The rare people who do become truly exceptional at something do so not because they believe they're exceptional. On the contrary, they become amazing… - Mark Manson

The rare people who do become truly exceptional at something do so not because they believe they’re exceptional. On the contrary, they become amazing because they’re obsessed with improvement. And that obsession with improvement stems from an unerring belief that they are, in fact, not that great at all.

"Don't hope for a life without problems," the panda said. "There's no such thing. Instead, hope for a life full of good problems."

Be perfect and amazing and crap out twelve-karat-gold nuggets before breakfast each morning while kissing your selfie-ready spouse and two and a half kids goodbye. Then fly your helicopter to your wonderfully fulfilling job, where you spend your days doing incredibly meaningful work that’s likely to save the planet one day.

Growth is usually painful to some degree. That’s because growth requires loss—a loss of your old values, your old behaviors, your old loves, your old identity.
Therefore, growth often has a component of grief to it.