We often hear people say: “I wish I could go back in time and have a conversation with (so-and-so).”
Well, by reading the words that they have left behind, it is the closest we will ever get to meeting our role models and inspirations in life. Even after a great person dies, their words live on, and we can derive wisdom from that.
Here are seven inspirations that have impacted us!
“So much has been given to me, I have not time to ponder over that which has been denied.” – Helen Keller
The point here is that we need to count our blessings rather than our perceived misfortunes. We all receive many gifts in life, and need to be thankful for them.
Life itself is a gift! This change in perspective will result in an immediate mood swing, from despair to hope.
2. Overcome Fear
“It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fear prevents many of us from experiencing the fullness of life. Unfortunately, many times our resistance to what life has to offer is a fear of failure.
We need to overcome this fear. There’s not one person in this world who has never failed at something. Besides that, failure is not bad, it’s how we learn! Look at it in a different way.
3. Desire And Intention
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.” – Guatama Buddha
The Buddha says that our thoughts determine our reality. We need to be mindful of what we intend and what we desire in life.
Too often, we think about what we don’t want when we need to be holding space for what we do want. Try creating a list of your intentions and your desires, and read it often!
4. Acceptance
“If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” – Jesus
This aphorism from Jesus is about authenticity. When we try to be what we are not, we are fighting a war with ourselves. This comes from some idea of what the ‘perfect you’ looks like and striving toward that. Well, you are already the ‘perfect you,’ just be you!
Make a commitment right now to stay at peace with yourself. Also, don’t judge others for who they are.
5. Happiness
“Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.”
– Benjamin Franklin
This is a simple one: happiness comes from within. No one can make you happy, and nothing can happen to you to make you happy if you aren’t already. Underlying all this is the fact that happiness is a choice. It is something that we can do.
6. Realize Your Dreams
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Lawrence J. Peter
What Peter is saying is to be goal-oriented. Have a clear vision of them, because it’s the only way you’re going to achieve your dreams. It can help to write them down, and create a plan of action. When we do this, we can then see clearly where we are going, with the steps needed to get us there.
7. Simplicity
“I made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it short.” – Blaise Pascal
Sometimes we feel like we need to tack onto our lives to reach perfection. However, it is more that perfection is reached when there is nothing else to take away.
It is about simplicity: the joy in life and the removal of clutter. Know what to take away from your life. Keep it simple, and focus on what is important.
