A template for building your own life principles
Principles is one of those books that reads like How-To mixed with Inspiration mixed with Fatherly Wisdom. Ray distils his years of wisdom into this bible of life that you can use to model your own life. I call it a Life Engineering course.
There is always a choice. And this is the only one.
Few books have inspired me to take immediate action, and Mindset is one of them. The argument Dr Dweck makes for instilling a growth mindset is so compelling and evidential that there is no other choice. This is essential reading (and implementing) if you care about your human potential.
Hope exists. It's powerful. And here's the proof.
Frankl had his US immigration visa. He could’ve left Nazi Germany a free man. But he decided to stay with his parents. These words from Viktor Frankl reflect how life can be purposeful, if you choose it to be:
“The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity – even under the most difficult circumstances – to add a deeper meaning to his life.”
Challenges are the only path towards growth.
Avoid challenges at your own peril, Ryan Holiday alludes. True human potential is only uncovered in the face of adversity and pain. Avoid it, and you miss an opportunity to grow and uncover your own potential. This book changed the way I think about challenges. I look forward to them now. It is the only way.
Gifted human beings are a myth.
It’s not our fault – we are culturally trained to revere the gifted children, or geniuses who can accomplish unimaginable feats. They’re born with “special” DNA. Daniel Coyle tells us that’s wrong. It’s a myth. Greatness isn’t born. It’s learnt through persistence, practice, and repetition. Anyone can become great if they’re willing to put the work in. Their potential is limitless.
Inspiration
My inspiration rests on the shoulders of these great words by Abraham Maslow:
Whatever one can be, one must be.