If you talk to Asians from all walks of life about success, you usually hear references to very simple principles. The following 7 pieces of wisdom will change your life in no time if you apply them with discipline and consistency.
1. Ikigai
Discover your purpose in life
Determine the reason why you wake up every morning.
Choose something that aligns with your strengths, passions and the needs of other people.
This will give your life meaning.
2. Shikata ga nai
Let go of what you can’t change.
Recognize that some things are out of your control, and that’s okay. Let go and focus on what you can change.
3. Wabi sabi
Find peace in imperfection.
Realize that nothing in life is perfect – that includes you and other people.
Find joy in the imperfections of life that make it so unique, instead of constantly striving for perfection.
4. Gaman
Maintain your dignity in difficult times.
Show emotional maturity and self-control, even when faced with challenges.
Remind yourself to remain patient, resilient and understanding.
5. Opituri
Don’t compare yourself with others.
Everyone has their own unique path.
Focus on your own progress instead of measuring yourself and your progress against others.
6. Kaizen
Always strive to become better in all areas of life.
Ask yourself every day, what can I do better in this matter, relationship, situation, etc.?
Even small changes add up over time and have a big impact.
7. Shu Ha Ri
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is actually ready, the teacher will disappear”
Tao Te Ching
This describes the understanding of how you should accumulate knowledge.
Shu: Learn the basics by learning the teachings and knowledge of a teacher who is a leader in their field.
Ha: Start implementing the knowledge in your own way. „Learning by doing“
Ri: Add something of yourself to the knowledge so that new knowledge can arise – that is innovation.
Apply these 7 words of wisdom for a month and observe how your life or your perception of life changes. These words of wisdom have been around for centuries and appear again and again in biographies, reports and advice from successful people. So they have stood the test of time!
What has helped countless other people to succeed will also be helpful for you. What’s more, practicing this wisdom will also help you to train discipline and consistency. Two qualities that are essential for success in all areas of life.
