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Maxims To Live By
1 You will always tend to see whatever it is you’re looking for. Your thoughts create your reality.
2. Deep inside we all want to love and be loved, to care and be cared for, and live happy… That is our essence.
3. Many of us spend so long pretending to be whatever it is that we’re pretending to be, that we lose focus of our true selves… The more energy we put into developing that mask, the more convinced we become of it.
4. Well-being is not is not the fruit of something you do, it is the essence of who you are. There’s nothing you need to change, do, be, or have in order to be happy.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the grounds upon which I stand.
6. Financial security doesn’t come from the amount of money you currently have; It comes from your ability to get more of it whenever you want.
7. Master the art of serving other and you will service your financial future. In this sense, money is just a measure of the difference you’re making in the world.
8. The problem cannot be solved with the same level of thinking that created it.
9. Your thoughts have no power, it is only when you invest your energy and consciousness into them that they begin to become real.
10. Life begets life, energy begets energy, it is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.
11. You don’t get what you deserve in life, you get what you negotiate.
12. Anywhere there’s a positive difference to be made, there’s money to be made. If you can’t (or won’t) make a difference, you’re unlikely to make very much money.
13. There are three essential motivations for anything and everything we do: Desperation (I have to), rationalization (I should), and inspiration (I want to).
14. I have my own version of an optimist: If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll make through another door or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.
15. The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
16. Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing, that we see too late the one that is open.
17. Whatever has or hasn’t happened to you is in the past. The past does not equal the future. What matters most right now is your present-moment energy. You can direct your focus and language to create an amazing life.
18. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the willingness to proceed in the face of it.
19. There is no disguise which can hide love for where it exists, or simulate where it does not.
20. Coward, one who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs.
21. Fools are without numbers.
22. To profit from good advice requires as much wisdom as to give it.
23. Measure not men by Sundays, without regarding what they did all week before.
24. When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.
25. A good word is an easy obligation. but not to speak ill, requires silence, which costs us nothing.
26. Try to leave the earth a better place than when you arrived.
27. Question: Do you know what the death rate around here is? Answer: One per person.
28. There is never enough “I love you”
29. ’Tis better than a man’s words, that another man’s words should praise him.
30. A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable that jewelry made of the finest gold.
31. While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others.
32. There’s not enough time in this life to learn by trial and error. Therefore, we must learn from the life lessons and experiences of one another.
33. If you have a bowl of murky water and want to make it clear, what would you do?
Ernesto Cole
Practice, Practice, Practice!
On a page I was going through, I came across a particular query that has had me thinking and thus, the reason for this essay—since I tend to think better when writing. The question in mention is: Have you ever asked yourself what is your purpose?
Well, the reason this question has affected me so much is because as a foolish youngster, I was quick to respond to it and say proudly that my purpose in life was to be a “thug” till death do me part. And since I did not plan on living very long, it seemed very simple and true to me at the time.
Fortunately, that is no longer my purpose and I have now committed myself on a 180 degree turn around and can now much more proudly and unequivocally say that my new purpose in life is to be at peace and content with myself, others, and surroundings.
Those that know me from the past may say: “he’s just saying that now because he’s in prison serving a couple of life sentences and more, and has no other choice.”
Well, to those naysayers I simply respond that is not the case, since prison is an ideal place to continue being a “thug” since one is surrounded by so many, if not the majority. So, yes, I do have a choice. Not only that, but from the moment I was arrested, I had the option to continue being a “thug,” and get a sweet deal, but chose not to.
Additionally, during my incarceration, the temptations have been many, since vices like drugs, alcohol, gambling, and opportunities to commit immoral and delinquent acts are plentiful. Hence, I thank God for helping me make the right choices and not allowing me to succumb and fall deeper in disgrace.
Now with the aforementioned being clarified, allow me to manifest how I plan to achieve my new purpose.
When this course began, I recited a very personal essay about an experience I had many years ago that finally caught up with me and transformed my life considerably for the better. In that essay, I alluded to how I allowed another person’s action affect and dictate my emotions in a negative way. Then how a very wise, older friend, whom I have since considered a father figure, God bless his soul, gave me one of the best—if not the best, advice I’ve ever received.
In essence this is what he advised me: “Son, under no circumstances allow anything or anyone to affect your emotions in a negative way. Once you allow that you cease control of your emotions and could no longer consider yourself a true man.”
Sure enough, due to my immaturity, ignorance, foolish pride, and ego, I chose not to understand him, did not adhere to his advice, and refused to follow through. Luckily for me, through very harsh occurrences (which were mostly brought about by my ego and foolish pride), many personal experiences, and not so personal experiences—I believe I have found my purpose in life to live at peace and be content with myself, others, and my surroundings.
I credit this accomplishment by seeing and treating life as a game or sporting event. Yes, gentlemen, I now see life as a game and my goal is not only to win, but also to enjoy the journey to its fullest.
Allow me now to explain my analogy between life and a game and how I plan to win. As a kid growing up and participating in various organized sporting events, I was always encouraged and obligated by the coaches to practice, practice, practice. And in that way, make myself a better athlete.
If the sport were basketball—I had to practice my ball handling, passing, shooting, free throws, layups, and so forth.
If it were baseball—I had to train in batting, catching, throwing, sliding, and other things.
If it were soccer—I definitely had to exercise dribbling to get past defenders, passing and receiving the ball, positioning and anticipating where the ball was going, my heading on the ball, and an array of other things to better myself and be successful in the competition.
Now that you most likely get where I’m coming from, in my game of life, I encourage and discipline myself to do the same—practice, practice, practice.
I practice the things that I feel will help me succeed and accomplish my purpose in life by doing the following: I meditate and reflect alone with frequency because it is in true solitude that I really identify and find myself.
I try my best to always think, speak, and act positively—practice the ancient discipline of yoga, along with its eight different branches to help keep me grounded and firm in my purpose.
I try to read good, entertaining fiction and non-fiction books, and when a self-help book falls into my lap, I devour its contents as well.
I challenge my mind constantly by doing very challenging numbered puzzles (sodukus), try to stay away from gossip—and if it finds me, treat it positively and minimally.
I try to socialize only with positive individuals—and when a negative one appears in my path—I run like hell! 🙂
I do my best not to tell lies, and if it’s necessary for one, I prefer to keep my mouth shut.
I try to keep myself, thoughts, and few belongings as organized and compartmentalized as possible. If I have something pending, I follow my dear mother’s advice to do it immediately without procrastination. And if there is nothing I can do about it—I do exactly that—nothing. And when I say nothing, I mean not even worry about it.
I exercise my body in a very intense manner and in doing so, prepare my heart to utilize its oxygen much more efficiently so that my resting heart rate becomes lower and can deal with pumping my blood more adequately—and in this manner, deal much better with stress.
When things do not go my way, I do not take it personal and I accept the fact that it could always have been worse to soften the impact.
I try to never jump to conclusions or make assumptions, since in the past I was wrong most of the times, if not always.
If there is anything I can do for someone less fortunate then I do so without thinking it twice.
I try to be very understanding, respectful, and considerate of others—procure not to engage in arguments or heated discussions, since they rarely, if ever, conduce to anything positive.
If for some reason I come across something that does not belong to me, I return it immediately. And if it is a borrowed item, try to take better care of it than if it were my own.
I also try to always be appreciative and truly say “thank you” for any assistance I receive, no matter how small. And I also make it my duty to never, ever, give bad advice, no matter how tempting.
Dear comrades, although there may be other practices I engage in to reach and accomplish my purpose in life, they seem to have escaped my thoughts for now. But I could not end this section without saying last but never least—a day does not go by without me getting on my knees and thanking the Lord for all my blessings and asking Him for more. Something that those who know me from the past would find extremely difficult to believe, but that is truly the case.
At this moment, my dear friends, please do not misinterpret the aforementioned and think that through such practices I aim to be perfect—never that. But it does imply that when I do “mess up,” I can be humble enough to accept it, learn from it, make amends and therefore, reduce my errors and live a much better and purposeful life.
After this very personal account on how I practice to win in my game of life, I would like to conclude that my aim is not to garner sympathy, praise, nor even your scorn, but simply to encourage all of the participants that have already taken the first step in this beautiful course to continue making the necessary changes in ourselves to be better men, simple as that.
PS—if in the future, we may cross paths and you see that I am not following through on these practices, please call it to my attention—it will be dearly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and God bless.
Ernesto Cole
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Cash App Me
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