“The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment.” -Elbert Hubbard

If you venture outside your front door today, you will receive both praise and criticism. Some people will respect your choices; some people will question them.

You’ll probably do the same to other people, whether you realize it or not. You’ll notice things you admire and vocalize it, and see things that bother you and judge them, either in your head or out loud.

Try as we may to be neutral and open-minded, we all form opinions from time to time. Sometimes they’re helpful; sometimes they’re better left unspoken. Either way, they’re inevitable.

When you accept that judging and being judged is part of being human, suddenly other people don’t seem so harsh or disconnected. Instead, they seem like you.

“Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” ~ Edwin Hubbell Chapin

Life can seem so brief and random. Try as we may to give life meaning, it often seems like there should be something more–like we should be doing more to make our lives matter before time goes on without us.

We get so caught up trying to matter that we forget how much we already do. We get so fixated on changing the world that we forget we shape it every day.

Make no mistake about it: every time you choose to be passionate, mindful, thoughtful, considerate, generous, gracious, fearless or kind you change the world for the better. People notice, people benefit, and whether they remember or not, they are better for it.

Be mindful of the actions that might seem insignificant. They are the fabric of your legacy.

“I have done my best: that is about all the philosophy of living one needs.” -Lin-yutang

Peace comes from accepting this moment is good enough exactly as it is– and that you are good enough exactly as you are. There will always be room to grow and improve in life; but if you’re consistently focused on your imperfections you will never enjoy your progress.

As I wrote before in the post 10 Ways I Know There’s Nothing Wrong withYou (or Me) you can’t possibly do someone else’s best so there’s no point in stressing about it. Go out and do your best today–and then give yourself the credit you deserve.

“What matters is the value we’ve created in our lives, the people we’ve made happy and how much we’ve grown as people.” -Daisaku Ikeda

We spend so much of our lives looking for meaning–a sense that it all makes sense or will in the end–that we sometimes drive ourselves crazy trying to make the moment good enough. To do the right work, have the right relationships, make the right decisions, make the right impact so hopefully our lives will matter. We’ll matter.

All that struggling, striving, and racing toward something better can make the moment feel like something to escape instead of something to celebrate.

This moment is all we’re guaranteed. Don’t fill it worrying about being better or doing more in the world. Even if you spend today creating a tomorrow you visualize, go through it knowing you create a lot of value and happiness, just as you are. You might be amazed by how much you can accomplish when you’re satisfied with the present, exactly as it is.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

You may not end today having achieved all your goals, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t moving in the direction of your dreams. If you’ve done something proactive to be who you want to be, you’ve had a successful day.

What seeds can you plant today?

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“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” -Unknown

Never underestimate your ability to transform hardship into growth and loss into gain. Today, if you feel stressed, take a deep breath and remember: the way you handle it shapes both today and tomorrow.

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“The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands.” -Robert M. Pirsig

When you feel you live in a happy place, know that you chose to be happy. When you feel you live in a loving place, know that you chose to be loving. When you feel you live in a place with opportunity, know that you chose to look for them.

How will you choose to improve the world today?

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“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” -William S. Burroughs

Most of the time when you seek advice you already know the answer. You just want permission to either trust or ignore your gut. Make that choice for yourself. Step back from your circumstances, calm your mind, and pay attention to what you feel in your head, heart, and body.

Not sure you can trust your instincts? Today’s post, Stop Second Guessing Yourself: 5 Tips to Feel at Ease with Decisions, may help.

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“Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.” -Buddha

How can you make a difference today?

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“If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

Don’t let yourself miss a thing today. Take everything that compromises your peace of mind–worries, fears, insecurities, disagreements–and choose to let them go.

Things may not yet be addressed or resolved. People and situations may still need your attention. That’s OK–you can handle them. But you don’t need to feel tension to do it.

As the proverb goes, “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”

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