Words Of Wisdom

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

— Author Unknown

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
Chrissy – age 6

Formal education will earn you a living, self-education will make you a fortune.

- Jim Rohn

“Many of us play small  because we do not allow ourselves to dream. We trap ourselves in reality and  never dare to go beyond what we can see with our eyes. Imagination lifts us  beyond average by giving us a vision of life that surpasses what we are  experiencing currently. Dreams infuse our spirit with energy and spur us on to  greatness.”

— John C. Maxwell

“You can change your self-image and beliefs whenever you choose. We had no choice about the beliefs that were instilled in us by teachers, parents and so on — they just gave us their best — but now that we’re adults, we can choose the beliefs that will move us in the direction of our dreams.”

— John Assaraf, Having It All

How true this sentiment by John Assaraf, one of the featured speakers in the popular film, the Secret, is. The moment I read it, I had to jot it down in my notebook of ‘things to remember’ because it resonated so strongly with me. I think it is because sometimes we look for reasons to nurse our perceived shortcomings. Perhaps because it’s comforting to harbor them, perhaps because it is easier to coddle the familiar rather than risk the unknown territory of a new direction. Whatever the reason, John’s statement holds so much truth in that once we are adults, the choice is ours and ours alone. We have everything within us to be whatever we choose, and whatever we don’t have will be brought into our awareness at the appointed time as long as we continue to move forward in the direction of our desires.

So what are you moving towards?

“You think you have to figure it all out before you take a step. Instead, lean in. Send that email. Pick up the phone. Sign up for that class. Commit and do it. What matters is that you push through your feelings and start moving. Take action and lean toward what you want without regard for how it will look or turn out.”

— Mel Robbins, Success Magazine | March 2011

Truth be told, I’ve been procrastinating. And in my 30+ years of living I’ve come to learn something about myself…I tend to procrastinate when I’m nervous about the outcome. I procrastinate when I’m nervous about my abilities and whether or not I can rise to the challenge. What has usually been my compensating attribute is tenacity. Usually my persistence will outlive and outwit any bouts with procrastination and I somehow move forward to complete the task at hand, no matter how daunting it may momentarily appear to be. Luckily, I came across this quote today while reading my very first issue of Success magazine (so glad I subscribed) which reminded me that it’s not necessary to see the full path ahead before leaning in to the start of the experience. I am grateful for the reminder.

All of us have goals, dreams and aspirations that collect dust on the shelves of our lives because we fail to take the first step. We mistakenly reason that we need to have everything “all figured out” before we admit out loud that we want to achieve something great. When the truth is, we don’t have to see or know how everything will work out, we just need to trust that it will and take action with that belief in mind.

So what are you waiting for? Scratch that…it’s the wrong question really. The question is…what will you lean in to?

I was inspired to finally sit down and draft the copy for the back cover of my forthcoming book, Rat Race Revolution. (Click on the The Book tab above to get a sneak peek and tell me what you think) Not sure how this story will unfold (pun intended) but I’m excited to be on the journey.

By the way, in case you were wondering, here is the full quote that was referenced by this blog post’s title:

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The reason so many of us quit in the dip is that without a compass or a plan, the easiest thing to do is give up.”

— Seth Godin

Deciding to journey the life of an entrepreneur, in the inevitable isolation you sometimes wonder if you should give up. Well, I was in need of a little inspiration and found this poem I’d copied into my notebook many, many years ago. I don’t know who wrote it (if you do, please let us know in the Comments) but hope it inspires you as it has me…

Don’t Quit:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re traveling seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Life if queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler had given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s vup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out —
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

— Author Unknown

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last…Well, neither
does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.”

— Zig Ziglar: Author and motivational speaker

An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.

— Freidrich Engels