这就是生活：8条箴言让你做出好的改变

 Life doesn't come with an instruction manual so we do our best to move through it with grace. Just like the following 8 transformational truths, these are more of the lessons we learn (and forget) along our journeys.

生活并没有自带的使用手册，所以我们不得不竭尽全力，希望能以优雅的姿态走完一生。人生旅途中还有很多需要我们学习（和遗忘）的道理，比如下面8条助你改变的箴言。

这就是生活：8条箴言让你做出好的改变

1. Longing¹ is another form of Divine instruction.

欲望是另一种神祇。

Too often we deem our desires to be frivolous². Those of the ego³ we can live without. However, there is a knowing that resides much deeper. Needs of the soul require attention if you're to ever know peace.

我们往往认为自己的欲望是负面的东西，这些来自本我的情绪是我们可以克服的。然而，其实我们内心深谙另一个道理。那就是，来自心灵的欲望也需要得到自己的关注，只有这样你才能获得内心的平静。

2. Situations are neutral. People are not.

处境无好坏，人面对处境的方式却有好坏。

While we may or may not be directly responsible for what life hands to us, we are absolutely in control of how we respond to it. Two people can have polar opposite reactions to the same situation. Interpretations⁴ of experience are internally driven.

对于生活给我们的馈赠，我们或许不能负直接责任。然而，我们如何应对生活的馈赠，这种态度上的选择是我们完全可以掌控的。两个不同的人对同一处境的反应可能有天壤之别。每个人理解和处理问题的方式都来自内心的动力。

3. Mistakes are tools for calibration.

犯错是自我纠正的必经之道。

We're often hard on ourselves and other people. Yet, we know that getting things right the first time is a long shot. The real mistake is in neglecting to extract the lessons. Learning as you go is what life is all about, no?

我们往往对自己或他人过于苛责。不过，我们也知道，冰冻三尺，我们不可能一蹴而就地取得成功。真正的错误是忘记了从教训中吸取经验。边生活边学习，这正是生活的真谛，不是吗？

4. A much-needed message may come from a much-disliked messenger.

良药虽苦口，恶人出诤言。

It's hard to hear the truth from individuals you don't like. However, in dismissing all of what they have to say, you may miss a gem⁵ or two.

要让自己相信一个自己不喜欢的人，并不容易。然而，如果你将他们所说的话统统忽略，你可能会错失很多宝贵的意见。

5. Fear is an invitation to rise. Accept the call.

恐惧是成功之门发给你的请柬，接受邀请吧。

Barring life-threatening situations, fear often points us in the direction of our next big leap. Reframe it as an indicator⁶ of potential growth as opposed to a sign of peril⁷.

远离生活中会危及生命的危险因素，除此之外，让你恐惧的事物往往能指引你走向生活的新高度。重新审视恐惧，将它看成发挥潜质、助你成长的指向标，而不是一个指示危险的路标。

6. Your beliefs may be your prison. Re-evaluate.

你所笃信的东西可能是你的囚牢，重新审视它吧。

Beliefs can come from many sources of influence and we can adopt them without thought. Though experience may teach us otherwise, many opt⁸ to disregard it and retain the unchecked belief. That's a dangerous and very limited space to live within.

信仰可能源自多方面的影响，我们可能来不及思考就接受了某种信仰。虽然经验告诉我们要眼见为实，许多人却选择无视这条定律，将自己拘束在未经验证的信仰囚牢里。这个囚牢既危险又狭小，实在难以生活。

7. The only thing security guarantees is stagnancy⁹.

沉迷于安全感，肯定有拖延症。

The quest for security often keeps us trapped in situations we don’t enjoy. And as miserable¹⁰ as it may be, the known is so seductive. Keep in mind that the unknown is ripe with possibility.

对安全感的寻求往往让我们固执地留守在一个我们并不满意的处境之中。虽然我们不喜欢这种处境，可是从熟悉的事物中获得的安全感是多么具有诱惑性啊。请记住，未知的事物充满了各种可能。

8. Sometimes who you are being is not who you are.

你正在扮演的角色并不一定是你本人。

We often take on identities out of practicality or the expectations of others. Then, one day we wake up and don’t recognize the person in the mirror. Are you getting to be the real you?

我们常常根据过往的经验或者他人的期待来获得自己对自己的认知。可是，有一天当我们起床照镜子，却认不出镜子里的人是谁。你想成为真正的自己吗？

1 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

2 frivolous   

adj.轻薄的；轻率的

参考例句：

• This is a frivolous way of attacking the problem.这是一种轻率敷衍的处理问题的方式。
• He spent a lot of his money on frivolous things.他在一些无聊的事上花了好多钱。

3 ego   

n.自我，自己，自尊

参考例句：

• He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
• She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。

4 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

6 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

7 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

8 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

9 stagnancy   

n.停滞，迟钝

参考例句：

• Chapter 4, network imbalance, information failure and stagnancy of innovation. 第四章，网络失衡、信息失效及集群创新的退化。 来自互联网
• What caused this stagnancy is an issue for us to ponder over. 是什么因素造成这种停滞不前的现象，这个问题值得我们深思。 来自互联网

10 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。