#73 Reflections and Life Lessons

Greetings from seat 7A on an Airbus A320.

When you signed up to Plane Thoughts and received my welcome email, I entered into a contract to send you a 4-5 minute read each week with one easily implementable idea. I hope you’ll forgive me for breaking that contract this week; it’s a more extended read, and I leave you to form implementable ideas based on what resonates.

April has been a significant month, and I’ve learnt a lot. Here are some of my insights. I’ve grouped them to create some structure.

A full life

• At the end of your life, people will remember you for how you made them feel. That means it’s the only thing that matters, full stop.

• We owe it to those who have passed to remember the good times and ensure they live on as positive memories in our hearts and minds.

• Love is what gives life meaning. It is all irrelevant in its absence.

• Nothing comes before family.

Resilience

• Sometimes, events occur that totally upend your life. When you think you can’t withstand any more, something else knocks you down even further. What are our options? That’s the wrong question; there is no option but to pick yourself up and continue on.

• Life is a series of tests that allow you to demonstrate to yourself what you’re made of.

• Regret is part of life, but beating yourself up doesn’t produce anything positive.

• Life can feel deeply unfair, but that is not a reason not to make the most of it.

A happy life

• One of the most important decisions you can make in your life is where you live. Feeling at home where you live is a necessity.

• Travel is the very best investment you can make in your life.

• We are the authors of our lives, and the ink is not permanent. If you don’t like a part of the story, re-write it.

• 20% of the input creates 80% of the results. Ruthlessly eliminate the other 80% and spend that time on what brings you happiness.

Healthy habits

• One of the most damaging factors in life is stress. While a small amount can be beneficial, prolonged periods of high stress must be avoided at all costs.

• Sleep deprivation heightens emotions, magnifies problems in the mind, and impairs decision-making. A continued period with a significant sleep debt equals a substantial drop in IQ points.

• Healthy habits, even in moments of crisis, cannot be underestimated. Everything hinges on them.

• The three central pillars of life are health, wealth, and relationships. Keep them in balance.

Expressing emotions

• Begin each day expressing gratitude to the people you love.

• Difficult conversations and challenging situations bring people together. Be open always.

• Let everything out.

• Take time out every day to check in with yourself. Reflect on your experiences, and connect with your thoughts and feelings.

• Smile, always. Not just for your wellbeing but for those around you.

• There is no substitute for communicating in person. Talking on video or phone is the next best alternative, but a lack of eye contact significantly reduces the information gained in a conversation.

Working through challenges

• Patience is a virtue and a necessity for long-term success across all domains.

• Give people with pure intentions the maximum opportunity to demonstrate the best of themselves. Circumstances can affect how they are at the surface, and it just takes an opportunity to draw out their true and best selves.

• Never underestimate the ability of difficult periods to significantly clarify one's values, prioritise what is important, learn lessons, and very quickly make changes in one’s life.

• Sometimes, situations need time and space to resolve themselves, and you just need to take a leap of faith. It’s difficult for those of a certain make-up and personality type, but not everything is within our control.

• It is never too late to fight for the things that truly matter.

Best, AJ.

On my bedside table:

• Non-fiction: The Social Animal by David Brooks (link)

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