No one ever said the road of life you travel would be an easy one. In fact, the road is often full of trials and tribulations. Gnarled branches may snag your footsteps, causing you to fall. But life is not about how many times you fall, it is about whether or not you are willing to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue going.
There are many things you can and will do throughout your life that will define you, and luckily, there are more than a few Confucius quotes that can help you along the way.
Follow The Golden Rule
Confucius once said, “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.” When you first stepped on the road to life, you did not walk that road alone. A parent, teacher, or mentor likely assisted you with your journey. Perhaps you remember that parent, teacher, or mentor telling you to “treat others how you want to be treated.”
Many people refer to that saying as the “Golden Rule.” If you walk through life thinking only of yourself, you will quickly find that it is a very long and lonely journey. The minute you think of others, your life will become much fuller and happier, so practice the Golden Rule.
Identify Beauty
Another famous quote by Confucius is, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Beauty goes beyond the surface of what you see. As you walk the road of life, you will find yourself surrounded by beauty but you have to open your heart and mind to see it.
If you look with nothing more than your eyes, it is unlikely that you will see the beauty before you. Instead, look deeper than what your eyes see. Look beyond the face to see the heart, mind, and soul of another human being. Look beyond the clouds to see that the sun is always shining. As soon as you do, your life will become more meaningful and beautiful.
Follow Your Heart
“Wherever you go, go with all of your heart.” To have said such a thing, Confucius was a wise man. If you walk the road of life without your heart, you will miss out on all of the joy. If you travel through life by following your heart, you will experience all of the love and good things that come your way.
For example, if you take a job that you hate because the salary can make you rich, you will find that you are not rich at all. Instead, accept a job that you love because your heart tells you so. Do not be afraid to fall in love. You may experience what it is to have a broken heart, but to have never loved at all is a much sadder experience, so always trust your heart.
Let Go Of Worry
It is human nature to worry. You may feel worried about your finances. Perhaps you feel worried when your child walks out the door to school, but Confucius once said, “If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
In other words, if all is going well in your life, do not live your life with worry in your heart. If you are constantly worrying yourself, you will not have the chance to enjoy what is going on around you. If you are forever wrapped up in feelings of worry, life will pass you by. Stop living with a daily sense of fear and worry. Free your heart so that it may enjoy life instead.
