Life plays out in a million little ways everyday. We carry with us the good, bad and ugly of every event and deed lived. And each day, we consciously choose how to act or behave when faced with a problem. However, even with experience and insight, we often stand at odds with life. At other times, we are so happy that words aren’t enough.
But those who love to read know that books always contain the words that explain exactly how you feel no matter what your situation. The teachings we get from our favourite books go a long way in helping us find answers to things we can’t always deal with or fathom.
Indeed, books hold a lot of meaning within them. And when it comes to wise words that are life changing, no author is as widely read and loved as Robin Sharma. Since his debut book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and Reaching Your Destiny that released 25 years ago, Sharma has inspired millions of people around the world with his simple yet effective words.
Here Soulveda lists down some profound quotes from the bestselling author’s books for you to apply in daily life. Let the wisdom in these lines help you find some calm and meaning in the chaos of your everyday lives.
This sentence is simple and difficult to understand at the same time. To most, happiness is a struggle and as elusive as the snow leopard. People run from morning to night in the hope of feeling good and achieving success somewhere in the bigger scheme of things. No one stops to think that happiness is after all not a destination to reach or a point to prove.
Robin Sharma puts it beautifully when he says that happiness is the journey we take. Indeed, when we pause to soak in the contentedness of the little things we do and experience everyday, we realise that happiness is the path we are treading softly and not an endpoint somewhere far.
There are two kinds of people in the world – the kind that dreams but never does and the second kind that dreams and then makes it happen. This profound quote found in the author’s famous book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and Reaching Your Destiny is for the doers of the world.
It is known that no good work can be done without first imagining it and then thinking deeply about it. Whether you are a student or the CEO of a company, every task at hand requires you to first give your ideas a space in your mind where you churn out the possibilities. It is only later that you can start implementing those ideas in the real world. The doers know too well that no thought is complete without action and vice versa.
If you are the kind of person that shies away from asking questions because you may seem like a fool in the midst of many, then this quote of wisdom is for you.
We see students afraid to ask doubts in college or colleagues too scared to speak out their thoughts in front of the boss – simply because they don’t want to look like someone who doesn’t get it while others apparently do.
Well, here is what the bestselling author and motivational speaker has to say – you may seem like the only one who doesn’t know the answer at that moment in time, but if you hesitate and avoid asking questions, you truly become devoid of that knowledge. Hence, being a fool for a minute and clearing concepts or doubts is always better than never speaking up.
A fantastic quote, this could resonate with anyone – from your mother who doesn’t know when to put her foot down and relax a little to your father who may be a great manager at work, but is tiring himself out just because he cannot refuse more work.
The art of saying no deserves an article of its own. But Sharma puts it succinctly in terms of work we do – if we say yes to everything all the time, we lose out on doing some great things that escape from the cracks when we are unnecessarily busy. It may sound harsh, but saying no to certain things and projects is just as important as saying yes to opportunities. Let that thought simmer for a bit.
It is believed that many a good deeds have been buried in the minds of good people. In other words, your intentions may be honest and great, but if you don’t act on them, then it doesn’t make a dent in the universe.
According to the wise author, people who implement things, no matter small or big, are always doing more and achieving more than people who have bigger intentions but never act on them. These lines from Sharma’s book The 5 AM Club is fit for a poster in your room!
So the next time, you feel like getting that gift for your grandmother or adding that little detail in the office presentation that you know will make it better, don’t put that thought aside. Go ahead and do it. It will not just make your grandmom or boss happy, but also give you a happy high for having implemented something fruitful.
This quote holds a clear message for those who may feel things are unclear to them just yet. If a great change is taking place in your life, chances are you are feeling overwhelmed. While it is natural to feel scattered and have questions, pause to note that any change seems difficult at first. It is the fear of the unknown that most of us suffer from.
However, slowly as you begin to embrace the change, you realise that work can be done but it might get tedious and wear you down. The middle bits are messy for sure, but when it all comes down to the glorious end, you understand how rewarding life truly is.
We all constantly lament at what is missing in our lives. Some of them are sad because they have little savings, while others crave for more materialistic comforts. We usually seem to focus on more of what we desire and less on the things we may have plenty of.
A common misconception is that a life of abundance is the one full of materialistic luxuries. A great example of this is when people become envious of the lives lead by their friends as suggested by their social media feed. But it is the opposite that is true. A life that is full of affection, love and health is the one that is truly fulfilling.
So what Robin Sharma means in these lines from his eye opening book, Who will cry when you die? is that you should face opportunities and say yes to chances that come to you instead of wasting time being insecure about what is missing in your life.
There is such truth in these lines that it is hard to miss. Most parents push their children constantly in a bid to make them model examples for the society. From good grades to building their social repertoire, parents want their children to be the talk of the town. There is a great sense of accomplishment in saying one’s child topped the school exams or brought a gold medal in Karate. Does this seem relatable?
A 2016 study done in Arizona State University found that parental pressure on children not only affects their mental and physical health, but also impairs them from virtues like kindness.
The spiritual author has got it right when he states exactly this in his book, The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO: A Remarkable Story about Living Your Heart’s Desires. People pressure their children into doing things and becoming professionals in fields they probably don’t want to pursue simply to impress others. This is a way of parenting where the child’s preference, pace and inherent skills are disrespected is unkind and unjust.
This quote suggests us all to change for the better. And to love and encourage our children for who they are.
These simple yet profound words are for keeps. Time and again, we lose sight of our goals. In the chaos of everyday life, we find ourselves under the weight of worldly matters. Some of us look for temporary respite and pleasures while others sink in an abyss of their own overthinking.
What we seem to overlook is that life is a gift meant to live fully. There might be obstacles along the way, but while defeating them, we must remember our little blessings. We are all in this huge world for a very short period of time and our true purpose is to enjoy what we are given. From family to good health, there is a lot of happiness to be cultivated.
So instead of worrying and running towards an unknown oasis of happiness, learn to soak in the beauty of the present. As the gifted author says, we must have the wisdom to enjoy the journey.
Robin Sharma believes that happiness is a journey, not a destination. He suggests that instead of constantly seeking happiness, one should find contentment in the little things and experiences of everyday life.
Robin Sharma encourages people not to hesitate when it comes to asking questions. Hesitating to ask questions means denying oneself the opportunity to learn and grow, making it a foolhardy choice in the long run.
According to Robin Sharma, the smallest of implementations is always worth more than the grandest of intentions.
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