robert Waldinger's book "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness" sums up the findings to date. And now Veritasium made a video about it: Spoiler alert: The biggest factor contributing to happiness is good relationships! #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still." -- Pico Iyer #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

An observation and a warning by Morgan Housel: "Size is associated with success, success is associated with hubris, and hubris is the beginning of the end of success." #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." -- Dalai Lama #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

Edit Wharton on the pros and cons of habits: "The producer of old age is habit: the deathly process of doing the same thing in the same way at the same hour day after day, first from carelessness, then from inclination, at last from cowardice or inertia. Habit is necessary; but it is the habit of having careless habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive... one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways." #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

Sometimes we just have to be more playful to tap into the #goodlife: "I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed." -- Mary Oliver "The surest sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness." -- Michel de Montaigne #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy

A shift in perspective can open the doors to happiness: "I look at what I have not and think myself unhappy; others look at what I have and think me happy." -- Joseph Roux #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

Some simple suggestions to have a peaceful moment by James Clear: -) Close your eyes and just breathe for two minutes. -) Leave your phone in another room for an hour. -) Watch a cloud form and then dissolve. -) Stand in the sunshine and notice how it warms your skin. -) Light a candle and watch the flame dance. #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"I am always doing what I can't do yet in order to learn how to do it." -- Vincent Van Gogh #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"Awe is the moment when ego surrenders to wonder." -- Terry Tempest Williams #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"Love is the quality of attention we pay to things." -- J.D. McClatchy #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

Two suggestions from Mark Manson: "Do the thing you have been avoiding. If you succeed, you will achieve something great. If you fail, you will learn something great. Either way, something great happens." "Never let yourself be held back by other people’s fears. People criticize what they are afraid to do themselves. Because bold action reminds them of their own inaction." #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife

"A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought — they must be earned." -- Naval Ravikant #wisdom #spirituality #philosophy #goodlife