“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Being able to go back in time to start over or redo a period of our life is something most people find alluring. Who doesn’t have something they would do differently? This quote, by Carl Bard, is reassuring. Although we can’t always have a brand new start at something, we can always start NOW at something brand new. This has a way of making the present and future brighter because, ultimately, any moment can be made a new beginning.
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.
It’s natural to only focus on achievement. Did we achieve our goal or not? This quote, by Zig Ziglar, reminds us that it’s more than that. It’s also what you become in the process. You may accomplish a goal but end up mentally and physically damaged at the end of the day. So, was it worth it? Ask yourself, did you grow or did you digress as a person? Are you better off in the long run? As you work toward accomplishing your goals, achieving them is obviously something you want to work at. However, keep in mind what you become, as that can actually be your greater accomplishment. When…
Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.
You have a dream or life goal that’s constantly being pushed off for later. Perhaps it’s to go somewhere, see something, or do something. But you just don’t feel ready to take the plunge. This quote, by Les Brown, reminds us that what typically prevents us from chasing our dreams is fear. Basically, we’re not living our dreams because we’re living in fear of all the things that could potentially go wrong if we do go for it. And so, in the words of Langston Hughes, it’s a dream deferred. Fear prevents it from ever coming to pass. Therefore, instead of living our fears, which is a more natural thing…
Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
This quote by Helen Keller (n. 1880) is very indicative of the kind of life she lived. Before the age of two, she became both blind and deaf. That could have been enough for her to give up on all the hopes and aspirations she had for her life. It may have been tempting or a lot easier to just sit back and let her life unfold before her. But that wasn’t the case. She went on to not only learn to communicate through a unique form of sign language but also author several books and graduate from Harvard University, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelors’s degree.…
Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent
It’s not uncommon for an athlete or team who had lost in the past to win later on. Happens all the time. Now, imagine that after a few defeats, they completely give up and vow never to play again? That would be crazy…and unfortunate, right? Well, we do this with life. After some rough patches and defeats, we sometimes lose our motivation and give up on the game–be it a passion, a hope, a dream–even ourselves. That’s the effect of a defeated mind. This quote by Marilyn vos Savant is not just a reminder to keep going. Beyond this is the message that our decision to not keep going is…
You May Also Like
This Too Shall Pass
“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.”
Increasing Faith with Patience, and Increasing Patience with Faith
If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.
This quote, by Wayne Dyer, is about the power of perspective. The best way to appreciate it is by reflecting on your own experience. Think about a time you’ve had a feeling something won’t work out and a time when you’ve felt confident something will work out. With the first perspective, it’s easier to see all the things that might go wrong–the obstacles. Although it helps to be aware of the obstacles, only seeing them and not the opportunities is just discouraging. However, with a perspective that things will work out, even things that are legitimate obstacles can be perceived as opportunities.
You May Also Like
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Living Life Poetically: The Unspoken Words
“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure.”
A New Outlook on the New Year
As the days draw nearer to 2020, I recognize a familiar feeling. It’s actually a heavy sense of disappointment crowned with a hint of sadness. But why? A New Year is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. This discrepancy between how I usually feel and how I should feel made me realize something for the first time… Wow, I have a terrible outlook on the New Year. I should probably work on that. I just find myself thinking about the things I had planned to do during the year, all the goals I had set, and the “new and improved” version of myself that should have already…
The Problem of Perfectionism and “Product” Goals
Recently, I was talking to a friend about goals. We all have them. And if you don’t, get yourself some. But I digress…As we were sharing our goals, she asked me a simple question about one of mine. She asked me when the book I’m working on will be published. I had no response. Even worse, I hadn’t given enough thought or planning on it to know the answer. The truth is, I feel like it’ll never be done. The finish line seems so far in the distance that I sometimes forget it’s there. I actually stop moving toward it. The truth is, I often go months at a time…
You May Also Like
“The holiest of holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the anniversaries of the heart.”
“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”
“Anything that makes you weak–physically, intellectually and spiritually–reject it as poison.”
Trust: Why it’s the Foundation to Strong & Healthy Relationships
Relationships 101: Trust is at the center of a strong and healthy relationship. This statement is probably nothing new. Most likely, you’ve already heard it, read it, or even said it yourself. But let’s discuss why trust is so critical. Consider this a review of the connection between trust and relationships. Why do relationships need trust? Trust Leads to Openess & Honesty: When people trust each other, they’re more likely to share more about themselves. They can share their deepest secrets, life story, and opinions without worrying about being judged. They also trust that what they say will remain confidential. Therefore, being nonjudgemental and trustworthy are great qualities to have.…
The Importance of Counteracting a Sedentary Work Life
Over the past two years of working at a desk job, my lifestyle has been the most sedentary it has ever been. If I don’t intentionally exercise, my main physical activity would be walking to or from a parking lot. Outside of that, I would spend most of my day sitting or standing. Why is this relevant? Unless your job requires physical activity, your lifestyle is probably similar to mine. It’s innately sedentary. And with all the technological advances and automation of physical tasks, this is unavoidably becoming more common. As a result, sedentariness is very much built into the fabric of most of our days. But it was never…
You May Also Like
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Depression Part 3: Finding the Cause and Working Toward the Solution
“Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress, which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.”
