so cliché

I recently came across a list of the "Top Ten Spiritual Clichés" with the heading "Even timeless wisdom has a shelf life."

Two quotes about being were in the top 5:

#2 - "Be the change you wish to see in the world" from Gandhi
and
#4 - "Be here now" from Ram Dass

Since these two bits of wisdom have become mini-narratives of my life, acknowledging them as clichés rubs me the wrong way. First of all, they are not clichés, they are aphorisms. A cliché is more of a clever play on words, such as "the early bird gets the worm" and "rubs me the wrong way," or is that an idiom?

Whatever. The bottom line is, so much truth is encompassed in those statements that they are repeated and overused until that particular arrangement of words loses its meaning, at least at first glance. Before a cliché is a cliché, it is a great, thrilling possibility. Not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but like all things that are great and thrilling when new to us, it becomes more about what we bring to it, rather than what it can bring to us. In this case, it's about going beyond the surface of the words and contemplating the layers of meaning there because you can't judge a book by its cover. (too far, I know).

Curious about what made #1 on the list? It was not "Follow your bliss" (which I couldn't believe did not even make the list), it was : "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." from Margaret Mead

source: Enlightennext magazine