What are some life lessons that are better learned sooner rather than later?

Before something is accomplished, don’t tell anyone about it.

The world is not inherently kind. Put away your naïveté.

If you know that something is meaningless, don’t do it. Learn true self-control.

Perseverance and self-control are formidable qualities because 99% of people simply do not possess them. If you do, you are already stronger than most people.

Over the years, I have constantly reminded myself of one thing: never be moved by your own efforts. What looks like hard work in most people is often merely the result of foolishness.

Apart from birth, aging, illness, and death, everything else in life is a minor matter. Your life is the most important thing in this world; only after safeguarding it can you talk about anything else.

Learn to keep your emotions from showing at work. If your boss can read you at a glance, you may need to reconsider your future prospects.

You must break free from people-pleasing! More than 90% of social relationships built on pleasing others are meaningless. Stop living in a way that depends on being liked. You cannot truly live or build a good life that way. Such a life is nothing but ruins.

If you belong to different circles, there is no need to force yourself to fit in.

Never try to change other people. You cannot save anyone, nor can you change anyone. People can only change themselves. Remember that no matter which path you take, the only person you can control is yourself. You cannot choose whether the person sitting next to you during an exam is as distracting as a loudspeaker or as quiet as a stone. You can only secure your future by changing yourself.

If the only benefit of doing something is a brief moment of pleasure, try not to do it.

Reading is the least expensive way to grow. Most people’s lives keep getting worse because they spend their time playing games, indulging in food and entertainment, and scrolling through their phones. Meanwhile, those who become increasingly successful have a powerful desire both to want and to achieve. They devote more of their time to self-improvement.

Eight or nine times out of ten, life does not go as planned, yet only two or three of those troubles can be shared with others.

Don’t focus only on what people say. Consider what they actually do, and then think about their true intentions. Learn to notice the hidden details of life—not only with your eyes and ears, but also with your heart.

At a certain age, you should let go of four things: meaningless drinking parties, people who do not love you, relatives who look down on you, and insincere friends. You must possess four things: confidence displayed on your face, kindness rooted deep in your heart, integrity flowing through your veins, and strength engraved into your life.

Everyone makes the choice that best serves their own interests within the limits of their knowledge, emotions, desires, and experiences. Everyone is fighting for themselves, and no one is inherently nobler than anyone else. Stop calling it selfish—it is far too naïve.

If someone takes a job that does not suit them, all their strengths may turn into weaknesses. If they do work they enjoy and are well suited for, all their traits—traits, not flaws—can become strengths.

Before interacting with others, consider whether the value you can provide is something they actually need.

If your family members have limited education, do not consult them when making major decisions, but always show them the utmost respect.

Don’t stop learning just because you have started working. Learning gives you more choices.

The sooner you understand this, the better: 99% of what happens to you every day means absolutely nothing to other people. No one in this world can truly feel exactly what you feel.

Hard times make it easiest to see who your real friends are. Those who usually show no concern but approach you only when you are successful are not your friends. True friends do not care about your status or judge you by your circumstances. They help you through hardship and share in your happiness.

People generally know a great deal, but very few can put that knowledge into practice or truly come to terms with things. The most important thing is to know clearly what you want and pursue it seriously.

Health always comes first. Go to bed early, wake up early, and exercise.

Don’t wait until you know everything before you begin. Learn as you go. Take learning English as an example: I used to be terrible at English and consistently ranked among the bottom ten students in my class. Later, I studied grammar while practicing with exercises and adopted a scientific approach. My English then began to improve dramatically.

Learn to express yourself. Don’t make others guess what you mean.

Learn to speak openly about how you feel in the present moment.

Don’t make important decisions late at night. You are likely to regret them. Most people are especially vulnerable at night and can easily develop extreme thoughts.

True awakening requires real-life experience.

Whenever you have the opportunity to help others, do as much as you can without expecting anything in return. Life is a continuous process of forming connections. Sow goodwill, and you will reap good results. The person you help today may help you tomorrow. A family that accumulates good deeds will always be blessed with lasting fortune.