They have always been a part of our lives in school. They were ingrained in our minds to teach us wisdom. Proverbs for life lessons or sayings are a part of everyone’s beliefs in different cultures. These proverbs and sayings about life also exist in different languages. Many of us have grown up listening to them and have found it relatable. Although considered as wise sayings, proverbs are not necessarily to be considered as final statements in one’s situation (though many of us have adhered to them to create results in life.)
Do I hate proverbs? No! What I am about to share with you is that not all proverbs about life are applicable and useful. Why? Because situations differ from person to person. Adaptability is often required rather than adhering to the wisdom of proverbs. As times change, our approach needs to change as well. Particularly for people in leadership positions, entrepreneurs, and those who are scaling the ladder; proverbs about life may often cause confusion if adhered to strongly.
Following proverbs blindly or considering them as a final statement can create undesired results in life.
As a person who has worked with multiple professionals across the globe and having witnessed different scenarios in business environments, I’d say it’s time to examine old beliefs that come with deep proverbs about life.
Here’s why -
Because flexibility is the key. We’ll show you the other side of proverbs related to life.
Following proverbs blindly or considering them as a final statement can create undesired results in life.
10 Proverbs about Life that may not necessarily Hold True
1. Better Late than Never
This conveys a message that it’s ok to be late rather than not doing anything at all. However, you may need to reflect upon the ‘why’ of being late and delays that you create in personal or professional life. Being late is not always agreeable and makes you lose opportunities in life.
2. Birds of the same feather flock together
The old proverb about life often indicates that people with similar interests stick together and display the same traits. However, it can cause a person to be judgmental. Not everyone reflects similar values even if they may socialize frequently. A person should also be open to meet different people to have a diverse set of friends.
3. Don’t put too many irons in the fire
This proverb about life means one should focus on doing one thing at a time. However, in a fast-paced environment, a senior professional may be expected to juggle different tasks. While it’s good to be focused on a single task, being able to multitask efficiently is often a desired skill to have.
4. Jack of all Trades, Master of None
This is about a person who is good at different things in life. However, it also indicates that he/she may not achieve expertise in a single subject. In today’s times, having multiple skills is required for senior positions which makes this sentence obsolete in the professional world.
5. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
This means you cannot hurt someone who is helping you and you should accept the person’s behavior. However, one cannot always maintain this position in life. If something does not agree about the person who is helping you, communication is the best tool to resolve problems in life.
6. Fortune favors the bold
This proverb encourages people to take risks. It indicates how one can be successful by taking a risky path. But, it can create a misunderstanding in its interpretation. People need to be aware of the risks with greater planning. Sometimes, you need to plan and create rather than just being bold.
7. Honesty is the best policy
This proverb about life mentions that being honest is the best approach to have. However, in a business environment, honesty may not always be the right approach. One needs tact, diplomacy, smartness, and wit to navigate situations.
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8. Good things come to those who wait
The proverb highlights the importance of waiting for the right moment to create the results you want. However, sometimes, a person needs to go out and create the opportunity to reach goals in life. A person cannot always wait for the right moment. He/she needs to be open to new opportunities.
9. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
The proverb makes you believe that you should always be optimistic but remember to be ready for a worse outcome as well. It brings a negative feel to it without letting a person truly enjoy their happy moment.
10. Beggars can’t be choosers
The proverb indicates that a person going through difficult times has to accept whatever is given to them without expectations in life. However, every person has a choice. Every person deserves to have a better life and should be open to new opportunities and look for them. The proverb creates a belief that can render a person powerless because he/she chose to believe it.
These proverbs about life may need to be revisited as per the situations in life. Have the changing times altered your thought patterns? Do you have more proverbs about life and love that you’d like to examine? I’d like to know in the comments below!
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