A PEEK INTO POPULAR PROVERBS
“Actions speak louder than words” is one of the most famous proverbs. However, words are oftentimes the only thing that can get us through tough times and motivate us to be our best selves. According to Oxford, Proverbs are well-known phrases or sentences that give advice and life wisdom. Proverbs can be a shortcut to convey a message, thus it is important for you to be familiar with them.
Here are some Proverbs and their meaning to help you be the best version of yourselves:
- The first step is always the hardest.
There is nothing more challenging than stepping outside of our comfort zones. But in order for us to reach our goals and our fullest potential we have to take the first step that will bring us closer to our destination.
- Enjoy it while it lasts.
We are frequently not mindful to experience a certain moment, we would even focus on the unimportant things rather than taking advantage of the moment when possible. These moments won’t last forever, so we have to make the most of them.
- Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Though the appearance of someone is the first thing that we notice when we meet them, it is not advised to judge someone based on their appearance, as their appearance may be deceiving. We can only truly know a person and their behavior if we get to know them deeper.
- Practice what you preach.
It is important to follow through on what you ask others to do. If your actions or words don’t match up with what you believe in then you don’t truly believe in your beliefs.
- Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
When you have the ability to complete something right away, not delaying it is the easiest way to get it done. When we keep putting off the tasks we ought to do, we may end up with mountains of work to face thereafter, so if you can finish something today, it is best to not procrastinate.
- Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
If you are determined to achieve something, you can find a way to accomplish it regardless of the obstacles you may encounter on the way. Don’t be scared of failing, because if you do, you’ll find a way to get back up.
- You reap what you sow.
The outcome of our actions will be dependent upon the things we do. The reality is that everything that happens is a result of things that you have done in the past. What we have “sowed”, we will eventually “reap”.
- Better safe than sorry.
Being cautious is a better action to take than regretting the things that have happened. It is better to be mindful beforehand, than to suffer afterward.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Rome, the third most visited city in Europe, took years to get built and it is still an ongoing project. In fact, Rome is known as The Eternal City. Hence the proverb “Rome wasn’t built in a day” means that a glorious and marvelous thing takes time to build. So don’t be too hard on anyone including yourselves and take the time you need to be thoughtful on doing the task properly.
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
traveling to a foreign place, be open-minded and follow the local culture of the area. This will teach us respect and give us new experiences. It may also imply that we should take the advice of those who are more experienced than we are.
Being mindful, fearless, open-minded, kind, and determined is the recipe for us to be better human beings. Not just to the people around us, but also to ourselves. When we are mindful we are more cautious about doing something correctly. Although, making mistakes is inevitable, so be fearless of failing and always get determined to try again. We should be aware that everybody makes mistakes, so stay kind and not quick to judge. We hope that you can develop and aspire to have these characteristics to have a more meaningful life.
References:
Konya, K. (2022, June 20). What Are English Proverbs? Definition and Examples Definition and Examples | Grammarly. What Are English Proverbs? Definition and Examples Definition and Examples | Grammarly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/english-proverbs/
proverb noun – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com. (n.d.-b). https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/proverb