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The following is an excerpt of an article I recently came across on The Journey with Jesus – Notes to Myself Weekly Essays (website) by Daniel B. Clendenin, PhD.:

Should Americans forgive the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks? I’ve been wondering about a possible parallel scenario.

Could you or should you forgive Dr. Mengele, the Nazi “angel of death?”

That question haunted Eva Kor, who tells her remarkable story in the documentary film Forgiving Dr. Mengele (2007).  Eva and her twin sister Miriam spent ten months in Auschwitz. Along with many other twins, they were separated from their families and subjected to Mengele’s horrific “medical” experiments.  After liberation by the Soviets when she was ten-years old, and then ten years in Israel, Eva relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1960 and raised a family.

Eva returned to Auschwitz for the first time in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the camps, and on that occasion she did the unthinkable.  She read aloud her personal “official declaration of amnesty” to Mengele and the Nazis.  To be liberated from the Nazis was not enough, she said; she needed to be released from the pain of the past.  To extend forgiveness without any prerequisites required of the perpetrators, said Eva, was an “act of self-healing.” Through the act of “forgiving your worst enemy” Eva said that she experienced “the feeling of complete freedom from pain.”  Many Jews were outraged by her act.

In the lectionary readings this week, Jesus and Joseph commend the healing power of forgiveness.

Joseph believed that God had a larger providential purpose for Israel beyond the private wrongs he had suffered at the hands of his brothers: “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).  At least four times he reassures his nervous brothers, “it was not you who sent me to Egypt, but God” (Genesis 45:5, 7, 8, 9).  The story concludes: “Joseph reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

And in the gospel for this week, Peter asked Jesus, “how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Forgiving someone seven times is generous in the extreme, but Jesus upped the ante and expanded the arithmetic of forgiveness.

 
Jesus told an outlandish parable about an “unmerciful servant” who received forgiveness for his own enormous debt, but then instead of extending forgiveness for a tiny debt that he was owed, he imprisoned his debtor.  In the kingdom of God that Jesus announced, he instructed us to forgive not merely seven times, but seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven.  The forgiveness that characterizes his kingdom is beyond calculation or comprehension.

Jesus also linked receiving forgiveness to offering forgiveness. He established a law of proportionality.  We can expect divine forgiveness in the measure that we extend human forgiveness: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart.”  Similarly, in the Lord’s Prayer we ask God to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  Our own sense of the need of forgiveness is the basis upon which we freely forgive others.  We can only long for ourselves what we lavish upon others.

Forgiveness of this magnitude finds its basis not only in our own sense of need but, even more sure and certain, in the character of God himself as a fundamentally forgiving God.  Paul writes, “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).  And in this week’s epistle: “Accept one another, just as God has accepted you” (Romans 14:1, 15:7).

Frederic Luskin, co-founder of Stanford University’s “Forgiveness Project,” says that forgiveness “reduces anger, hurt, depression and stress and leads to greater feelings of optimism, hope, compassion and self confidence.”  Luskin has conducted numerous workshops and research projects on forgiveness.  He’s worked with a wide variety of people in corporate, medical, legal and religious settings.  In his book Forgive for Good, Luskin elucidates what Eva Kor experienced and what Joseph and Jesus taught, that in forgiving we can become “heroes instead of victims in the stories we tell.”

This excerpt above is by Daniel B. Clendenin, Ph.D. and is reprinted from http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20110905JJ.shtml

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More thoughts and quotes on forgiveness I’ve collected from various sources:

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds
on the heel that has crushed it.” – Mark Twain

To forgive is to set a prisoner free
and to discover that the prisoner was you.
– Lewis Smedes

“The weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
– Gandhi

Never does the human soul appear so strong
as when it forgoes revenge
and dares to forgive an injury.
– Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Forgive all who have offended you; not for them, but for yourself. 
– Harriet Nelson

“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge.” – Isaac Friedmann

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. – Josh Billings

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Note: For more perspectives on reconsidering 911, please see my initial post on this topic here: https://unleashyourinnerstrength.com/2010/09/21/reconsidering-911/ 

– Eric Falcon

I love America and I consider myself very fortunate to be among those who are from this great country or who have adopted it as their home.  I feel we have one of the greatest nations that has ever existed on earth up to this point.

Simultaneously, however, I think that we’re in need of a great healing as a nation and as individual people, as well.  Part of this healing, I believe, includes a self-examination and a reconsideration of the resentment that many of us have been holding on to ever since the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

There cannot be any denial of the horrific nature of the attacks of 911 against all of those innocent people who were killed on that day.  Certainly anyone with any degree of sensitivity or empathy at all felt sickened, devastated, outraged, etc., when they witnessed what happened back then.  I know I certainly felt all of those things in response to what I saw on TV on 911; and I also experience these feelings again when I think about, or see replays of, the events of 911.

Anyone involved in committing the awful crimes of 911, who is still alive, should be brought to trial and should be made to face severe consequences for their actions; of that, there is no doubt in my mind.

Yet, in addition to all of this, and without negating any of it, I believe it would be beneficial for each of us to ask ourselves whether or not it’s time we begin releasing our fear and resentment regarding what happened on 911, which many of us have been harboring ever since that fateful day. 

Many of us reacted with feelings of hatred and an intense desire for vengeance in the aftermath of 911, which should be understandable to anyone, given the scale of the tragedy. Yet, is continuing to bear our grudge all these many years later something we really want to do?

We can’t go back and change our emotional reactions of the past; and self-condemnation or regret for any emotional reaction we’ve had previously is unnecessary.  All of our different kinds of emotions and feelings are valid, and are worthy of being accepted and acknowledged, I believe.

However, on sober second thought now, perhaps it’s time at this point for us to release any long-standing hatred towards others, as well as fear, that we may still be clinging to over 911.  Additionally, maybe we can think about the possibility of some measure of forgiveness for the perpetrators and their supporters; and possibly seek some degree of understanding of them, and perhaps even reconciliation, as well.

Maybe we can attempt to understand,  at least in some small degree, what were the pre-conditions that might have led people to even think of carrying out the terrible acts that they  committed on that day.  Perhaps we can make room in our hearts for the possibility of reconciling with those whom we consider as enemies; or at least with the people of the two countries our nation invaded following 911 in what many were led to believe was our country’s effort to exact justice.

Below is the reprint of an article that I found fascinating and insightful, and which I agree with.  It offers some unique  and paradoxical approaches to attempt to prevent another 911 from occurring in the future.

It’s written by Richard Farson, who’s a psychologist and respected business management consultant.  Farson writes and speaks a lot on the theme of using paradox and counter-intuitive approaches, in business and life, for long-standing problems that aren’t responsive to any conventional approaches we’ve tried.  He’s the author of the best-selling book “Management of the Absurd: Paradoxes in Leadership.”

Please take time to consider the message contained in the below article.  Any comments you have on this are appreciated.

– Eric Falcon

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A Paradoxical Approach to Combating Terrorism 

by Richard Farson

Reducing the possibility of terrorists’ attacks is worth taking the most advanced and intelligent management approach. Enlightened leaders in all fields are beginning to have an appreciation for the paradoxical nature of human affairs. They understand that when it comes to human behavior, things don’t work they way one might think they should. Consequently, these leaders see the need to embrace paradox as a management and planning strategy.

Fundamentally, paradoxical management means thinking counter-intuitively, freeing ourselves from traditional, rational approaches as well as knee-jerk emotional reactions. It means considering what would be contrary to the ordinary reaction to events, going opposite directions at once, and doing things that would seem at first look, completely wrong, absurd. If the following examples seem too outrageous, remember that in a paradoxical strategy, the opposite course must also be considered simultaneously.

Reassess September 11th. Instead of continually reliving the terror and pain of September 11th, and giving in to the outrage and fear and protective reactions that episode stirs up, we might try to re-evaluate that experience by stripping it of our emotional reactions. Even though the horrifying acts of September 11th were carefully planned, we knew then that the terrorists were not quite as skilled as their success made them appear. They were surprised, amazed really, at the scale of death and destruction that they reaped.

The terrorists could not have counted on the two factors that made those events so spectacular and dramatic: the completely unpredictable collapse of the buildings and the live media coverage, enhanced by a chance amateur video of the plane actually crashing into the tower.

Real time global viewing of the unintended collapse of the buildings escalated our treatment of the event as cause for declaring war. Had the buildings not collapsed but only suffered the intended damage, and the media coverage been more like it was for the Oklahoma bombing, viewing the devastation only after the fact, we might not have experienced the overwhelming outrage and the sickening fear that followed. Seeing those giant buildings fall, crushing all those inside, did it.

The terrorists could not have had any idea that they would succeed so spectacularly, deaths would be in the thousands, our financial system would shut down, airlines would go bust, and we would be plunged deeper into a recession. They could only dream that their actions would lead us to wage war against Middle Eastern nations, and that we would pour billions into efforts to make ourselves secure, driving ourselves into financial deficits. So far we have obliged the terrorists on all counts. We need to remember that we have survived terrorism before. As appalling as their actions were, we need to base our reactions on the fact that all they did was hijack some planes and crash them into two of our national icons. Most of the resulting financial troubles, psychological damage, and oppressive security measures, we did to ourselves, with our panicky reactions. We need to stop, and rethink.

Don’t act. Think. As a superpower we do not need to prove our strength militarily. We need to prove it by what will be seen, not as weakness or confusion, but as the exercise of wisdom and leadership. Take time to think and talk this through. Unfortunately, in keeping with the ordinary ways people react, we too soon waged a war against Afghanistan, killing upwards of twelve thousand people, mainly civilians. We failed to meet our objective, capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and the other major leaders of the Al Qaeda.

Moreover, by identifying our approach as a war on terrorism, we legitimized Sharon’s invasion of the West Bank in the name of fighting terrorism. We may have provided the same legitimacy for India, as it prepares to wage war against Pakistan. We have further enraged our enemies, and alienated our allies. The approach we are now taking has not worked, and will not work. It does not reflect advanced management thinking.

There are steps we can take short of more military conflict, but they require us to operate in ways that are not typical of us action-oriented Americans. We have to put the lid on our demand for revenge, our national pride in being a superpower, and our anger at having our way of life threatened. If we do, we have a chance of reducing further carnage on our homeland. When we do act, let’s make sure that those actions don’t make us more vulnerable than we already are.

We now know how easy it is for terrorists to launch an attack, and how permanently vulnerable we are. We can be sure that most of the terrorists in the sixty countries in which Osama bin Laden operates, are still alive and eager to act. Retaliation, however, is not as effective as it would seem. Israel has consistently responded with overwhelming military force to Palestinian terrorists, but the carnage continues.

Pursuit of the perpetrators is what is necessary, but as we are seeing now, that is best done by intelligence and limited action. We must not give the terrorists what they tried to provoke, an all out war between the West and the Arab world.

Forget security. It’s diversionary, expensive, and ineffective. Accept our permanent vulnerability. Security measures, no matter how Draconian, are not strong enough to prevent most such acts. Our own tests of airport security systems show that they fail two thirds of the time. Moreover, we can’t prevent what we can’t imagine. Even with advance suspicion of the flight training of the Saudi hijackers, September 11th was still unimaginable, even for our intelligence agents.

Israel has much tighter security than we do, but is almost helpless to defend against even the crudest terrorist activities. Our inability to keep drugs and weapons out of maximum security prisons should prove to us that no matter how much security apparatus we put in place, we cannot protect ourselves with a strategy that increases inspections, policing and surveillance, or places us in bunkers. With that strategy, our rights are abridged, and our paranoia is increased. We lose the very freedoms that make our nation strong. And it doesn’t work.

Former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who lived through assassination threats while ambassador to India, and bombings of the Senate, still advises that we do “nothing” about security except to go after the perpetrators. That is the paradoxical approach, and likely to be much more effective. Most security systems do not make us secure. They make us afraid.

We only install security measures to protect against what has happened, not what could happen next. The terrorists are smart enough to escalate to a different mode of attack, always staying ahead of us. Paradoxically, the history of airplane hijacking, as shown by Malcolm Gladwell in a recent New Yorker article, shows clearly that our efforts at airline security result in increased sophistication of hijacking methods, and increased devastation and loss of life.

Treat our enemies as allies. Not the terrorists, but the many nations that are hostile to us, and often harbor these criminals. Our temptation, obviously, is to obliterate them. But on sober second thought, we realize that we cannot. Better, find out what we can do to improve our relations, what we may need to change about ourselves.

Try to cut through the centuries old layers of Western misunderstanding, exploitation and domination that play such a strong part in their hostile attitudes. Using diplomacy, coupled with an effort to give ourselves extensive education in the history and contemporary concerns of this conflict, we may overcome our fixed ideas about these people, and our lack of respect for them. That may enable us to build relations with them in spite of the fact that they are different in so many ways from us. We have much to learn, and we will be richer for it. In the 21st century, we will need more allies in the Arab world. Even beginning to make the effort will help.

The stakes are high. A few more wrong moves could escalate into a war of enormous proportions. The only way to be genuinely secure, to reduce the possibility of more such terrorist attacks, is to work with the other nations to contain the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons, safeguard nuclear stockpiles, and root out their terrorists. As we treat our enemies as allies, and teach ourselves more about them, we inevitably make ourselves less of a target, which of course is the best way to prevent attacks.

If the terrorism we experienced has not taught us that conflict in this century has fundamentally changed, and the old rules don’t apply, then we will not have learned the most important lesson we needed to learn. And we need to learn that paradox, seeming absurdity, is not the exception in human relations, it is the rule. It undoubtedly applies to this crisis. If we ignore it, the results could be tragic indeed.

Reprinted from http://www.wbsi.org/farson/com_terrorism.htm

In 1944 a visionary author and teacher based out of Los Angeles, Neville Goddard (known simply as ‘Neville’), penned an important little book called Feeling is the Secret.

The insights that are shared in this book have helped those who have read them and acted upon them to transform their lives and reach their highest potentials.

It is my pleasure and privilege to be able to share with you the powerful work Feeling is the Secret in e-Book format.

This is the 100% original text of Feeling is the Secret, as written in 1944.  However, I have had the font, font size, and formatting completely updated;  therefore, this e-Book is the most easily readable and visually accessible version of this work that is available anywhere, so far as I’m aware of.

I’m confident that the wisdom contained in this powerful little book, when absorbed and applied by you, will help you to transform and enrich your life, just as it has done for me and so many others who have read, studied it, and applied it.

As my gift to you for signing up for my free occasional e-Newsletter, I’ll send you an email which has a link for you to immediately download a free copy of Feeling is the Secret.  You can then save it to your computer, where you can read it at your leisure, as well as print it out for further convenient study, if you wish.

Click Here To Go To My Newsletter Sign-Up Page 

Note 1: Sign up by clicking the link above to receive my free occasional e-newsletter.  It contains powerful advice on developing your emotional and mental strength, as well as tips on optimizing your physical energy and health.  (Your email is kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone. You may unsubscribe at any time and you will receive no further emails.)

Note 2:  When you sign up, the first email you receive from me will be a confirmation request for you to reply to.  Once you’ve replied and I’ve confirmed your correct emailing address, you’ll then receive a second “Welcome” email from me, which has a link to the Download Page.  Click on that link, and you’ll be taken to the Download Page, where you can access your free copy of the Feeling is the Secret eBook, and save it to your computer.  It comes in a PDF file format.

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Highlights:

Here are some of my favorite passages and quotes from Feeling is the Secret, which I’ve selected from the text and copied for you below.  (Bold highlighting is mine in the quotes for emphasis.)

“Sensation precedes manifestation and is the foundation upon which all manifestation rests. Be careful of your moods and feelings, for there is an unbroken connection between your feelings and your visible world.”  (From Page 6)

“Feeling the reality of the state sought and living and acting on that conviction is the way of all seeming miracles.”   (From Page 6)

“To be realized, then, the wish…is accomplished by assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled.”  (From Page 9)

“…assume the feeling of being, having and witnessing that which you seek to be, possess and see manifested.”   (From Page 10)

“Realization of your wish is accomplished by assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled.”  (From Page 11)

“…assume the feeling that would be yours were you already the one you wish to be.”   (From Page 11)

“…assume the feeling that would be yours were you already in possession of your objective.”   (From Page 13)

“Prayer is the art of assuming the feeling of being and having that which you want.”   (From Page 13)

“Imagine in picture form what you desire to achieve in life; then feel yourself as having already achieved it.”   (From Page 13)

“All you can possibly need or desire is already yours….Call your desires into being by imagining and feeling your wish fulfilled.”    (From Page 14)

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Inspiring Teachers and Speakers:

David Deida   http://deida.info/

Anthony Robbins   www.tonyrobbins.com 

Gregg Braden   www.greggbraden.com

Wayne Dyer   www.drwaynedyer.com

Mantak Chia   www.universal-tao.com

Denise Coates   www.denisecoates.com

Francine Ward   www.esteemableacts.com

Niurka   www.niurkainc.com

Louise Hay   www.louisehay.com

Joel Osteen   www.joelosteen.com

Inspiring Film(s):

The Secret   www.thesecret.tv

Yoga Resources:

Rodney Yee  (Excellent Yoga DVD’s)   www.yeeyoga.com

Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga   www.poweryoga.com

Yogafit   www.yogafit.com

Yoga Works   www.yogaworks.com

Health Products:

Aquasana Water Filters   www.aquasana.com

Vitamix Blenders        www.vitamix.com

Other Helpful Products and Resources:

Self-Help Classics (Audiobooks) Iphone App     Self-Help Champions

Contribute, Get Involved, Make a Difference:

Human Rights Watch   www.hrw.org

Amnesty International   www.amnestyusa.org

Iraq Veterans Against War   www.ivaw.org

Veterans for Peace   www.veteransforpeace.org

National Resources Defense Council   www.nrdc.org

Environment California   www.environmentcalifornia.org

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)   www.peta.org

Farm Animal Reform Movement   www.farmusa.org

My life changed when I attended my first Tony Robbins event back in June of 2005. Tony is a master of helping people harness their innate emotional and physical resources in order to create lives of meaning and fulfillment. 

Listed below are some of Tony’s most popular selected quotes and affirmations. (Tony refers to the affirmations he uses as “incantations.” Incantations are used just like positive affirmations, which you repeat multiple times daily in order to transform your thought patterns and activate the law of attraction.  However, the difference is that incantations are expressed with emotional energy, intensity, and conviction. See further below for more info.) 

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Tony Robbins’ Famous Quotes:

“The Past does not equal the Future.”

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”

“The quality of your life is a direct reflection of the expectations of your peer group. Choose your peers wisely.”

“The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty that you can comfortably live with.”

“It is in the realm of uncertainty, that your passion is found.”

“The only thing keeping you from getting what you want is the STORY you keep telling yourself about why you can’t have it.”

“The most powerful force in the human psyche is people’s need for their words and actions to stay consistent with their IDENTITY – how we define ourselves.”

“Ultimately the way to win the game of life, is found in only one thing: Our ability to choose meaning in any life circumstance. Become the master of meaning and you master your life.”

“What we link to pleasure and what we link to pain determines our destiny.”

“What is an Extraordinary Life? A life of meaning, a magnificent life, a life of joy, happiness, love, passion, success, and fulfillment. Life experienced on your terms.”

“Your biggest problem, is that you think the current problem you’re facing is your problem…”

“We always have a choice.”

“Change your habitual questions and change your destiny!”

“There are no unresourceful people, only unresourceful states.”

“Effective leaders know that resources are never the problem; it’s always a matter or resourcefulness.”

“People are bigger than anything that can happen to them.”

“Ultimately, no man or woman is happy unless they have found a way to contribute beyond themselves.” 

“What’s talked about is a dream, What’s envisioned is exciting, What’s planned becomes possible, What’s scheduled is real.”

“There are no failures, only outcomes. As long as I learn something, I am succeeding.”

“If I can’t – then I must. If I must – then I will.”

“The words that we attach to our experience become our experience.”

“It’s not about getting what you want. It’s about experiencing what you really need by becoming more.” 

“What you consistently speak with emotional intensity, you will experience, you will create, and you will become. The words that you speak with emotional conviction become the life you live – this is your heaven or this is your hell.”

“In order to take our lives to the next level, we must realize that the same pattern of thinking that has gotten us to where we are now will not get us to where we want to go.”

“Our goal is not to ignore the problems of life, but to put ourselves in better mental emotional states to not only come up with solutions but really meet the challenge and take action.”

“Forgiveness – this needs to be our greatest skill. The way to get good at forgiveness is: to be thankful for all the little things you see in the other person.”

“Every time you reach for food, ask yourself, ‘Will this cleanse or clog me?'”

“Begin to live as though your prayers are already answered.” 

“The 2 master skills of life are: The Science of Achievement and The Art of Fulfillment.”

“The Art of Fulfillment is the ability to experience not only the thrill of the chase, but also the magic of the moment, the unbridled joy of feeling truly alive.”

“Lasting fulfillment is attained only through gaining insight into the core of our human nature, unleashing the power to understand, appreciate, and enjoy our lives at the deepest level.”

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Tony Robbins’ Incantations:

Remember, incantations are expressed with emotional energy, intensity, and conviction, which is also known as being in a “Peak State.”  It’s best to do your incantations while standing, or even better while jogging or working out; and say them out loud.  Doing so will help ensure that the meanings and the intentions of the words you’re uttering become locked into the nervous system and sink deeply into the subconscious mind, bringing about lasting and powerful life-changes.

For a great example of how incantations are used, watch this powerful video of Tony teaching his “Now I am the voice” incantation at a live event:

Tony Robbins’ Live Event Sample Clip

     
NOW I AM THE VOICE.
   I WILL LEAD NOT FOLLOW.
 I WILL BELIEVE, NOT DOUBT.
I WILL CREATE, NOT DESTROY.
   I AM A FORCE FOR GOOD.
   I AM A FORCE FOR GOD.
         I AM A LEADER.
         DEFY THE ODDS.
   SET A NEW STANDARD.
             STEP UP!

“God’s wealth circulates in my life; God’s wealth flows to me in AVALANCHES of abundance; all my needs, desires, and goals are met INSTANTANEOUSLY by infinite intelligence; and I give thanks for ALL of my good now and for ALL of God’s riches, for I am ONE with GOD, and GOD is Everything!”   

“I now command my subconscious mind to direct me in helping as many people as possible today to better their lives, by giving me the strength, the emotion, the persuasion, the humor, the brevity, whatever it takes to show these people and get these people to change their life now!”

“How can I appreciate…even more…all of the love and guidance that is inside of me right now…?”   (Tony’s Primary Question)

“All I need is within me now
and I have the courage to see it through.”

“Every day and in every way, I’m getting better and better;
Every day and in every way, I’m getting stronger and stronger.”

“I love my life and I am so blessed.”

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Other Miscellaneous Quotes from Tony Robbins’ Events Manuals:

Here is a collection of other miscellaneous inspiring quotes. These are found in the events manuals from these Tony Robbins’ events: Unleash the Power Within, Date With Destiny, Wealth Mastery, Life Mastery and Leadership Academy.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life.  – Edward Butler

F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real

E.G.O. – Edging God Out

It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.  – Roy Disney

No man is free who is not master of himself.  – Epictetus

Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.  – Goethe

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible – it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment and offer you more joy than any material possession could.  – Barbara D’Angelis

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr

Everything can be taken from man but the last of the human freedoms: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.  – Victor Frankl

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. – Victor Frankl

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.  – Anais Nin

I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. – Gerry Spence

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.  – George Bernard Shaw

What lies before us, what lies behind us, is nothing compared to what lies within us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The great thing in life is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.  – Oliver Wendell Holmes

It is only with the heart that one sees rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. – Antoine De Saint-Exupery

The important thing is this: To be able at any moment sacrifice what we are for what we could become.  – Charles DuBois

My life is my message.  – Gandhi

Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response to what happens to us. And response is something we can choose. – Maureen Killoran

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who believed that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.  – Bruce Barton

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  – Marianne Williamson

The cosmos will always mirror back to us whatever your inner state is. The greater the love we discover in ourselves, the greater the love will reflect back to us from the environment through others.  – Deepak Chopra, MD

We have an opportunity to live in joy. Do not postpone happiness until the debts are settled and relationships rearranged. Joy doesn’t exist out in the world somewhere, we find it inside.  – Rev Mary Manin Morrissey

There is no remedy for love but to love more.  – Henry David Thoreau

We are not creatures of circumstance, we are creators of circumstance.  – Benjamin Disraeli

Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.  – Samuel Smiles

There has never been another you. With no effort on your part you were born to be something very special and set apart. What you are going to do in appreciation of that gift is a decision only you can make.  – Dan Zadra

An attitude of gratitude creates blessings; Help yourself by helping others; You have the most powerful weapons on earth – love and prayer.

“…Even and especially when it’s difficult, do it any way and do it now!”  – Anonymous

One man with courage makes a majority.  – Andrew Jackson

All truth goes through three steps: First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident.  – Arthur Schopenhauer  19th Cent German Philosopher

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The Winners Creed:

(“The Winner’s Creed” is based on some of the affirmations found in Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich”; it comes from an older Tony Robbins’ event manual, from Life Mastery, Hawaii.)

I know that I have the ability to achieve my definite purpose in life:
therefore I demand of myself, persistent, continuous action towards
its attainment and I here and now promise to render such action.
I fully realize that no wealth or position will long endure
unless it is built upon truth and justice; 
therefore I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit
all to whom it effects.
I am succeeding by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use
and the cooperation of other people.
I induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others.
I eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, cynicism, anger, and fear
by developing a true love for all humanity,
because I know that a negative attitude towards others
will never bring me success.
I cause others to believe in me because I believe in them 
and believe in myself.
This is my creed, my quest.
To never stop striving for the top. 
To always keep moving forward.
To always be the very best I can be.
I am the power. I am the magic. I cannot be stopped. I am a winner.
I promise to always be true to myself
because I am the creator and master of my universe
and I am responsible for making a positive difference in the world 
and to the quality of life in it.
I live in constant and never-ending improvement.

Hi everyone. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite ‘pearls’ of wisdom and inspiration, which I find helpful to review often. If you’re interested in learning more about any of the below mentioned authors, quotes, or lists, I encourage you to do an on-line search for more information and historical background. (Oh, and please give any suggestions you have for more ‘pearls’ that you think I should add to this list.) Okay, here goes: 

Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win/Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw

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Miguel Ruiz’ The Four Agreements

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
4. Always Do Your Best

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Byron Katie’s The Work

 Use the following four questions to investigate a stressful recurring thought or belief – for example, “My mother doesn’t love me.”

 1. Is it true? (Close your eyes, be still, go deeply as you contemplate your answer. If your answer is no, continue to Question 3.)
 2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
 3. How do you react when you think or believe that thought?
 4. Who would you be without that thought?

 Final step: ‘Turn the thought around’* – find a minimum of three genuine examples in your life where each turnaround is as true or truer than your original statement.

 The key to experiencing The Work is to go beyond the quick answers of the intellect and tap into a deeper wisdom. Ask, then be still and wait for an inner voice to respond. With practice, this will become easier.

* Note: ‘Turning the thought around’ means experimenting with various other ways to state the thought which are different than or which are opposite to it in some way.  Examples include the following: “My mother does love me”; “I don’t love my mother”; “I love my mother”, etc.

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Napoleon Hill’s 17 Principles of Success

1. Definiteness of Purpose
2. Mastermind Alliance
3. Applied Faith
4. Going the Extra Mile
5. Pleasing Personality
6. Personal Initiative
7. Positive Mental Attitude
8. Enthusiasm
9. Self-Discipline
10. Accurate Thinking
11. Controlled Attention
12. Teamwork
13. Adversity & Defeat
14. Creative Vision
15. Health
16. Budgeting Time & Money
17. Cosmic Habit Force

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Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality
2.  The Law of Giving
3. The Law of Karma
4. The Law of Least Effort
5. The Law of Intention and Desire
6. The Law of Detachment
7. The Law of Dharma

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John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success

Base Tier: Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, Enthusiasm
Second Tier: Self-Control, Alertness, Initiative, Intentness
Third Tier: Condition, Skill, Team Spirit
Fourth Tier: Poise, Confidence
Top Tier: Competitive Greatness
Diagonal Side One: Faith
Diagonal Side Two: Patience

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John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed

Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

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The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’ sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

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Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon:
where there is doubt, faith ;
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen

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Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things that I can [and that I need to change];
And the wisdom to know the difference.
       – Reinhold Niebuhr

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Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

       – Max Ehrmann

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IF  (by Rudyard Kipling)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on;”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
[And you’ll be a Woman…my daughter!]

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Invictus  (by William Ernest Henley)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

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(A note about the below poem: Some sources say that the “Anyway” poem was written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s own room. 

The words seem to be based on a composition originally by Kent Keith, known as the “Paradoxical Commandments,” but in the below version much of the second half has been re-written in a more spiritual sense. 

In any case, the association of these words with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives.)

The “Anyway” Poem

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

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