9 Lessons by Confucius That Will Inspire You to Change Your Life

It’s been a long time since Confucius walked the Earth, but he is still considered to be one of the most important and influential people that have made a difference in the lives of humanity. His philosophies have significantly impacted people from all around the world, and they are still just as relevant in the year 2017 as they were when he died in 479 BC.

Everyone has heard of ‘The Golden Rule’: “Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself” but here are some more pearls of wisdom that will help us lead a happy and fulfilling life.

1. Good Things Don’t Come Easy

“It is easy to hate, and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve, and bad things are very easy to get.”

Negative emotions tend to come much more comfortable for us because our brains are wired this way to protect us from harm. If we assume the worst, then we’ll be ready when something wrong does happen.

Although, we need to push ourselves to have a fresh perspective on things and consciously focus on the good. It may take some effort at first but eventually, your brain will get used to this method of thinking and will rewire itself.

2. Your Friendship Choices Are Important

“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”

The people you surround yourself with make a big difference in the type of life you will have. Our social circles are critical to our happiness.

A study that spanned over 75 years from Harvard said that “Those who kept warm relationships got to live longer and happier and the loners often died earlier.” So make sure if you’ve got good friends, to treat them well.

3. Keep Going Even When The Going Gets Rough

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

If you just keep pushing towards your goal, one day you will achieve it. It doesn’t matter how long it takes or the obstacles you face, as long as you do not stop you will one day get to where you want to be in life.

We all face hardships along the way. Nothing in this life comes easy, but that’s why we need to have the determination to keep moving forward.

4. Don’t Focus On The Past

“To be Wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”

If you focus too much on the bad things that happened to you in the past, you will have trouble appreciating the present. We’ve all been wronged in one way or another and as horrible as those things might be, they are not who we are, they are just things that happened to us.

Instead, try to have a positive outlook and focus on the things that will help you have a brighter future. Set a goal and figure out the steps you need to take to achieve it and stick to that plan.

5. Give It All Or Nothing

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

Whatever you choose to do should be done with the very best of your ability. This applies to every aspect of your life; your relationships, job, and hobbies are all important. Don’t halfway try and then give up because if you put the time and effort in you will achieve your goals no matter how distant they might seem at the beginning.

6. Watch Your Temper

“When anger arises, think of the consequences.”

Next time you’re angry about something, think of this quote. Many times people do or say things when they’re angry that only make the problem at hand worse. Nothing positive ever really comes out of anger.

If you pause and think about the consequences of your actions, then you might find a better way of dealing with it.

7. Make Adjustments

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

Now and then it’s wise to step back and take a good look at the big picture to make sure that you are still improving and are on your way to achieving your goal. If you aren’t doing the kind of progress that you hoped you would be at this point, then you should change your approach.

8. Everyone Can Teach You Something

“If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.”

Life experiences teach us valuable lessons and if we learn from the people around us then will be wiser and better equipped to deal with problems when they arise. Everyone you meet has something interesting they can teach you, and you’re also likely to make more friends when you’re interested in their experiences and the things they can show you. This works the other way around too; you never know when your skills could help another person.

9. Sharpen Your Tools First

“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”

If you are prepared for the challenges that you face, you are more likely to achieve your goals. Everything worth having takes hard work, but without the right tools, your goals will be even harder to accomplish. If you are determined, make a solid plan and have the right tools then you will succeed.

While we all may lead very different lives, we are the same in many ways. Hopefully, these quotes from Confucius will inspire you on your life’s journey and help you achieve your goals.

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About the Author: Bethany Vincent is a writer from La Grange Kentucky who has loved playing with words since she first learned to speak. She lives with her teenage son and adopted dog daughter in a cute, yellow house with a picket fence. During college at the University of Louisville, she could be found at the writing center most of the time and her main areas of focus were literature, creative writing, and visual arts. Bethany has contributed articles and created content for many websites and blogs during her writing career. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, juggle-dancing, yoga, photography, cooking and singing along with her favorite songs while in the car driving. In the future, she plans to finish writing her first book and hopes to travel to all the beautiful places that she’s read about.