What did one person say to you that changed your outlook on life?

[bearlyactive]

I suppose I should go first...

They told me, after something bad happened to one of my relatives, that "the hole in your heart will never heal, but you'll learn to build yourself around it". I had been feeling hopeless up until that point, but it helped me change my viewpoint.

Anyone else?

[MellowMelly]

@wellhelloyou
That Roald Dahl quote is my mantra and is framed and up on my living room wall. It’s amazing how many visitors to my home find that quite a profound enlightening moment when they read it. They inevitably end up smiling after thinking about it for a moment!

‘If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely’

[AnonUser2018]

Been reading this thread over the past couple of days and thought I'd add my own!

My Mum would always say "be different". As a child and image conscious teen I never understood it. I just wanted to be the same as everyone else. But as I grew older "got it" more. I apply it to lots of areas of my life now and find it helps.

She also used to say "if you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always got".

Lastly, after losing a loved one in a car accident "your life can change in an instant". Helps me appreciate the small things in life and be grateful for what I have.

[Darklane]

My old dad used to say
Don’t smoke, don’t drink, avoid fast women. You won’t live any longer but it sure as hell will feel like you do.

[hippospot]

"Growing old is a privilege".

"Is it better to be right or to be kind?"

[Teal99]

"I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened."

Mark Twain. This is about worrying about stuff that will probably never happen. Catastrophizing.

Also, "does it need saying, does it need saying now, does it need saying by me?" If the answer is yes to all three, go ahead. This helps me at work. Times when I think I should say something, or to rescue a situation, when really it is none of my business....

Talking of which, that old Polish favourite- "not my circus, not my monkeys" which has also reminded me to butt out, or don't get involved.

Finally, one of my own is "what ever happens you will manage" - I worry about stuff but actually I have faced a lot of crap in my life (like most people) and I have always come through it.

[Ghostlyglow]

"no one cares" and it's true

[catsareme14]

I was a real worrier . Then watched Bridge of Spies. Tom Hanks says to Mark Rylance character 'Aren't you worried ? ( Rylance character waiting for verdict on if he would get death sentence for spying ) . Rylance replies ' Will it change anything ?' Absolutely life changing for me . I now don't waste time worrying about stuff I can't change or influence.

[Pinkiii]

I was always a worrier, until someone once said to me, don’t worry about something until it has happened, otherwise you go through the worry twice, once before it has happened and once if it happens

[AbsenceOfBlinkinLight]

I read the ‘is it necessary, is it kind, is it true’ quote on a blog years ago, and it really struck home. Helps with the kids, too - I ask if they think what they just to each other said was necessary, kind AND true, and it helps take the heat out of sibling squabbling.

The other one that works for me is ‘Is it today’s problem? Can I do anything about it now?’. If not, firmly put it out of my head until it is today’s problem or there is something I can do.

[LadyofMisrule]

When my friend's wife didn't come to our NYE party, and he said "XX isn't coming because she doesn't want to." It's a perfectly acceptable thing to say to another adult, and there is no need to make excuses for anything you don't want to do. It was such a liberating revelation. I've used it several times now.

[LadyofMisrule]

Oh, and "Be yourself, and be it as hard as you can."

[HelloMissus]

If you don’t ask you don’t get.
Because you know what - the meek do not fucking inherit the earth, they inherit the washing up.

[HUCKMUCK]

Mine was a cheesy internet thing but it really struck a chord - Don't judge your inside against somebody else's outside. It was the catalyst I needed to get off of social media and stop thinking that the perfect lives people portrayed was what I should aspire to.

Second is a gradual influence from a couple of friends - just about not judging people and not reacting to everything in a negative way. If someone has an opinion I don't agree with, unless it directly affects me, it is just their opinion. I am not responsible for changing their minds, it is not a personal attack on me. Let things go. One of these friends has this gesture where you hold out the palm of your hand, imagine the issue is a feather on your palm and you gently blow it away. I now do this often!