History is a great teacher. Whatever challenge you are facing today, you can be sure that someone else has faced it before. Thousands of years ago, people’s lives were a lot more challenging than the lives of people today. Warfare, lack of food, diseases were a constant threat. Yet people were still able to overcome these challenges, survive and even lead happy lives.

From these ages, comes timeless wisdom that is as inspiring and pertinent today, as it was thousands of years ago. This ancient wisdom has served as a guide for people throughout the ages, and it can inspire you as well. Use it to get a sense of direction and tackle the challenges that life throws at you.

“A man’s character is his fate.” Heraclitus

Your outlook on life will determine how you will fare in life. Yes, the world can be a mean place sometimes, but there is no use in complaining about it.

You need to take matters into your own hands and face all the things life throws at you head on. A person who has a strong will and self-discipline will conquer, while the weak person who only complains and does nothing to improve themselves will continue on living a measly existence.

“The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” Aristotle

You always have to count on something happening in life that will derail your plans. Don’t sulk in despair. Use it in order to drive you to achieve even more.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Confucius

There will always be obstacles on the way. You will fail more times than you will succeed. However the only thing you can do is to get up again, brush yourself off and continue on your journey. That’s where your greatest triumphs will come from. A successful person is also usually a person who has failed thousands of times over.

“You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” Epicurus

You rarely become great just by circumstances and without challenges. In fact, it is the difficult times and the way you handle them that make you great. The next time when you face a challenge, don’t back down, instead overcome it and learn from the experience.

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” Marcus Aurelius

Your life is what you make of it. If you think everyone is against and you are helpless to overcome all this negativity, then you will continue on living a miserable life. However if you realize that your life is in your hands and instead decide to face your worst fears and start on a journey of self-improvement, then your life will only get better.

You need to visualize success and work for it. Only with hard work will you be able to achieve your goals.

In the ancient times, people from all over Ancient Greece and beyond used to go the Oracle of Delphi to ask for guidance. High on the temple walls were carved out a series of simple maxims, words of wisdom, which are as true and applicable today, as they were thousands of years ago:

“Know thyself.” Delphic maxim

“Know your opportunity.” Delphic maxim

“Cling to discipline.” Delphic maxim

“Test the character.” Delphic maxim

“Work for what you can own.” Delphic maxim

“Live without sorrow.” Delphic maxim

“Do not tire of learning.” Delphic maxim

Take these to heart and return to them whenever you feel you are losing direction or need a kick in the ass.

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Peter is a world traveler interested in fitness, history, learning languages, as well as many other things. He shares his thoughts on fitness, history, and self-improvement on his blog: Gain Weight Journal.