(author unknown, adapted for this article)
#1 Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
#2 Realize that you are not Atlas and the world does not rest on your shoulders.
#3 Stop bargaining with vegetable and fruit vendors. A few pennies more will not burn a hole in your pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
#4 Give your waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is likely toiling much harder for a living than you.
#5 Stop telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story lets them enjoy a walk down the memory lane and relive the past.
#6 Learn not to correct people even when you know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on you. Peace is more precious than perfection.
#7 Give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for you. A small tip for the recipient of a compliment – never turn it down, just say thank you.
#8 Don’t bother about a crease or a spot on your shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
#9 Walk away from people who don’t value you. They might not know your worth, but God does and you do.
#10 Remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun you in the rat race. You are not a rat and you are not in any race.
#11 Learn not to be embarrassed by your emotions. It’s your emotions that show you to be human.
#12 It’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. Your ego will keep you aloof, whereas with relationships you will never be alone.
#13 Learn to live each day as if it’s your last. After all, it might be.
#14 Remember that being joyful is a choice. You can be joyful at any time, just choose to be!
Principled Thoughts 