Changing the World
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the
world. I found it was difficult to change the
world, so I
tried to change my nation. When I found I
couldn't
change the nation, I began to focus on my
town. I
couldn't change the town and as an older man, I
tried to
change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can
change is myself, and suddenly I realize that
if long ago
I had changed myself, I could have made
an impact on
my family. My family and I could have made
an impact
on our town. Their impact could have
changed the nation
and I could indeed have changed the world.
—unknown monk, 1100A.D
No Easy Road
If you're looking for the easy road
You might be wasting your time.
To reach the most meaningful goals in life
You've got steep hills to climb.
If you're looking for the lazy way
One thing that you will find,
Is that success will never come
Without some daily grind.
If you're looking for some easy wealth
Look somewhere else instead,
Within yourself for energy
To earn your daily bread.
The path to greatness you can't tread
Without some heavy load;
So work your hardest - and your best -
There is no easy road.
—author unknown
Our Deepest Fear
Our
deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It
is our Light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We
ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented,
fabulous?
Actually,
who are you not to be?
You
are a child of God.Your playing small does not serve
the world.
There
is nothing enlightening about shrinking so
that other people won’t feel unsure
around you.
We
were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It
is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
As
we let our own Light shine; we unconsciously
give other people permission to do
the same.
As
we are liberated from our own fear; our
presence automatically
liberates others.
—Marianne
Williamson
Story of a Failure
Mother
died, ’18
Lost
job, ’32
Defeated
for legislature, ’32
Failed
in business, ’33
Elected
to legislature, ’34
Sweetheart
died, ’35
Suffered
nervous breakdown, ’36
Marriage
proposal rejected, ’37
Defeated
for speaker of the house, ’38
Married,
’42
Defeated
for nomination to Congress, ’43
Elected
to Congress, ’46
Lost
renomination, ’48
Rejected
for land officer, ’49
Son
died, ’50
Defeated
for Senate, ’54
Defeated
for nomination for vice president, ’56
Defeated
for Senate again, ’58
But
in 1860, at the age of 51, Abraham
The Truth About Failure
Failure doesn't mean you are a failure . . . it does mean you
haven't succeeded yet.
Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing . . . it
does mean you have learned something.
Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool . . . it does mean
you had a lot of faith.
Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced . . . it does
mean you were willing to try.
Failure doesn't mean you don't have it . . . it does mean
you have to do something in a different
way.
Failure doesn't mean you are inferior . . . it does mean you
are not perfect.
Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life . . . it does
mean you've a reason to start afresh.
Failure doesn't mean you should give up . . . it does mean
you should try harder.
Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it . . . it does mean
it will take a little longer.
Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you . . . it does
mean God has a better idea!
—Robert Schuller,
Tough Times
Never Last, But Tough People Do
This Day
Today is a new day. Fresh, unspoiled and full of
promise.
Whatever has happened whether it be a hundred years ago or
last evening has no influence upon this day.
The present
knows nothing of the past. The slate is wiped
clean and I am
free to write upon it whatsoever I choose.
This is my day. No person
has ever lived as I live, felt as I
feel, thought as I think or loved as I love.
No one ever will. I
am a unique creation with rare and special
combinations of
skills, talents, creativity and features.
Just as we feel great anticipation and expectancy at the
beginning of a new year, I can feel the same with
the beginning
of a new day. Every day is a new beginning
and I will
treasure it as such.
This day can never be reclaimed. It is an irreplaceable
jewel in the crown of my Sacred Life.
Today, I am a new man.
I begin a new day—yea, a new life.
—author unknown
Who Am I?
I
am your constant companion.
I
am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I
will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I
am completely at your command.
Half
the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
And
I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I
am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show
me exactly how you want something done,
And
after a few lessons I will do it automatically.
I
am the servant of all great men
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those
who are great, I have made great.
Those
who are failures, I have made failures.
I
am not a machine, though
I
work with all the precision of a machine
Plus the intelligence of a man.
You
may run me for profit, or run me for ruin;
It
makes no difference to me.
Take
me, train me, be firm with me
And
I will put the world at your feet.
Be
easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who
am I?
I
am habit!
—author
unknown
The
Impossible Dream
To dream the impossible dream
to fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow the star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
To be willing to pass into hell for a heavenly cause
And know if I'll only be true to the glorious quest
That my heart lies peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered in scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow the star
No matter how hopeless,
no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
And to dream the impossible dream
—Don Quiote
from Man of