Words of Wisdom Quotes: How to Create a Good Life!

Hummingbird sipping nectar. Compilation of words of wisdom quotes.

– By Birgitte Coste og Søren Lauritzen, an article in the ‘Consciousness Snacks’ series.

A good life, that’s what we all wish for, right? But how do you actually achieve that?

Throughout time, many people have offered advice, guidance, and wise words about what it takes to live a good life. Depending on who is speaking, different things are emphasized. Some focus on love, others on authenticity, experience, choice, critical reflection, and so on.

But what does it take for a sentence or a quote to be perceived as wise words? Here at Good Conscious Life, we’ve pondered this a bit. But before we share our thoughts, let’s warm up with a few short, famous examples of words of wisdome quotes so we have something to relate to. Feel free to take your time to pause, reflect, and feel deeply inside.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
~ Mark Twain ~

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
~ Albert Einstein ~

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
~ Dalai Lama ~

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
~ Oscar Wilde ~

If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.
~ Henry Ford ~

Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

But What Is It that All These Words of Wisdom Quotes Have in Common?

Well, they manage to hit the nail on the head in terms of what we perceive to be ‘the truth.’ Something we just know is right, even if we can’t necessarily explain why it is so. It’s an intuitive sense that this is how the world works – it can’t be any other way.

So, a quote is good because it is ‘true!’

Yes, a very simple and straightforward conclusion, but that’s how truth is – simple and straightforward. 😉

More Short Inspiring Quotes and Good Words of Wisdom

Here are more wise and insightful words, which also simply point to the truth – this time with beautiful images included.

Let’s Start with Ourselves

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. Wise quote about personal development and change by Rumi. Image of a woman with eyes closed in meditation surrounded by flowers. Partially AI-generated.

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
~ Rumi ~

OFTEN IT IS OUR OWN INNER WORLD THAT LIMITS US, NOT THE OUTER ONE
When we experience discomfort, our first instinct is often to change things in the external world, in our surroundings. It’s easy to believe that our home, job, friends, or partner are the problem, and that if we just fix those things, life will get better. This approach can work in some cases, but in most cases, we need to start with ourselves.

By shedding light 💡 on our own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, we often discover that it is these, and not the world, that limit us. They are what we can benefit from changing and letting go of. And once we’ve done that, it will become crystal clear to us whether any changes in the outer world are necessary as well.

~ Birgitte Coste ~

Stay with the Questions a Little Longer

It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer. Wise quote about patience and taking one's time by Albert Einstein. Photo of a red-haired girl in a scout uniform holding a magnifying glass, examining a plant with red berries.

It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.
~ Albert Einstein ~

ONLY WITH THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, WILL WE FIND THE RIGHT ANSWERS 🤔
In a world that often pressures us to find answers quickly and efficiently, Einstein reminds us that it can be valuable to slow down and linger a little longer on what seems obvious at first.

Think about the last time you really sat with a question and deeply reflected on it. Often, when we do this, we find the question itself is misphrased or slightly off from the core issue.

Only when we allow ourselves to stay with the questions do we find the right ones. And only with the right questions, we can find the right answers.

~ Birgitte Coste ~

Thoughts are Just Thoughts, not the Truth

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Wise quote about belief and thought by Aristotle. Image of a thoughtful young man with thought bubbles and light bulbs around his head. Partially AI-generated.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
~ Aristotle ~

THE FEWER STATIC BELIEFS WE HAVE, THE MORE ROOM THERE IS FOR INTUITIVE TRUTH
What is characteristic of thoughts and beliefs is that they feel so convincingly true. As if what they are ‘saying’ is really real.

However, as most of us know, no thought or belief can be 100% true. It simply isn’t possible. They are all just our ‘best guesses’ about various ‘things’, based on the circumstances we currently find ourselves in.

So, not only is one wiser when not taking one’s own thoughts as absolute truth and maintaining a certain critical distance from them, as Aristotle recommends. But the less we believe we know about everything, the more space there is for intuitive truth to emerge, as static thoughts simply no longer take up as much room. ✨

~ Birgitte Coste ~

He that Can Take Rest Is Greater than He that Can Take Cities

Portuguese saying: How good it is to do nothing all day, and then to rest afterwards. Words of wisdom quotes and inspirational sayings. Good Conscious Life. Photo of sleeping cat.

How good it is to do nothing all day, and then to rest afterwards.
~ Portuguese saying ~

Cats are amazing teachers for us humans in many ways:
– They seem to have a really good and healthy amount of self-esteem – they naturally seem to believe that they are very important and worthy of love.
– They are fantastic at simply being in the moment – German-born spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle supposedly said: “I have lived with several Zen masters … all of them were cats.”
– They are absolutely brilliant at making sure their own needs are met – for example, they take a nap whenever it suits them … which is almost all the time.

We could definitely learn something from cats and their approach to life. Life seems very simple for a cat. It must be pleasant and comfortable, which means that if I, as a cat, am tired and need to relax … then I do it. It’s as simple as that.

But because we humans believe there’s so much we need to accomplish all the time, many of us tend to neglect our most basic need for rest. In fact, many of us view rest as a sort of admission of failure. If we need rest, something must be wrong with us.

Another, perhaps wiser, way to view the need for rest is to decide that if I feel and meet the need for rest, I’m actually a bit of a superman (or superwoman) … because for many, that need isn’t easy to accept.

As Benjamin Franklin (former American politician, scientist, writer, and philosopher) said: “He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.”

~ Birgitte Coste ~

SMILE! A Smile Will Work in Every Country All Over the World

A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
~ Victor Borge ~

A smile is like a global language – a smile means the same everywhere in the world.

If a person doesn’t give you a smile, give them yours. For people who don’t smile need a smile even more than others.

In our brain, we have so-called mirror neurons, which make us imitate what we see others do. This is why we can hardly help but return a smile, and that’s a good thing because …

When we smile, our body releases endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins lower stress levels and make us happy. Serotonin also makes us happy, plus it boosts our immune system and has other positive effects. So when we smile, we are not only giving ourselves a longer, healthier, and happier life, but we’re also helping others achieve the same.

~ Søren Lauritzen ~

A Loving Letter to Grown Ups

A loving letter to grow-ups from the kids. Cute letter. Good Conscious Life.

Dear Grown Ups

We don’t really wnat that much, but what we do want, we really want:
We just want to be understood and respected.
We also want to feel safe.
And then we also want to play.
And be loved … that too, we really want.

That’s it really!

Love,
The kids

Children don’t actually need a lot of things, but what they do need is incredibly important. ❤️

~ Birgitte Coste ~

Create Your Own Box that Fits You

Cute, funny picture with an elephant in a small box and a wise quote: Even if it's possible, you don't have to fit in. Something larger awaits you. Birgitte Coste, Good Conscious Life.

Even if it’s possible, you don’t have to fit in.
Something larger awaits you.
~ Birgitte Coste ~

Many of us really want to fit in. We take a look around, and it often seems as if everyone else has found what suits them – whether it’s a job, home, relationship, or something else. They have found an existing ‘box’ where they can be happy and content.

But no matter how much we want to fit in … and maybe even we can … it’s not certain that it’s what’s good for us. In fact, it’s quite likely that it may not be good for us.

So, listen to yourself.
Where you are, is it good for you?
Is there space enough for the wholeness that is you?
Or is it perhaps too tight?

If you come to the conclusion that you don’t fit inside a given ‘box’, you’re certainly not alone. There are many of us who haven’t been able to find a ‘box’ that fits us.

But don’t despair. There is a ‘box’ … for you too.

Maybe you just need to create it yourself. Simply tailor a box for yourself that fits you perfectly – without any compromise. ❤️

~ Birgitte Coste ~

The World: Our Mirror Image

PHOTO: Beach with trees and rocks. TEXT: We usually see the world as we ourselves are (i.e. as our consciousness is). What world do you see? (Words of wisdom quotes by Søren Lauritzen).

We usually see the world as we ourselves are (i.e. as our consciousness is). What world do you see?
~ Søren Lauritzen ~

We always see the world from the level of consciousness we are at. And the kinder and more holistic our view of the world, the higher our level of consciousness is likely to be.

A higher level of consciousness is characterized by seeing ourselves, others, the world, and life in a larger, more positive, more coherent, and more meaningful way. Having a greater, expanded consciousness is simply more pleasant than the opposite. Becoming more consciously aware can help us expand our consciousness.

~ Søren Lauritzen ~

To heal = Is to Make Whole (and It’s not that Difficult)

PHOTO: Ripples in shallow water with autumn leaves. TEXT: Wholeness: We humans are already whole where it matters most, namely in our consciousness. (Good words of wisdom by Søren Lauritzen).

We humans are already whole where it matters most, namely in our consciousness.
~ Søren Lauritzen ~

In a way, healing is simply being in a natural state and not interfering. Here’s a short story explaining why …

There is an old Norse (= “very old Danish”) word called “bragd,” which means “action” or “doing something,” and from this, we have the second half of the word “hel-brede” (which means “heal” in Danish). We don’t use the word “brede” in this way anymore, but if we did, it would mean “to do.” So to “helbrede” (heal) therefore means “to make whole,” that is, to bring something or someone back to a state of wholeness, which is the same as health.

The funny thing is that we humans are self-healing physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually. But only if we allow ourselves to be.

If we scratch or pick at a wound, it will heal poorly. If we suppress things in our consciousness (e.g., old traumas or parts of our authentic self), or in any way limit our awareness, it will become less effective at healing itself.

The solution, of course, is:

a) to stop picking at our wounds

and

b) to remove various limitations on our consciousness – which actually leads to an expanded consciousness.

So our “bragd,” what we need to “do” to return to a state of wholeness … is actually to STOP doing certain things. Stop interfering and stop limiting our consciousness.

When our body is at rest and our consciousness is large / expanded (“high”), we can self-heal without actually doing anything for it. It happens “on its own.”

The most fascinating thing is the reason behind our self-healing: On a fundamental level, we are already whole, and we always will be. In this way, healing is simply about not interfering.

If you’d like, you can read more about this in this article (especially from around the middle and onwards): We Suffer from a Constriction of Consciousness!

~ Søren Lauritzen ~

What Do You Choose?

Inspirational images and quotes. Picture of a room with a window facing rain and an open door facing the sun. Where you put your energy, is where you have your focus.

Where you put your energy, is where you have your focus.
What you value in the world affects your life experience.
Are you facing the rain or the sun?
Your choice! Your life experience! ❤️ 🌧️
~ Birgitte Coste ~

Each day is made up of choices. Some choices we make unconsciously, almost on autopilot – others we make more consciously. How we choose to experience ourselves and life often happens unconsciously. But what if that was the most conscious choice we could make? Every single day?

What life experience do you choose today? ☀️

Change Your Perspective

Words of wisdom quotes. Picture of a galaxy. Change your perspective when everything becomes a little too small.

When you get frustrated with the news, people, or life in general, just remember that …
YOU ARE HERE [a tiny part of a larger whole]

There is plenty to be frustrated about, yes, and it’s easy to focus on problems and all sorts of unpleasant stuff. But there are other things we can focus on instead – solutions, for example. Or love. Or the good, inspiring, and uplifting news. Or all the things we have to be grateful for.

It’s just a shift in perspective …

~ Søren Lauritzen ~

The Choice Is Yours

Inspirational picture quotes. Picture of a happy and unhappy smiley. What you see is your choice.

Experience is a choice we can consciously make every day. What do you choose to see today?❤️

~ Birgitte Coste ~

An Old Cherokee Story

Beautiful wolf with a blue sky in the background.

Here is an old Cherokee story. We are overhearing a conversation where one of the tribe’s elders is teaching his grandson something about life:

The elder says to the boy, “There is a battle going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves.

One wolf is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, inferiority, lies, false pride, and ego.

The other wolf is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, generosity, empathy, truth, and compassion.

The same battle is going on inside you, and inside every other person too.”

The boy thinks about this for a few minutes, then asks his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replies, “The one you feed.”

Worth Remembering in This Time of Covid

Quote about Covid. Image of sunset over the sea or a lake. Self-awareness in a time of Covid.

Many of us are much closer together with our loved ones – for much longer – than we usually are. So let’s remember:

Believing that our relationships with others must make us happy is a path to more unhappiness.

Choosing that our relationships with others should make us more consciously aware of ourselves, is a way to be happier.

~ Søren Lauritzen ~