What I Know to Be True: Simple Principles for a Meaningful Life
There are few things in life we can hold onto with certainty.
Most of what we think we know—our plans, our beliefs, our sense of control—shifts with time and experience. What made sense to us five years ago might seem unrecognizable today. What we once feared might turn out to be the very thing that saved us.
But some truths hold steady.
Some lessons repeat themselves in different ways, at different stages of life, until they finally settle into the foundation of who we are.
Here’s what I’ve come to know—not just as a theory, but as something I have lived, witnessed, and tested.
Not perfect truths. Not absolute rules.
But things that, when practiced, seem to make life fuller, more meaningful—not just for me, but for those around me.
1. It’s Always Better to Choose Kindness
There have been moments in my life when I had the option to be right or to be kind—and I didn’t always choose kindness.
I’ve spoken words I wish I could take back.
I’ve let my pride override my compassion.
I’ve been more concerned with proving my point than with preserving a connection.
And every time, I’ve regretted it.
Not once have I looked back and thought, I wish I had been less kind in that moment.
Kindness is a choice. It is not weakness. It does not mean being passive or avoiding hard truths. It means choosing to treat people in a way that doesn’t add more harm to the world.
You will never regret treating someone with dignity.
2. Actions Matter More Than Intentions
Most of us judge ourselves by our intentions.
I meant well. I didn’t intend to hurt anyone. I was trying my best.
But others judge us by our actions.
I’ve learned that meaning well isn’t enough. If I want to be a good friend, a good partner, a good human, I can’t just assume that my inner goodness is enough.
I have to show up.
I have to follow through.
I have to make sure my actions align with my values.
Because at the end of the day, our actions are what define us to the world.
3. Feelings Are Important—But They Shouldn’t Always Drive the Bus
I used to think that if I felt something deeply, it meant I had to act on it.
But I’ve learned that feelings, while important, are not always reliable guides.
Anger might signal injustice—but acting on it impulsively can create more harm.
Fear might warn me of danger—but sometimes it only protects my ego, not my soul.
Sadness might call for grief—but it doesn’t mean I have to stay in suffering forever.
Feel what you feel. Let emotions teach you. But don’t let them dictate your every move.
You are not your feelings.
You are the one experiencing them.
4. Happiness Is Not Selfish—It’s Generous
For a long time, I thought focusing on my own happiness was selfish.
But I’ve come to realize that happy people—truly happy people—are more generous, forgiving, and openhearted than those who are constantly bitter, resentful, or stuck in their pain.
When we take care of our own well-being, we have more to give to others, not less.
Happiness isn’t about chasing pleasure or avoiding discomfort. It’s about cultivating a way of being that allows you to fully show up in life.
And when you are at peace with yourself, it ripples out to everyone around you.
5. Nothing Lasts Forever—And That’s Not Always a Bad Thing
Everything changes. Everything passes.
This is both heartbreaking and freeing.
Pain will fade.
Seasons of uncertainty will shift.
The things you thought you’d never get over? One day, they will no longer consume you.
At the same time…
Joy will pass.
Moments of deep connection will slip into memory.
The people we love will not always be here.
Knowing this makes life more urgent—not in a frantic way, but in a way that reminds us to be fully here.
Because nothing lasts forever, but right now is real.
6. Control Is an Illusion—The Only Thing We Can Truly Manage Is Ourselves
For most of my life, I tried to control everything—outcomes, people, perceptions.
And it never worked.
You cannot control:
How people feel about you.
Whether life unfolds the way you expect.
What happens tomorrow.
But you can control:
How you show up.
How you respond to what life gives you.
How much presence, love, and patience you bring into each day.
Trying to control others leads to frustration.
Trying to control yourself leads to growth.
7. Say What You Mean. Do What You Say.
Integrity is simple:
Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.
Don’t say things you don’t really mean.
Be clear. Be honest.
People remember when you follow through.
They also remember when you don’t.
8. Silence Is Often Wiser Than Words
Not every thought needs to be spoken.
Not every argument needs to be won.
Not every space needs to be filled.
I have never regretted pausing before speaking.
But I have regretted speaking before thinking.
9. Sorrow and Joy Are Not Opposites—They Are Partners
Life is not either happy or hard. It is both, always.
Some of the most joyful people I know have also walked through deep sorrow.
Some of the moments that have cracked my heart open with grief have also been the most meaningful.
If we try to live in only happiness, we become shallow.
If we dwell only in sorrow, we become stuck.
But if we learn to hold both, we become whole.
10. If You’re Looking for God, Start With the People Around You
I once thought I had to seek out spirituality in big, profound experiences.
But now I see that the divine is everywhere—woven into every interaction, every connection, every small act of kindness.
God is not just in the sky.
God is in the barista who smiles at you on a hard day.
God is in the stranger who holds the door open.
God is in the quiet love of a friend who knows exactly what to say—and when to say nothing at all.
If you’re looking for something sacred, start by paying attention to the people around you.
Because sometimes, holiness looks like ordinary love.
What Truths Are You Living By?
The world is constantly shifting.
Our understanding of life evolves.
But some truths remain steady—the kind that, when lived, seem to make life better not just for us, but for everyone we encounter.
So today, ask yourself:
What principles do I live by?
What have I learned—through experience, not just theory?
How would my life be different if I actually embodied the truths I already know?
Because knowing something is one thing.
Living it is another.
And at the end of our lives, it won’t be what we believed that mattered most.
It will be how we lived.
Originally published on GeneQuiocho.com
For more reflections on living with intention, presence, and purpose, visit genequiocho.com.
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"Knowing something is one thing. Living it is another. The real work is embodying the truths we already know." 🌿 #LiveWithIntention #TruthInAction #MindfulLiving
