You know the old adage: Plant an expectation, reap a disappointment.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
And when you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt - this is not selfishness, but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful within life no matter how slight.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Pursuing happiness is a responsibility, especially after difficult times.
In this quote, Elizabeth Gilbert emphasizes the importance of holding onto any chance of happiness that arises after experiencing challenging moments. She asserts that seeking and nurturing moments of beauty and joy in life is not a selfish act; it is a moral obligation for individuals to recognize and embrace the positive aspects of life, regardless of how small they may seem.
Themes
HappinessObligationLifeBeautyDuty
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about resilience and the importance of finding joy in adversity.
More from Elizabeth Gilbert
All quotes →Do not apologize for crying. Without this emotion, we are only robots.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
I had always been taught that the pursuit of happiness was my natural (even national) birthright. It is the emotional trademark of my culture to seek happiness. Not just any kind of happiness, either, but profound happiness, even soaring happiness. And what could possibly bring a person more soaring happiness than romantic love.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
When I tried this morning, after an hour or so of unhappy thinking, to dip back into my meditation, I took a new idea with me: compassion. I asked my heart if it could please infuse my soul with a more generous perspective on my mind's workings. Instead of thinking that I was a failure, could I perhaps accept that I am only a human being--and a normal one, at that?
Elizabeth GilbertRead
But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilling yearnings.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
Your home is whatever in this world you love more than you love yourself.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
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Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world; but that he has very much put in our power the nearness of our approaches to it is what I have steadfastly believed.
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...I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life!
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