Top Life Lessons

Life Lessons from Famous Creators

The Shadow Side of Greatness: Success often comes with a shadow side and hidden costs. In this article, we examine the shadow side of Pablo Picasso's genius.

Famous Biologist Louis Agassiz on the Usefulness of Learning Through Observation: Self-awareness is critical for success in all fields. Read this article to learn how biologist Louis Agassiz taught self-awareness through observation.

Joseph Brodsky Explains Perfectly How to Deal With Critics and Detractors in Your Life: Famous poet Joseph Brodsky was exiled from his home in Russia and forced to leave the love of his life behind, never to be seen again. In 1988, Brodsky shared a beautiful strategy and method for dealing with the critics, detractors, and negative influences in your life.

Martha Graham on the Hidden Danger of Comparing Yourself to Others: Martha Graham, perhaps the most influential dance choreographer of the 20th century, explains why it is not your job to judge your own work

Lessons on Living a Meaningful Life from Nichelle Nichols: Actress Nichelle Nichols helped shape the Civil Rights Movement without realizing it. Read this article to learn how you can live a meaningful life.

Lessons on Living a Meaningful Life

The Top Life Regret of Dying Hospital Patients: Bronnie Ware is a nurse in Australia. She has spent more than a decade counseling dying people. Over that time span, she began recording the top regrets that people have on their death bed. Read the article to find out what this regret is, and how you can make sure that you don't end up feeling the same way.

The Proven Path to Doing Unique and Meaningful Work: In June of 2004, Arno Rafael Minkkinen stepped up to the microphone at the New England School of Photography to deliver the commencement speech. As he looked out at the graduating students, Minkkinen shared a simple theory that, in his estimation, made all the difference between success and failure. He called it The Helsinki Bus Station Theory.

The Easiest Way to Live a Short, Unimportant Life: The easiest way to live a short, unimportant life is to consume the world around you rather than contribute to it. But why is this true? And how can you apply it to your own life?

116 Years Old: Lessons Left Behind From the World's Oldest Living Person: During an interview with the Guinness Book of World Records, Besse Cooper was asked about the keys to living a long life. She offered two pieces of advice: “I mind my own business. And I don't eat junk food.” This article discusses the wisdom in those two simple statements and how you can use it to live better.

3 Life Lessons From My Own Life

What I Do When I Feel Like Giving Up: This moment when you don’t feel like doing the work? This is not a moment to be thrown away. This is not a dress rehearsal. This moment is your life as much as any other moment. Spend it in a way that will make you proud.

What I Do When it Feels Like My Work Isn't Good Enough: Read this article to learn how to deal with self-doubt and self-judgment, so that you can move past judging yourself and perform at a higher level.

Make Your Life Better by Saying Thank You in These 7 Situations: I'm starting to believe that “Thank You” is the most under-appreciated and under-used phrase on the planet. It is appropriate in nearly any situation and it is a better response than most of the things we say. Let's cover 7 common situations when we say all sorts of things, but should say “Thank You” instead.

All Life Lessons Articles

This is a complete list of articles I have written on life lessons. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Productivity Hack is Saying No

When the 80/20 Rule Fails: The Downside of Being Effective

Absolute Success is Luck. Relative Success is Hard Work.

Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds

The Shadow Side of Greatness

The Downside of Work-Life Balance

The Proven Path to Doing Unique and Meaningful Work

Make Your Life Better by Saying Thank You in These 7 Situations

One Research-Backed Way to Effectively Manage Your Stressful and Busy Schedule

Scott Dinsmore: A Tribute

How to Be Happy When Everything Goes Wrong

This Zen Concept Will Help You Stop Being a Slave to Old Beliefs

Why Old Ideas Are a Secret Weapon

Overrated vs. Underrated: Common Beliefs We Get Wrong

It's Not Just About What You Say, It's About How You Live

How Experts Figure What to Focus On

Famous Biologist Louis Agassiz on the Usefulness of Learning Through Observation

What I Do When I Feel Like Giving Up

You’re Not Ready for Marriage

Use This Simple Daily Habit to Add More Gratitude to Your Life

5 Lessons on Being Wrong

Joseph Brodsky Explains Perfectly How to Deal With Critics and Detractors in Your Life

What I Do When it Feels Like My Work Isn't Good Enough

Martha Graham on the Hidden Danger of Comparing Yourself to Others

Lessons on Living a Meaningful Life from Nichelle Nichols

How to Build Skills That Are Valuable

Do Things You Can Sustain

Let Your Values Drive Your Choices

Thoughts on Struggling to Finish My First Book

Masters of Habit: Rituals, Lessons, and Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

I Watched an Artist Create Stained Glass And Learned An Important Lesson About Life

Feeling Uncertain Doesn't Make You Weak, Weird, or Unqualified

Do You Have to be Unhappy Now if You Want to be Successful Later?

How to Be Thankful For Your Life by Changing Just One Word

You're Not Good Enough to Be Disappointed

Haters and Critics: How to Deal with People Judging You and Your Work

Random Ideas About Life

What if You Treated Your Life Like a Team Sport?

The Magic of Committing to a Specific Goal

What Does it Mean to Live a Healthy Life?

The Top Life Regret of Dying Hospital Patients

116 Years Old: Lessons Left Behind From the World's Oldest Living Person

The Easiest Way to Live a Short, Unimportant Life

How to Be Happy: A Surprising Lesson on Happiness From an African Tribe

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