If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves. – Thomas Edison
Article written by contributor Tess Marshall of Take Your Fear and Shove It.
Editor’s note: Scroll down to learn how you can win a free copy of Tess Marshall’s powerful new ecourse, Take Your Fear and Shove It. Reading by email? Click here to visit the site to participate.
Everyone struggles with fear.
It is healthy to admit when you are afraid, worried, or anxious. To do so requires strength.
You will never get rid of fear.
If you are alive you have fear. You have two choices. You can deny your fear and fail to take action. Or you can face it and do what it takes to dissolve it.
One choice brings misery. The other brings happiness. It’s that simple.
No one has ever become poor by giving. – Anne Frank
Article written by contributor Harriet Cabelly of Rebuild Your Life Coach.
I recently heard a rabbi give a sermon on Giving of oneself and doing good deeds (the Hebrew word is ‘hesed’ meaning loving kindness, acts of kindness).
I started off half listening thinking, one more speech on the subject. But I started tuning in as I heard some new words being emphasized – comfort zone, personal agenda, narcissism. The sermon was starting to have a different twist. I leaned forward to listen with extra effort.
Two questions about our giving
1. Are we giving according to the needs of others, or are we doing our good deeds in alignment with our own needs?
2. Are we doing for others even if it creates discomfort in ourselves or are we simply doing what makes us feel good and worthy?
And when he used the example of not visiting a sick person in the hospital because of the personal difficulty for the visitor, I was immediately hooked. When my daughter was in the hospital on a respirator there were a couple of people who meant a lot to our family who apologetically said they could not come because they could not bear to see her like that.
The rabbi’s response – do it anyway, visit anyway; get over it and go.
Why do we make happiness so exhausting? – Lori Deschene
You may notice each post on The BridgeMaker begins with a quote. I do this to give you, the reader, a sense of what the post will be about. My favorite place to browse for inspirational quotes is Tiny Buddha, by Lori Deschene.
But Lori’s blog is more than a place to find quotes – it’s a place where my soul is refreshed by her wisdom, and by the comfort of her words.
So, when Lori released her new book, Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life’s Hard Questions
Lori’s book doesn’t disappoint. She shares in a transparent and almost vulnerable style. The book resonates with a rich authenticity that is as moving as it is helpful.
I’m honored Lori agreed to an interview, and offered two free copies of her beautiful book Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life’s Hard Questions
The first thing in all progress is to leave something behind. – George MacDonald
“A broken heart.”
A broken heart is one thing a friend wants to leave behind in 2011.
While the New Year gives us the opportunity to see life as a clean slate, there are some things we don’t want appearing on that slate again. Different from making a resolution, identifying what we want to leave behind gives us the chance to consider something that is no longer serving a purpose; doesn’t bring value or is no longer working for us.
It is something that may be keeping us from finding the happiness, peace and love we deserve.
Identifying what we want to leave behind isn’t about ignoring a difficult circumstance; it’s about acknowledging our reality and then deciding to do something about it.
Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count. – Author Unknown
Article written by contributor Gary Polsky of Apex Lifestyle Design.
After spending decades in healthcare administration, navigating the red tape and bureaucracy that steers the most intimate and vulnerable times in our life — when we are sick or dying — I decided it wasn’t right.
It wasn’t right for patients to be cooped up in a cold hospital where nurses were overburdened with too many patients. It wasn’t right that families were pulled away from a critical patient to discuss insurance and payments. It wasn’t right that patients’ last wishes were not being honored as DNRs were overlooked for the doctor’s preference.
That’s when I decided there was a better alternative.
“When you are through changing, you are through.” ~ Bruce Barton
Change painted my life this year, and it came in different colors. Like a box of 64 Crayola Crayons, the year was colored with bright, happy colors and with somber, unfamiliar ones, too.
The bright colors
My daughter, Caitlin, graduated from college and had the courage to begin a life away from home. I finally started my book, and was approached to publish a second one. The year also brought a long-awaited career promotion.
The somber colors
My brother died without warning, and without the chance to say good-bye. Two months later, a family member was diagnosed with leukemia. The year also brought not-so-good news that my heart continues to grow larger because of an atrial septal aneurysm.
2011 has been a bittersweet year indeed.
While I would give anything to spend one more Christmas with my brother, I understand there was another plan for him. 2011 taught me the Universe has a plan greater than anything I can imagine. These plans can blast happiness into our lives, and they can also bring profound sorrow. Part of the agreement with living comes the understanding that our lives can change in an instant.
It is better to travel well than to arrive. – Buddha
Article written by contributor David Stevens of Personalpower4me’s Blog.
Travelling through Life is an interesting journey. We grab a bit here, a bit there and attempt to piece the puzzle (of Life) together.
We want to learn what Life is all about and then try to “fit in” to our learned version of what Life is all about.
In so doing, this ‘fitting in’ thing, the person that is “you” can get lost in the translation. Spending time on fitting in will create a sameness of character, of ideals of self worth.
Character assassination by stealth. You have joined the masses. Congratulations?
The power of choice
You can only be You and no one else.
However using the power of choice enables you to be either fully you (great) or only a shadow of you (mediocre) – these are the two choices you have.
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