Winnie-the-pooh is a collection of stories about an effortlessly calm, still and reflective teddy bear named ‘Winnie the pooh’ (and his friends) by English author A.A. Milne. It was first published way back in the year 1926!
There’s an interesting bit about how the characters in the book came to be named. A.A.Milne based the name of the main character on his son Christopher Milne’s toy teddy bear named Winne-the-pooh. Christopher had named his toy bear after Winnie, a bear he saw at London Zoo, and “Pooh”, a swan he came across while on a holiday.
All the other characters in the book are named after Christopher’s toys too. This includes, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, and Tigger.
Even though the book is aimed at children, the stories and characters offer beautiful life lessons and messages that anyone can benefit from irrespective of their age.
Life Lessons from Winnie the Pooh
Winnie-the-pooh stories are not only fun and relaxing to read, they are also filled with amazing wisdom.
The following lessons are based on the quotes and passages taken from the book. The quotes are simplistic, but you will find that the message they contain is profound.
1. Learn to feel your emotions
“How do you spell ‘love’?” – asked Piglet
“You don’t spell it…you feel it.” – replied Pooh”
Lesson Learned: Emotions are to your body what thoughts are to your mind. So you cannot think your emotions through, you need to feel them. Consciously feeling your emotions is the best way to make deeper sense of them. The more you understand your emotions, the more your understand yourself.
2. Feel gratitude for everything you have
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
Lesson Learned: Expressing gratitude for what you have is the best way to develop a mindset of abundance. And the more abundance you feel, the more abundance you attract in to your life.
3. Develop empathy for others
“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.”
Lesson learned: Anyone can express sympathy, but it is of little to no use. But developing a sense of empathy is powerful. It helps you understand others and in the process, understand yourself.
4. Have patience and faith
“Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
Lesson Learned: Patience when coupled with faith/belief acts as a powerful force that helps you push forward and achieve your goals. Having patience and faith raises your vibration to one of abundance and you become open to receiving all the good things that life has to offer.
5. Believe in yourself
“You are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, And smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin to Pooh
Lesson Learned: The moment you start believing in yourself, there is nothing that you cannot achieve. Always remember that it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you, the only thing that matters is what you think about yourself.
Also read: 54 quotes by Rev Ike on self belief, prosperity and God.
6. Love yourself for who you are
“The things that make me different are the things that make me ME.” – Piglet
Lesson Learned: There is no other love greater than – self love. Self love sets you free. Free from comparisons, jealousy and the need for constant external validation/approval. Through self love, you make yourself open to reaching your true potential. Also, it is only when you love, understand and accept yourself can you love and accept the other.
7. Take time to listen to others
“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”
Lesson Learned: Listening is an art. The more you listen, the more you understand, and the more you understand, the more your perspective widens and the better you perceive.
8. Value the people in your life
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Lesson Learned: Everyday, take a moment to think of all the beautiful people you have in your life and feel gratitude for their presence.
9. Sometimes you need to take action
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
Lesson Learned: There is a time to wait and then there comes a time to take action. Taking action is the best way to shatter feelings of self doubt. The more action you take, the more the route forward becomes clearer.
10. Spend time wisely
“You can’t save time. You can only spend it, but you can spend it wisely or foolishly.”
Lesson Learned: Stay conscious of how you are spending the majority of your time. Make it a point to spend time thinking and doing things that uplift you and have a larger purpose. Learn to say ‘NO’ to things that drain you and waste your energy.
11. Take time to relax
“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
Lesson Learned: There is a time for action and then there is a time for rest and relaxation. Don’t feel guilty to take time off and simply do nothing. Make relaxation a priority. Relax to rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit.
12. Simplify your life
“Nobody can be un-cheered with a balloon.”
Lesson Learned: You don’t need to pursue superficial things to find happiness. Even the most simplest things in life have meaning and can give you joy if you become open and conscious. Take time to Look at a flower, pet an animal, listen to music, spend time in nature.
Also read: Ways to unburden yourself.
13. Take a break from thinking every once in a while
“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
Lesson Learned: We are habitual thinkers and we keep thinking the same stale thoughts over and over again. Sometimes it is best to take a break from thinking and just stay present. Become mindful and consciously feel and observe everything and you will be amazed at all the beauty around you.
14. Use your imagination
“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.“
Lesson Learned: There is no greater tool we possess as human beings than our capacity to imagine. Don’t feel guilty to lie back sometimes and lose yourself in your imagination.
15. Don’t forget to smile
“Always wear a smile, because your smile is a reason for many others to smile!”
Lesson Learned: It does not take much effort to smile yet it has such a profound impact on your own self and others. When you smile your body becomes relaxed and you automatically start feeling good and this goodness rubs off on others and make them smile too.
Also read: Healing power of a smile.
Light hearted funny quotes from Winnie the Pooh
Finally here are some lighthearted and funny quotes from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ that will leave you with a smile on your face.
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
“I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”
“I used to believe in forever, but forever’s too good to be true”
“What I like doing best is Nothing.”
“Think it over, think it under.”
“It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it.”
“I did know once, only I’ve sort of forgotten.”
“don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
“Yesterday, when it was tomorrow, it was too exciting a day for me.”
“What’s wrong with knowing what you know now and not knowing what you don’t know now until later?”
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”
“Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart”
Also read: 8 Feed good quotes that will instantly brighten your day!
