Blick über den Tellerrand #18
I am all for living to help other people, but when we live our lives to the expectations of other people, we end up living lives we don’t want. And what do we get when we live up to the expectations of all these other people? They really don’t care — they just don’t like things different because they are uncomfortable with change. Staying the same as everyone else doesn’t make everyone else happier — it just doesn’t force them to reflect on their lives.
(Leo Babauta: living for everyone else)
There have even been a number of studies about the phenomenon: teens have shown to become depressed when other peers don’t respond to their posts or ignore their friendship requests. The same goes for adults. Nobody wants to be left out of a social circle or even a conversation.
(Gerti Schoen: When You Should Quit Facebook)
Wait for the man that loves you just the way you are. Trust me. It’s definitely worth the wait.
(Danielle Dowling: 10 Reasons Why He Didn’t Ask You Out Again)
Die Geschäftführerin eines Herstellers von Stahlrohrmöbeln gehört zu einer seltenen Spezies: Unternehmer, die bewusst auf Wachstum verzichten. Der 1922 von Henkels Vater gegründete Betrieb hat 50 Mitarbeiter, “schon immer”, wie sie sagt. An einer Expansion hat Henkel kein Interesse. “Für uns ist Umsatzwachstum nicht mehr das richtige Ziel.”
(David Böcking: Vielen Dank, dass Sie nicht bei uns kaufen)
Ich habe gemerkt, dass ich bestimmte Dinge immer wieder serviert bekam, so lange, bis ich sie verstanden hatte. Ich habe auch erlebt, dass mich das Leben manchmal vor meinen eigenen Wünschen beschützt hat. Es gab also Situationen, bei denen ich hinterher gemerkt habe, dass es gut war, dass etwas nicht geklappt hat, was ich erreichen wollte. (…) Wenn wir versuchen, gegen die Strömung des Flusses zu rudern, wird es sehr, sehr anstrengend. Wenn wir uns dem Fluss anvertrauen und motiviert mitpaddeln oder uns auch mal treiben lassen, dann führt uns der Fluss in die Richtung, die für uns gemeint ist.
(Ralf Senftleben: Im Fluss des Lebens)
Balls are like medals. They are one thing, and one thing only: earned. When you have them, they are inalienable. When you don’t, getting them seems impossible. But it can be done. You cannot be born with balls. They are not transferred from one generation to another. You cannot inherit them. You cannot buy them. And only people with the gift can bless others with it. Therefore, you have to understand that you cannot grow balls until you act as if you already have balls!
(Julien Smith: The Simple Guide to Growing Some Balls)
All addictions make a mess of the world, and consumerism is no different. But the damage done to the world by addicts is not the most tragic result of addiction. Polluted oceans and rivers and over-stuffed houses and garages are not the most tragic result of the addiction of consumerism. As with all addictions, the tragedy of consumerism is that it ruins lives. It mars souls. It fractures relationships. It does everything to us that should not be done, keeping us from living a joyful and thoughtful and fulfilling life. When an addiction becomes endemic, as consumerism has become in the west and increasingly in other regions around the world, there is just too much waste to tolerate. Not landfill waste. There is too much wasted humanity.
(Dave Bruno: Why Am I Always Talking About Consumerism and Simplicity?)
There is a tendency among productive people to try to make the best use of every single minute, from the minute they awake. I know because not too long ago I was one of these folks. (…) Every minute counts, because time’s a-wasting. The clock is ticking. The sands of the hourglass are spilling. (…) Is this what life is to be?
(Leo Babauta: Why Killing Time Isn’t a Sin)
There are only three things you need to do to be a great dad: Be there. Love them. Be present.
(Leo Babauta: The Tiny Guide to Being a Great Dad)
“Wer die Belohnung sieht, verbucht sie zunächst als Gewinn, doch wenn es an die eigentliche Aufgabe geht, hat man Angst, diese Belohnung zu verlieren.” Diese Befürchtung lähmt – und führt letztlich zum Leistungseinbruch.
(Daniel Rettig: Warum Belohnungen zum Versagen führen können)