This article will be a little different. I’ve “strayed” from business/leadership books and read an interesting book about Osho and Zen thinking (thank you, Andrei, for this book!). There are some pretty interesting concepts here, some easier to digest than others, but ultimately, the important thing is to try different things and explore new ideas. Then, everyone can see reality through their own filters!

“When alone, a person is ugly. Life is, above all, about love, flow, giving and receiving, sharing.” I don’t know if you’ve experienced this feeling before, but those who have know how wonderful it is to surround yourself with people who make life more beautiful. After all, we live among people, collaborate with people, and share experiences with people.

“You cannot ask a profound question or receive a true answer without a real sense of friendship. Every master is connected to their disciple through a deep friendship.” I would extend this idea to marriage, friendship, parent-child relationships, etc. If you don’t feel genuine friendship toward the other person, it will be hard to give a “true” response.

“A story should never be listened to with the mind, but with the heart. Anyone who listens with the mind misses the entire message.” This reminds me of a study that says emotional intelligence (EQ) is twice as important as cognitive intelligence (IQ). Often, the heart knows what we need more than the mind, which sees reality through a series of filters developed over the years/experiences.

“Do not rejoice too intensely in the pleasures of this world, but do not withdraw too much into isolation either. On the paths of life, the best way remains the middle path.” Or, as books tell us, the “balanced” way is the best. I once talked with an acquaintance working in health. He had a very good water filter at home and could control the level of mineralization/purity of the water. At the same time, he was a fierce advocate of the “stop carbonated drinks” movement. Yet, occasionally, he consumed such drinks. Curious, I asked him why, and his response was something like, “I drink soda now and then to give my body something bad so it doesn’t get used to only the good.” So, let’s learn to be balanced! :)

“The world we live in has become a nightmare because of our desires.” We chase after a better car, a house instead of an apartment, a bigger house, a larger pool, a variety of cars parked in the yard, a private jet, a private island, achieving a level of spirituality, maturity, intense personal development, and so on. As we reach these goals, we realize that this isn’t the happiness we sought. Almost all personal development courses/books/movies/conferences encourage us to set goal after goal. It’s good to have such goals to know where we start and where we want to go. But if we miss the journey only to reach the destination faster, we may miss out on the things that could truly make us happy.

“Don’t focus on a past that no longer exists or a future that hasn’t happened… live and focus on the present!” Live in the present because it’s what matters! Just yesterday, I was talking with a friend who told me about an acquaintance of his who had been in Canada for 20 years and recently said, “I’ve saved some money; I can’t wait to retire, return to Romania, and really live then!” Well, you’ve made all these plans, but you might die before retirement and be left dreaming of a future happiness that may never come. Let’s learn to live happily in the present!

“To be truly happy, you must do what you genuinely desire. Meditation doesn’t bring true happiness. When you are fully happy, you are automatically in a state of meditation.” If you’ve found your passion in life, then you can be happy. If not, keep searching and don’t stop! Don’t stagnate in an unhappy job, an unhappy relationship, an unhappy country, and so on.

“A prayer in which you ask for something is not an authentic prayer. The only true prayer is one in which you express gratitude and say ‘thank you’.” And this way, those who pray can transition from “give me, give me, do this for me” to “thank you for this, this, and that.” Try thanking for having two hands, two legs, a nose to smell, a mouth to taste, ears to hear, and many other such “minor” things, and you’ll start to see how rich you actually are!

“If you want to reach God, laugh! True religion can only be a celebration of life. The serious person is handicapped; they create obstacles around themselves.” According to some statistics, if you are cheerful and have a positive attitude, you’ll live longer than those who aren’t. A “smiling” voice can have a much greater effect (in sales, for example) than a “sad” one – believe me, I’ve personally tested this. And there are many more examples. In the end, it’s free and easy to do, so what’s stopping you from starting right now to smile more?

These were a few quotes that I liked, with my personal take on them. I’m curious, what are your thoughts on these concepts?