MY INSPIRATION
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what
peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender.
Be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant for they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive, persons they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive God to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
- Max Ehrmann
GRATITUDE
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
- Melodie Beattie
I would also add this thought — that without gratitude, you can turn any paradise into hell.
Without gratitude, you will always walk away from the table still hungry — no matter what measure of abundance has been laid before you.
Without gratitude, every job is the worst job on earth, every spouse is deficient, every friend lets you down, every home is on the wrong street, every gift is the wrong size, every novel is full of typos, every mattress is uncomfortable, every cup of coffee is too weak.
Without gratitude, every choice you ever made will always feel like the wrong choice.
Without gratitude, summers will always be too hot; winters will always be too cold.
Without gratitude, you will always feel you were born into the wrong family.
Without gratitude, the waitress will always be too slow, and you will always get the worst seat on the bus.
Without gratitude, every driver on the road except you is an idiot.
In short ~ without gratitude, life is misery.
It's the alchemy of all alchemies. If we learn nothing else while we're here on this earth, we need to learn the transforming power of THANK YOU.
- Author Unknown
The Magnificence of who you are, who you truly are, is far greater than any fantasy you can impose on yourself. Your greatest power is to be your authentic self and align yourself with your highest values.
If you set goals that don’t match your highest values you create an internal conflict that erodes your confidence. Honour the values you have and set goals to match them. Rise up in the realisation of who you are and give yourself permission to live accordingly.
- Dr John Demartini
THE FOUR AGREEMENTS
A POWERFUL CODE OF CONDUCT BASED ON
ANCIENT TOLTEC WISDOM
Be impeccable with your word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.
Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
Don’t take things personally
Nothing others do is because of you.
What others do and say is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others you won’t be a victim of needless suffering.
Don’t make assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With this one agreement you can completely transform your life.
Always be your best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment, it will be different when you are healthy opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.