Mark Twain’s nuggets of wisdom are as relevant today as ever. His words can be funny, witty, and satirical at the same time, but they always ring true. Twain said that when friends start telling you how young you look, it’s the surest sign that you’re getting old.

Henrik Edberg of PositivityBlog gathers Twain’s ideas about life and how they remain relevant to present-day individuals like us.

“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

Give yourself your own stamp of approval because not too many people will. When you don’t have your own approval, you’ll have that most uncomfortable feeling and defensive attitude. It becomes an inner barrier that’ll eventually hinder your happiness and success.

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“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

It’s actually not just about age, it’s everything personal about you: your height, weight, build, hair, etc. People tend to limit their ambitions by their own self-concepts. Widen your mind. If you start not minding that you’re bald, people will begin to not mind it, either. If you keep putting the issue between you and other people, however, they’ll never fail to see it.

“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”

Poke your funny bone over a tight situation. Lighten up and make it easier to work out a solution.

Anger can harm you more than the person you’re venting your anger at.

Nothing could be truer than this. Anger consumes you more than the person you’re mad at. Everyone gets angry at some point; anger even drives one to productive action. Resolve the root of your anger and stop dwelling on it. Find other things to be passionate about.

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

Some people just don’t grow up. They think that the world owes them in the way that their parents provided for everything they needed. If you have that mindset, beware! You’re only opening your door to frustrations. The world doesn’t owe you anything; you have to work your way toward your goals.

People with new ideas aren’t often welcomed by the world, until their idea succeeds.

Don’t expect others to approve of everything you do; that’s one of the reasons why you need to approve of yourself first. Instead of seeking glorification, do what you believe in without harming others. If you succeed, that’s your reward. The approval of others is secondary.

Direct your thoughts away from your troubles in every way you can.

Address your problems, but don’t wallow in negativity. This takes the ability to control your thought processes. Life is a choice and it starts with a strong mind and will.

Be the help that another person needs.

Recent studies show that helping others has a beneficial effect to the benefactor. The positive feeling that you create affects others as well as you.

If you look back on your life twenty years from now, you’ll be disappointed more by the things that you didn’t do than by the things that you did.

Living life is not about being safe; it’s about exploring and discovering. Life is a journey, so take it!

“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”

If your life doesn’t seem to make sense (that happens always, right?), plod on! That’s what makes life real.

By Daniel

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