Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we 
will learn about ten principles most people take  

a lifetime to learn.
Now, let’s begin. 

Giving life advice is a tricky business. 
Most of the time, the best advice anyone  

can give is that life is far too complicated 
and unpredictable to define by a simple set  

of rules… though that doesn’t stop us from 
trying. It’s human nature to impose rules and  

principles onto the world around us. We want 
life to make sense. We want it to abide by  

repeatable patterns and organized routines, but 
that’s not really the way life works, does it? 

For better or for worse, most pieces of life 
advice are as vague and circumstantial as life  

itself, but that doesn’t mean these kernels of 
wisdom are useless or unhelpful. To many people,  

they are guiding lights, allowing you to make 
sense of the confusing world unfolding all around  

you. This is the real value of life advice. It’s 
not designed to give you an exact set of rules  

or to solve every problem in your life. Instead, 
the secrets of life, which you hear from family,  

teachers, and mentors, are there to give you a 
helping hand and spare you from making the same  

mistakes as the people before you. While 
it’s unlikely you will encounter the same  

problems as they did, their wisdom can help 
you make sense of your struggles and quickly  

find value in life’s many challenges.
To that end, there is a long list of  

profound principles that can and will 
aid you on your journey through life.  

In this video, we’re going to cover ten of the 
most important and common principles, which  

you will almost definitely recognize in your own 
experiences. By no means is this an all-inclusive  

list of the world’s wisdom. However, if you 
listen until the end, you might realize that  

all of these principles relate to hidden truths 
you have been struggling to find on your own. 

Instead of wasting years trapped in toxic patterns 
and self-destructive cycles, you can learn how to  

improve your life, rethink your problems, 
and eventually set yourself free. So, take  

these ten principles to heart, and you may learn 
these lifelong lessons years ahead of your time. 

1. The Value of Rest
Many people place a tremendous amount of value on  

hard work and self-discipline. We force ourselves 
to work long hours, invest every ounce of effort,  

and push as hard as we can. But most people don’t 
realize that life is more than one long workday. 

The truth is that rest and relaxation are just 
as valuable as hard work and self-discipline.  

Taking a break, for example, provides 
a necessary breath of fresh air,  

giving you some perspective on your problems and 
helping you to approach difficult situations with  

a cool head. Resting as needed also helps 
you avoid physical and emotional burnout,  

which can take a much larger toll on your life.
Without breaks and vacations, you simply cannot  

perform at your best. So, don’t hesitate to 
rest when you need it. Take a day off every  

once in a while. Get away from work, turn off 
your work phone, and disconnect from all your  

everyday responsibilities. In other words, give 
yourself a break. Chances are… you really need it. 

2. Character vs. Reputation
Do you often worry about what  

people think of you? We make all kinds of 
sacrifices to improve our reputations. You  

may gain some sense of satisfaction from 
the good other people see in you, but do  

you see the same amount of good in yourself?
In life, who you are as a person matters much  

more than who people think you are. Other 
people might dislike you, look down on you,  

and underestimate you, but the only thing that 
matters is whether or not you respect yourself.  

Your character will always be more valuable to 
you than your reputation. As long as you remain  

the kind of person you genuinely like, you can be 
proud of yourself and confident in your decisions. 

3. Inevitable Mistakes 

In life, mistakes are inevitable. No one 
in the world has lived their life without  

messing up in some way. Even the most successful 
people have failed more times than you realize.  

They’ve said the wrong things. They’ve made 
stupid decisions. They’ve taken risks and  

fallen flat on their faces. These mistakes 
are, in many ways, a necessary part of life. 

In other words, there’s no such thing as 
perfection in any aspect of your life.  

Everything has its flaws. Everyone makes mistakes. 
Unless you’re willing to accept those mistakes and  

learn from them, you may waste your life chasing 
a vision of perfection that doesn’t exist. 

4. The Fear of Letting Go
You, like many people, may spend  

your life trying to keep things exactly as they 
are. You may be afraid of change. You may worry  

that giving up what you have now 
will leave you filled with regret. 

For example, you might be holding onto a 
comfortable but unsatisfying job. Or maybe  

you’re lingering in a relationship that you 
know deep down isn’t strong enough to last. 

As terrifying as it sounds to plunge 
into the known, change is a good thing.  

It takes many people a lifetime to learn 
this lesson, but change is the only way  

our lives improve. If you leave things as 
they are now, nothing will ever change,  

and, down the road, that’s what you will 
regret the most. Not the risks you took.  

Not the mistakes you made. But all the 
time you wasted being afraid to let go. 

5. Don’t Be a Duplicate
We all want to fit in and be  

accepted by our communities. So, we make choices 
that we believe our people will accept and admire.  

As a result, many of us are hyper-aware of 
what is popular. But it takes a lifetime to  

learn a powerful lesson about “fitting in”: it’s 
not as satisfying or meaningful as you think. 

The truth is that copying other people will never 
bring you the strong sense of identity that you  

want and need. In almost every situation, it’s 
better to be yourself and make your own choices,  

instead of following in the footsteps of the 
people around you. While you can learn and improve  

thanks to the wisdom of others, you’ll never be 
satisfied trying to embody anybody but yourself.  

So, be unique, be an individual, and take 
pride in the things that make you different. 

6. Attitude Is Everything 

How you approach an experience completely 
changes your perception and mood.  

If you’re pessimistic and self-defeating, 
you’re not going to have a good experience  

or find the success you crave. On the other hand, 
if you are positive and enthusiastic, it doesn’t  

matter what you’re doing; you will always 
gain something positive from the experience. 

In many ways, life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. 
If you expect the worst, the worst will come. But  

if you look for happiness in the world and 
spread positivity, you’re bound to find the  

same happiness everywhere you go.
7. Reasons to Do Good 

We all know that helping people is a good thing to 
do, yet we avoid helping people unless there is a  

clear reason to do so. But here’s the truth. 
You don’t need a reason to do good things.  

Don’t wait for permission to make other 
people’s lives better. If you want to do  

good in the world, you can start at any moment.
For example, why not make helping people a  

regular part of your life? Make a choice 
to help someone simply because you can.  

Spreads kindness because you have the 
kindness to give. Not only will you make  

the world a better place, but you’ll also learn 
to appreciate the things and people that you have. 

8. The Right Critics
When you invest your  

heart and soul into something, the last 
thing you want is to be criticized.  

But listening to your critics can teach you 
valuable lessons that you may learn on your own. 

There are two different types of critical people 
in the world. Some critics will attack your work  

to make themselves feel better, but others 
only criticize your work to help you improve.  

These are the kinds of people you need in 
your life. Otherwise, you, like many people,  

may live your whole life in a shallow box, 
unable to see the problems right in front of you. 

As painful as it can be, don’t run away from your 
critics, especially the good ones. Always try to  

consider what your friends and allies have to 
offer. Listen to their constructive criticism,  

and you may discover new ways to grow and improve.
9. Relish Those Little Moments 

We spend most of our time thinking and 
stressing about big decisions in our lives.  

We worry about the future. We think about career 
paths, relationships, and our place in the world…  

but how often do you slow down and 
relish the little things in life? 

Often the best things in life aren’t big 
decisions or life-altering experiences.  

They’re small moments of calm, happiness, 
and peace. No matter how busy your life  

gets or how much pressure is on your shoulders, 
never forget to appreciate the little things.  

Because those small, beautiful 
moments make life worth living. 

10. Life Is Full of Surprises
Sometimes, life hits you with a curveball.  

Most of the time, the biggest surprises 
happen when you least expect them,  

and there’s nothing you can do to change 
or prevent what life has in store for you. 

Instead of trying to control the 
unpredictable tides of your life,  

why not focus on what you can control? Your 
environment may change. The people around  

you will come and go. But through every stage of 
life, you will always have control over yourself. 

In other words, you can always make good choices 
and become the kind of person you are proud to  

be. Regardless of your circumstances, 
or the surprises that come your way,  

you always have the power to do better, 
live happier, and make your life worthwhile. 

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