I know someone who has always had a lot of courage. One day I asked her how did you develop your courage? She said, “Well, when I was a little girl, growing up in Great Britain there was a popular brand of beer called Courage Beer. There were large billboards everywhere advertising this beer. There [...]
There is an important fine line between respect for others and being impressed by them. By having respect for others we allow their virtues and qualities to inspire us to become more elevated in our thoughts, words and actions.
We never lose our own self respect by giving respect. We actually increase [...]
When we withdraw our consciousness from the drama and stimulation of the mundane and illusory aspects of the world, we have the opportunity to enter into a world, that previously, we were unconscious of. It’s the world of the subtle. It is an inner garden of subtle lights, subtle sounds, and subtle scents. It is [...]
Are you doing your best? If not, why not? Are you lazy? Why? Too much stress? What can you do about it? Are you inspired? If not, is it possible that you are not pursuing your true purpose in life?
Tough questions, but they lead to deep introspection about how we live and think. When we [...]
When you follow the promptings of inspiration, life steps up to a new rate of energy.
What business is it of mine if what I am inspired to do seems impossible? When the voice of inspiration speaks within me, my responsibility is in the action. The results are not my concern. Does a private in the [...]
The subconscious is the source of all great works of art – paintings, writings, music, architecture and scientific breakthroughs. What would have been ordinary becomes extraordinary when thought is transcended, when a connection is made with the infinite intelligence that pervades all of creation.
Works of genius always stem from this inner realm, as does all [...]
I’m always looking for new personal development resources and I just came across a couple good ones. Jarle Husefest is putting out some great content and resources like free ebooks and generating some serious traffic. Do yourself a favor and check out his site. I have really enjoyed reading his free download of The [...]
Last night my wife and I watched Peaceful Warrior in DVD format, renting it on the first day of its release in video stores. After all, Tony Robbins did say, “This film will impact the course of your life forever.”
The film is based on the autobiographical novel of Dan Millman. If you haven’t read [...]
No one wants to feel or be called irresponsible. But until a person finds purpose in life, then the life being lived is one of irresponsibility. I don’t mean that in a judgmental way. But if a person does not express in his or her life what the soul most earnestly wants to express, then [...]
If you ever need an example of what personal magnetism is, I once read that Henry David Thoureau walked 20 miles to hear Emerson give a lecture. What was it in Emerson that had the power to inspire Thoreau to walk so far? After all, there were thousands of other people much closer who [...]
Everybody starts out on the path of success for everyone starts out seeking something in life. Unfortunately for many, their seeking ends in failure. They might start out with gusto and passion but fail because they didn’t balance the passion with knowledge. Today, too many people believe that if they can visualize success, they will [...]
Fearlessness and compassion are opposite sides of the same coin. When you contemplate what sets apart the fearless hero or heroine, whose lives are the epitome of compassion, you will see this clearly.
I love the words of the late Chögyam Trungpa on this subject:
Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the [...]
True success isn’t luck. Doyle Brunson, the famed poker player who has won numerous World Series of Poker titles in his career, recently said that he would risk everything he owned on a single bet if he felt it was a reasonable bet. He wasn’t afraid of losing everything. He said that was because if [...]
Leadership development traditionally is aimed at individuals who want to advance their career. But is that aspiration, by itself, enough to make a true leader who can change lives?
For example, let’s take someone we all know about who made a difference in the lives of millions, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. He didn’t just open the [...]
The other day I received an e-mail, asking for advice, which forced me to reflect back on an earlier chapter of my life. As a young man graduating from college, could I could have benefited from any words of advice? A simple question that provided me with some invaluable soul searching.
I have reprinted the [...]
Decision making plays a big part in how successful one’s life is. What to major in at college, what career to choose, where to live, what to invest in, how hard to work, to marry or stay single, to save or to spend. The list is endless as everyday we are confronted with decisions. [...]
Self-esteem gets a lot of hoopla in self-help circles these days, and that’s fine. but its also possible to go beyond self-esteem. There is no doubt that a person who has a high opinion of him or herself is happier than the person who doesn’t. However, there is another dimension to being that reaches so [...]
I have ADD. And that’s OK with me. I’m glad I have it. I have lived successfully with ADD without drugs. And the reason I don’t take the drugs is because I don’t want to be fit into the mold of normalcy.
Because I am someone with the traits or characteristics of what is often called [...]
Viktor E. Frankl was suggesting conscious awareness when he wrote, “Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.”
I hear a lot of people say they would like a chance to live life over again so they could get it right. OK. What do [...]
The sense of unworthiness is a trap. It leads to self doubt. It is this sense that blocks the beauty of the soul from expressing itself in our daily lives. It is this sense that blocks spontaneity, creativity, and love. This is the doubt that stops us from traversing the spiritual path. The [...]
I have been on both sides of the continuum on self-confidence. I remember being so nervous speaking in front of one of my college classes that the teacher forced me to enroll in speech therapy. But a few years later I was regularly winning speech contests in Toastmasters in the Los Angeles area. I [...]
I saw a billboard on the way home from our vacation that said “Believe in Yourself - pass it on.” I can’t remember ever seeing a more helpful message on a billboard in my life. What a great message. It creates all kinds of possibilities. Doors open that normally stay closed. Worries disappear. Productivity soars. [...]
Do you know who you really are? Have you ever had an identity shift take place in a crisis? If so, then you have an insight into the Tao saying that a crisis is an opportunity. And the opportunity is getting to know yourself a little better.
I remember years ago rafting down some white-water rapids [...]
Unlimited potential is our birthright. For we are sons and daughters of the infinite and our true essence is consciousness. Our only limitation can come from our thinking.
Look at Helen Keller. She was as wild as any animal in the Amazon rainforest before Anne Sullivan was able to help her make the association of [...]
Self-esteem, as it is traditionally considered, suffers from a fallacy. In that approach, we emphasize the external situations, such as career, status, money, how others view us, what type of house we live in, what type of car we drive, and what type of education we have. And if these areas are lacking, the [...]