Inspiring Thoughts
The following words and stories are, I believe, illustrations of how, given belief and love, we can achieve whatever we want and that the only obstacles in life are the ones that we allow to live, rent free, in our hearts and minds. Elaine
Live Your Deam
"It is not the critic
who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where
the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the
man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat
and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes again and again because
there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion,
who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the high
achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly,
knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know
neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Making A Difference
As a man was walking along a beach at sunset, he noticed another man in the distance leaning down and picking something up and throwing it into the water. The man kept repeating this action of leaning down, picking something up and hurling it into the sea.
As the first man approached he noticed that the second man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on to the beach. The man was picking them up one at a time and throwing them back into the water.
The first man was amazed at this and asked the second man what he was doing. The man replied that the starfish had been washed up on to the shore because of the low tide and that they would die if they didn't get back into the water. The first man said "But there are thousands of starfish, there are simply too many to be able to save them all, you can't possibly make a difference?" The second man smiled, bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and as he threw it back into the water, replied "Made a difference to that one."
Jack Cranfield and Mark V. Hansen
Our Deepest Fear
- Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
- Our deepest fear is not 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 doesn't serve the world.
- There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people around you won't feel insecure.
- We are all meant to shine as children do.
- We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
- It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.
- And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
- As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically releases others.
Marianne Williamson
Begin It Now
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Chicken Soup for the Soul" - Jack Cranfield and Mark Victor Hansen - 1993 - Health Communications, Inc. Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442-8190
