Martin Meadows Quotes

I believe that if a person wants to reach their full potential, he or she can’t avoid discomfort. Doing things that might not be entirely pleasant is key to achieving long-term objectives

Holy isn’t always a church or open meadow. It can be a zone of profound change, where sexuality, the mythic realms, dreams, and the opening of soul can all occur. Those sculptural images on the temple walls are telling us this, warning us of major potencies at play. If you want to keep everything just so, nice and white, go no further.

If I had been asked in my early youth whether I preferred to have dealings only with men or only with books, my answer would certainly have been in favor of books. In later years this has become less and less the case. Not that I have had so much better experiences with men than with books; on the contrary, purely delightful books even now come my way more often than purely delightful men. But the many bad experiences with men have nourished the meadow of my life as the noblest book could not do, and the good experiences have made the earth into a garden for me. […:] Here is an infallible test. Imagine yourself in a situation where you are alone, wholly alone on earth, and you are offered one of the two, books or men. I often hear men prizing their solitude, but that is only because there are still men somewhere on earth, even though in the far distance. I knew nothing of books when I came forth from the womb of my mother, and I shall die without books, with another human hand in my own. I do, indeed, close my door at times and surrender myself to a book, but only because I can open the door again and see a human being looking at me.

I dreamed of you and a dead dragon, Egg's brother Daeron said to him. A great beast, huge, with wings so large they could cover this meadow. It had fallen on top of you, but you were alive and the dragon was dead. And so he was, poor Baelor. Dreams were a treacherous ground on which to build.

1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries a year are the needless result of sleep deprivation

Surrounding yourself with empowering books and people on a daily basis will put you into a positive state that will inspire you to raise your standards. Please keep in mind it’s a process of conditioning,

Nobody likes to face obstacles, but it’s thanks to the obstacles you face today that you gain the ability to overcome other hardships in the future — ones that would possibly crush you if it weren’t for the experience you’re having today.

My land When I die, may I turn into grass On my mountains in spring, In autumn I will turn to seed. When I die, may I turn into water, My misty breath Will fall onto the meadows as rain. When I die, may I turn into stone, On the confines of my land May I be a landmark. Translated by Robert Elsie

In many aspects, your life is already incredible. You just need to remind yourself that you can lose it, so that you can relearn its value for you.

Amateurs think that if they were inspired all the time, they could be professionals. Professionals know that if they relied on inspiration, they’d be amateurs.

To achieve your long-term goals, make sure that the satisfaction you get from what you want most is always much stronger than the satisfaction you can get from what you want now.

Yet even so, Jon Snow was not sorry he had come. There were wonders here as well. He had seen sunlight flashing on icy thin waterfalls as they plunged over the lips of sheer stone cliffs, and a mountain meadow full of autumn wildflowers, blue coldsnaps and bright scarlet frostfires and stands of piper's grass in russet and gold. He had peered down ravines so deep and black they seemed certain to end in some hell, and he had ridden his garron over a wind-eaten bridge of natural stone with nothing but sky to either side. Eagles nested in the heights and came down to hunt the valleys, circling effortlessly on great blue-grey wings that seemed almost part of the sky.

When one is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow.” —Ethiopian proverb

There’s no question that regular physical activity is not an option – it’s a necessity for both your mind and your body.

if you don’t make time for health, you’ll have to make time for illness.” How

If you’re not absolutely sure a purchase will bring long-term value in your life, have the discipline to skip it.

The more decisions you have to make, the worse the quality of your decisions will be.

The chief difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem is that self-efficacy is the belief in your abilities, while self-esteem is the belief in your own worth.

One simple change – replacing news and mass media with books – can produce dramatic changes in your life. No matter what your ambition in life is, you can find books that will inspire you to work on your goals.

If you allow yourself to have low standards, how are you supposed to ever achieve excellence? Exhibiting self-control is one of the most powerful demonstrations of having high standards; letting fleeting emotions and urges control your life — as most people do — is a sure-fire path to mediocrity.

said, “What gets measured, gets managed.” In the case of our thoughts, what gets observed, gets managed.

Watching less news (or ideally, not watching it at all) will reduce your anxiety levels and change your world view.

If your body doesn’t work on the highest level, how are you supposed to work on the big goals?

Research suggests that it takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days21 to form a new habit, with 66 days being the average time (not 21 days, as the common knowledge goes).

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.

If you wake up and don’t feel control over your day, guess how it will influence the rest of your waking hours.

we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.

reminding yourself that everything eventually passes is a powerful trick to aid you in enduring the discomfort. I

The longer your deadlines are, the more likely you are to procrastinate

Parkinson’s law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion.

Self-discipline isn’t built overnight. If you want to become mentally tougher and more in control over your temptations, play the long game and prioritize sustainability over quick results.

there are two effects at work that cancel each other. The first effect is when you’re playing to win. This attitude improves your performance. The second effect is when you’re playing not to lose – it leads to decreased performance.

A second line of research has shown that economic stress robs us of cognitive bandwidth. Worrying about bills, food or other problems, leaves less capacity to think ahead or to exert self-discipline. So, poverty imposes a mental tax. —Nicholas Kristof

Willpower is what separates us from the animals. It’s the capacity to restrain our impulses, resist temptation — do what’s right and good for us in the long run, not what we want to do right now. It’s central, in fact, to civilization. —Roy Baumeister

President Obama once said in an interview, “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.40” His decision to reduce the number of decisions he’s making every single day helps him make better decisions when faced with more important matters than the color of his suit.

You can use the same approach to handle distractions in your personal life. If you often find yourself glued to your smartphone, tell yourself that, for the next 25 minutes, you’ll give your full attention to the world around you. After 25 minutes, you have 5 minutes to check your phone and do whatever you want. By setting aside time for distractions – and resisting them until your break is due – you free up your focus during the periods you need

The results were dramatic. While Huxley’s drug adventure would be mystical and ecstatic, and one of Dr. Lagache’s assistants had enjoyed prancing through imaginary meadows with exotic dancers, Sartre’s brain threw up a hellish crew of snakes, fish, vultures, toads, beetles and crustaceans. Worse, they refused to go away afterwards. For months, lobster-like beings followed him just out of his field of vision, and the facades of houses on the street stared at him with human eyes.

If what we’re doing is good, why does it smell so lancingly bad? On the ramp at night, why do we feel the ungainsayable need to get so brutishly drunk? Why did we make the meadow churn and spit? The flies as fat as blackberries, the vermin, the diseases, ach, scheusslich, schmierig—why? Why do rats fetch 5 bread rations per cob? Why did the lunatics, and only the lunatics, seem to like it here? Why, here, do conception and gestation promise not new life but certain death for both woman and child? Ach, why all der Dreck, der Sumpf, der Schleim? Why do we turn the snow brown? Why do we do that? Make the snow look like the shit of angels. Why do we do that?

He can climb anything lightning fast and is the king of the forest insofar as using the canopy as a highway. While his favorite food is voles, caught on the floors of forest and meadow, he much enjoys squirrels of all kinds and is the only hunter of squirrels who can follow them to the highest, thinnest branches; not even the fisher, eing heavier, can achieve that dangerous elevation. He eats everything else he can find, of course, but given his druthers, like today's late-summer bounty, he would have a vole for breakfast and then some thimbleberries and a cricket as a midmorning snack and then another vole for late lunch, followed by huckleberries in the afternoon, most of a dead White-crowned sparrow, some early white-oak acorns...and then, delightfully a young flying squirrel...

Re-Read Your Vision And if you don’t have one, write it. A vision is a document that describes how you picture your life in a given timeframe (say, one year). However, you don’t necessarily have to write a vision describing every little aspect of your life (although it’s a powerful motivator, too). You can write a short vision describing the achievement of a single goal. Use images and videos to make your vision stronger and more appealing. For instance, if you want to lose weight and become fitter, find a picture of a person who looks the way you’d like to look. Describe how you feel, how strong you are, and how often you exercise. If you want to build a successful business, find images of things or experiences you’ll buy with the money your business will generate. Write down the vision of how your business serves its clients, how your employees feel about it, and how you feel as the owner. If you want to get a new job, make a list of your dream employers. Find pictures of their offices and other images that will motivate you to keep looking for a new job.

Bowen W., A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, 2013.

The Pomodoro Technique helps with procrastination because it breaks down every task in a 25-minute block. After 25 minutes, you get a 5-minute break. Scheduling such breaks helps you get to work – the promise of a break produces a burst of dopamine and reduces distractions.

Continuous small improvements will lead to long-term progress, which in turn will ensure you won’t give up on your goals too soon.

Time is the most precious currency we have in this world because it’s the only finite resource that you can’t buy. Everything

Shoshin is a concept of Zen Buddhists meaning “beginner’s mind,” used mostly when studying Japanese martial arts and Zen Buddhism. It refers to approaching a subject you’re studying as a beginner – even when you’re already an expert. It’s about an open mind, eagerness and a lack of assumptions.

The problem with mistaking luxuries for necessities is that it's impossible to develop powerful self-discipline if you need a lot just to function.

Both regular physical activity and a healthy diet require a dose of daily discipline. When you follow these two habits daily, you’ll build a powerful source of discipline you’ll be able to use to achieve other goals in your life.

For example, I always wash the cookware I used to cook my dinner before I eat my meal. This way I can eat my dinner without the unpleasant thought in the back of my mind that I’ll not only have to wash the dishes, but also the pots and pans I used for cooking. Small habits like that can help establish a habit of choosing to do the hard things now instead of letting all the hard tasks accumulate like a backlog at work.

sabotage.

Desarrollar nuevos hábitos es la esencia de la autodisciplina.

fortunate

He writes that news triggers your limbic system, almost as if you were constantly on the lookout for threats. This heightened state of awareness leads to chronic stress, a deregulated immune system, fear, and aggression. And that’s just the result of watching or reading news.

What drives them to achieve more is their perception of time – life is short, and they want to make the most out of it. Hence, they set big goals. They don’t have time to work on small thinking, because it’s only the bold ideas that will lead to exponential results.

Another aspect of pride is stubbornly following the wrong path.

Peter Diamandis’ Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think and Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World.

Daily Self-Discipline: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Build Self-Discipline and Achieve Your Goals.

working

True, some people are indeed born with better abilities to handle their appetites, maintain self-discipline, or be persistent in spite of obstacles. However, you can also learn these skills.

You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have. —Dan Waldschmidt

Shorter Deadlines Lead to Better Results

Each time you experience shaking, butterflies in your stomach or fear, consider it a normal reaction of your body’s heightened awareness. Think that it’s excitement, not anxiety.

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself — and be lenient to everybody else. —Henry Ward Beecher

The air was pure and still, and early sunshine sparkled on the heavy dew. In the valley sat cotton candy mist, and the distant hills stood softly, their edges blurred and colors muted by the moist air. Swallows and house martins swooped and dipped, hungry for their breakfasts, catching the first rise of insects of the day. The honeysuckle and roses had not yet warmed to release their scent, so the strongest smell was of wet grass and bracken. Laura smiled, breathing deeply, and walked lightly through the gate into the meadows. She hadn't the courage to head off onto the mountain on her own just yet but could not wait to explore the woods at the end of the fields. By the time she reached the first towering oaks, her feet were washed clean by the dew. She felt wonderfully refreshed and awake. As she wandered among the trees she had the sense of a place where time had stood still. Where man had left only a light footprint. Here were trees older than memory. Trees that had sheltered farmers and walkers for generations. Trees that had been meeting points for lovers and horse dealers. Trees that had provided fuel and food for families and for creatures of the forest with equal grace. As she walked deeper into the woods she noticed the quality of sound around her change. Gone were the open vistas and echoes of the meadows and their mountain backdrop. Here even the tiniest noises were close up, bouncing back off the trunks and branches, kept in by the dense foliage. The colors altered subtly, too. With the trees in full leaf the sunlight was filtered through bright green, giving a curious tinge to the woodland below. White wood anemones were not white at all, but the palest shade of Naples yellow. The silver lichens which grew in abundance bore a hint of olive. Even the miniature violets reflected a suggestion of viridian.

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.5

difficult, when you no longer have the initial motivation, that you lose discipline and determination. People who are capable of dealing with adversity are better prepared to win against their weak side

regimen),

Nothing will change in your life if you don’t feel that you have to do something about your situation.

When you link the accomplishment of your goal to a positive contribution to the life of a person you deeply care about, you’ll have the strongest motivational link there is.

The rule of the vital few says that the minority of things matter a great deal and the majority of things don’t matter a lot. The key is to focus on just a couple of crucial things and disregard the rest. Your task becomes manageable again, and you keep going with much less effort. When you apply this rule during the stage of conscious incompetence, you’ll reduce the risk of giving up. In the case of learning languages, it’s usually the ability to communicate with native speakers – basic sentences and phrases are much more important than proper grammar or getting the intonation right. In the case of building a business, it’s getting your first client, the next one, and the next one. Leave thinking about more complex business tasks for later. In fitness, you don’t have to learn more than a few basic movements (squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, chin-up). All the other exercises aren’t necessary for most trainees. Deconstruct each of your goals in a similar way and don’t let the complexity deter you from making progress.

Change your beliefs about failure – consider it a source of feedback, not a testament to your lack of abilities.

Discouragement has a more powerful negative impact on your behavior than the positive impact of encouragement because we pay more attention to the negative feedback18.

If you think you are beaten, you are If you think you dare not, you don’t, If you like to win, but you think you can’t It is almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost For out of the world we find, Success begins with a fellow’s will It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are You’ve got to think high to rise, You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!

When you switch your mind from event-oriented to process-oriented, magic will happen.

When you combine belief with commitment, you get the perfect mixture.

Whenever you feel that adversity is too much to handle, remind yourself that “this too shall pass.” Every challenge in life is a temporary thing. You can handle more than you believe if you remind yourself that things will soon get better.

Try both approaches – spend a minute or two thinking about the best version of yourself, the kind of a person you want to become. Then imagine the worst kind of a person you never want to become. Which image motivates you more to stick to your goals and say no to instant gratification?

If you find yourself constantly procrastinating, chances are it’s not the right goal for you.

Las únicas decisiones que hacen la diferencia entre la mediocridad y el éxito, son las decisiones difíciles.

Love is not sought; rather, it freely comes, like deer to meadow that’s peaceful and calm, like bees to flower that’s fresh and fragrant, like hornets to fruit that’s sweet and pleasant. Just be yourself, be sincere in all acts, think positive things, smiles you don’t lack, be helpful, ne’er talk behind people’s back, then even without seeking, love there knocks.

Play to win instead of playing not to lose.

Your Rituals Create Your Life

focusing on your breath can decrease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even alleviate pain.

This too will pass

Here are a few of my own truths that guide my behavior in life: 1. I never give up on anything that’s important to me. 2. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. The only approval I need is my own. 3. Time is my most important asset. I always focus on achieving more with less. 4. I’m always honest. Lying is for cowards. 5. I always think carefully before making any promises because I always keep my word. 6. Growth happens outside comfort zone. Security leads to mediocrity. 7. I refuse an ordinary approach because I want to live an extraordinary life. 8. Nothing is impossible for a man who refuses to listen to reason. 9. Abundance is all around me. Scarcity is the mindset of the poor. 10. If it’s not fun, I don’t do it. If I have to, I find a way to delegate it.

Shoshin

1. I never give up on anything that’s important to me. 2. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. The only approval I need is my own. 3. Time is my most important asset. I always focus on achieving more with less. 4. I’m always honest. Lying is for cowards. 5. I always think carefully before making any promises because I always keep my word. 6. Growth happens outside comfort zone. Security leads to mediocrity. 7. I refuse an ordinary approach because I want to live an extraordinary life. 8. Nothing is impossible for a man who refuses to listen to reason. 9. Abundance is all around me. Scarcity is the mindset of the poor. 10. If it’s not fun, I don’t do it. If I have to, I find a way to delegate it.

Ross E., Goodall S., Stevens A., Harris I. “Time Course of Neuromuscular Changes during Running in Well-Trained Subjects.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2010; 42 (6): 1184–1190.

Dienstbier R. A. “Arousal and physiological toughness: Implications for mental and physical health”. Psychological Review 1989; 96: 84–100.

Crust L., Clough P. J., “Developing Mental Toughness: From Research to Practice.” Journal of Sport Psychology in Action 2011; 2 (1).

efficacy.

For this reason, as a great exercise for building self-discipline and mental resilience, I strongly suggest exposing yourself to difficult tasks. Embrace problems in your life and look at dealing with difficulties as training yourself to see problems as hurdles instead of barriers.

Brown I., Inouye D. K. “Learned helplessness through modeling: The role of perceived similarity in competence.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1978, 36 (8): 900–908. See also: Bandura, A. (1981). Self-referent thought: A development analysis of self-efficacy. In J. H. Flavell & L. Ross (Eds.), Social cognitive development: Frontiers and possible futures (pp. 200–239). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Low self-esteem – the feeling that you’re worse than other people – will lead you to self-sabotage. Until you become more confident of your self-worth, achieving bold goals will be too big of a challenge to you, as you will underestimate your abilities.

Think More, Act Less It’s not the amount of action you’re taking that’s important. It’s the action, and its significance (or lack thereof) that’s important.

the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.5

The state in which you start your day shapes your state of mind for the entire day.

Procrastination

Self-discipline means living your life the hard way: resisting temptations and instant gratification, in order to receive bigger and better rewards in the future.

Your mother telling you you’re not perfect or you’re not worthy can echo in your mind for decades, causing you unnecessary pain and stress.

Have fun when moving. Play tennis with a friend. Jog with your dog. Go on a bike ride and explore your surroundings. Have a kayaking trip with a group of friends. The less it feels like exercise, the easier it will be to make it a permanent part of your life.