Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we will learn about ten brutal truths about life that
no one wants to admit. Now, let’s begin
Year after year, we try to make our lives better, happier, and more satisfying. We pursue loving
relationships. We build inspiring careers. We try to live exciting lives in exciting places,
hoping that one day we will create the life we always wanted for ourselves.
What most people don’t realize, or simply don’t want to admit, is that many of our goals, dreams,
and aspirations are built upon lifelong misconceptions and shallow knowledge.
For instance, many people dedicate their lives to grueling jobs, working long hours
and neglecting their relationships to further their professional ambitions. In your mind, hard
work and commitment may be the ingredients for a satisfying life, but many of the most ambitious,
hardest-working people end up regretting the years they wasted with their nose to the grindstone.
The same thing is true of material aspirations, like buying a large home or driving the nicest
car. We dream of acquiring immense wealth, and we place incredible value on luxury and
financial success, but your possessions or your bank account will never bring
you long-term happiness or satisfaction. Sometimes, the things we value the most
bring very little meaning into our lives. In the moment, it feels like we cannot live
without them. We endlessly pursue the next big thing, hoping that promotion, that raise,
or that next purchase will finally satisfy our deeper cravings and make us feel complete. But
you know as well as I do that nothing will ever be good enough; that no goal, job, or amount of
money will ever satisfy you. In some ways, this is one of the greatest lessons we can learn. It’s
not something we like to admit or something we can easily incorporate into our lives, but it’s often
the reason we do not feel happy or satisfied. Of course, this is just one of the brutal truths
about life that many people experience but don’t want to admit to themselves or simply don’t dare
to face head-on. However, if you have an open mind and are willing to accept challenging ideas that
may disrupt the ways you have always lived, these ten brutal truths may help you create a healthier,
happier, and more satisfying life. 1. You Aren’t Special
Perhaps the most brutal truth for anyone to swallow is this: you are not as unique
as you think you are. Everything you’re thinking and feeling, every experience
you’ve ever had — someone else has thought, felt, or experienced it before you. You may think you’re
breaking new ground or facing never-before-seen obstacles. The truth is… you are not special,
unique, or different in any of the ways you think. Many people are discouraged by this brutal
realization; however, there is a silver lining. You may not be special, but that means you don’t
have to go through life alone. So long as there are other people in your corner, you will always
have power, guidance, and support. You aren’t special, but that only makes you stronger.
2. The Pursuit of Courage Do you feel like the only person without
a sense of direction or purpose? Many people think everyone has a clear goal or purpose in
their lives. You look at successful, influential people, and you may think they have some knowledge
or skill that you don’t. But the truth is that no one has any idea what they’re doing.
Everyone struggles to plan their future. No one knows the correct answer, but that
also means that anyone can be successful. The only difference between you and those people you admire
is courage — the courage to face the unknown, try your hardest, and fight for your dreams.
3. The Happiness Dilemma For many people, the goal
of life is lasting happiness. You want to achieve a state of complete satisfaction and
fulfillment. In your dreams, you may imagine a version of yourself that is successful,
popular, and influential. And you think about how much happier that version of you may be.
Too many people conceptualize happiness as a goal or benchmark – something you
can achieve one day and then never lose. But happiness is not a goal, nor is it something
you can earn or accomplish. It’s a state of being that anyone can feel or experience.
If you perceive happiness as something you lack, you will never recognize the happiness
that lives inside you every moment of every day. You label yourself as a work in progress.
You say you have a lot more to do before you can be happy. But your rigid expectations may
be the reason you spend more time chasing happiness than actually experiencing it.
4. The Perfection of Imperfection Many people spend their lives in pursuit of
perfection. You want to find the perfect job. You want to meet the perfect partner. But perfection
is not only impossible… it’s overrated. Nothing in life will ever be perfect.
There will always be flaws and quirks. People will always have weaknesses,
and good days will always give way to bad ones. But it’s the imperfections in your life that make
it valuable. Why? Because you need to experience bad things that make the good stuff worthwhile.
For example, it’s your failures that ensure your successes matter. So, stop searching for
perfection and simply do your best. It won’t be perfect, but that’s what makes it meaningful.
5. No One Really Cares Here’s a brutal truth that no one wants
to admit. 99% of the world doesn’t care about the hardships you experience on a daily basis. No
matter how many tragedies you’ve faced, no matter how many obstacles stand in your path, the only
person who cares about your troubles … is you. Luckily, you don’t need their pity or sympathy
to validate your choices. Searching for sympathy is why many people never move past their problems.
Instead of looking for someone to validate your trauma, find ways to overcome it and move forward.
People may not care about the obstacles you face, but they do care about the challenges you’ve
overcome to get where you are today. 6. How to Waste Your Talent
Do you wish you were more gifted and talented? You may look at the most
successful and respected people and say, “if only I were as talented as them.” The truth is
that talent has little to do with it. All those you love and admire did not
get where they are today because of some innate skill. They got there by practicing tirelessly,
taking risks, and investing longer hours than anyone else. In other words,
talent was a tiny part of their success story. Unfortunately, talent is meaningless if you don’t
have a strong work ethic and self-discipline. You could be a natural with a unique vision
of the world, but if you’re unwilling to practice the basics, build a foundation,
and take concrete steps toward your goals, your talent will go to waste.
7. The Impermanence of Ideas Every day you think thousands, if not millions,
of thoughts. Some are simple and fleeting. Others linger and develop into complex ideas. However,
nothing that pops into your head matters to anyone unless you put those ideas down on paper.
In other words, your thoughts amount to very little, but your words have the power to
influence the world around you. Find the courage to express the ideas that are most meaningful to
you. Otherwise, your thoughts and ideas will disappear, as if they never even mattered.
8. Make This Moment Count How much time do you spend planning for the
future? You could spend hours every day creating sophisticated lists of goals and aspirations.
You can plan out the next 5 or 10 years of your life, but if you’re unable to be productive in
the present moment, your plans amount to nothing. What are you doing in this second of your life to
help you move forward? If the answer is nothing, you will have nothing to show for these dwindling
minutes of your life. So, do something. Take action. Make the present moment count. You can
make all the lists and plans in the world, but unless you capitalize on this moment,
your plans will never take you anywhere. 9. The Loves of Your Life
Are you searching for your soulmate? It’s a romantic idea — that there is one perfect
person for you in the world — but the concept of a soulmate isn’t plausible or realistic. No
matter how badly you want to find your soulmate, there is no ideal person in the world for you.
This doesn't sound very encouraging to many people, but lacking a soulmate is actually
a profound gift. If there’s no one person in the world for you, you can find happiness with
many people. You can live different lives, share experiences, and find love with many partners who
may bring out different sides of you. You may be disappointed that your soulmate isn’t waiting for
you somewhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness and true love.
10. A Life Well-Lived At the end of your life,
what will you remember and cherish? Many people spend their lives diligently pursuing titles and
achievements. But at the end of your life, you won’t be thinking about how much money you made
or what titles you held. You will remember the people you love and the relationships
that made your time on Earth meaningful. The truth is that material wealth does not
make a life well-lived. It may bring you comfort and luxury. It may give you power and influence
over others. But what matters most when your life is nearing its end are not the things you
own but the people you have by your side. Thank you for watching TopThink and
be sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.