If you are depressed, you are living in the Past. If you are anxious, living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the moment.

Posted on 19 June 2013 by

If you are depressed, you are living in the Past. If you are anxious, living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the moment. - Lao Tzu

Is this guy in the present? From his body language, I would guess not.

Is this guy in the present? From his body language, I would guess that he is not. We can put the past behind us, if we try.

What does that mean?
This quote is a favorite of mine, even if I can’t find a solid attribution (but lots of places say it’s his quote).

If we are focused on the past, we are probably depressed. We’re either comparing today to how good things used to be in the past, or we are second guessing decisions we made or actions we took some time ago.

If we are focused on the future, we are probably anxious. We’re either worried about how badly things could turn out, or we are worried that the decisions we made yesterday won’t help us as much as we might have hoped.

If we are focused on this moment, largely to the exclusion of the past and future, we are mostly at peace. By focusing on what can be done, and doing it right now, we are doing the best we can, and that is all the more we can do.

Why is focusing on the present important?  Continue reading →

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Sanctity… the treasure that none discover because they suppose it to be too far away to be sought.

Posted on 18 June 2013 by

Sanctity… the treasure that none discover because they suppose it to be too far away to be sought. – Jean Pierre de Caussade

We all need a little help from time to time. How does helping another make you feel?

We all need a little help from time to time. How does helping another make you feel? Is it something to treasure?

What does that mean?
This quote is from a French Priest in the period known as the Age of Reason or Age of Enlightenment (from mid 1600s until the late 1700s). The quote comes from a much longer passage, which discusses the search for spiritual grace.

While the quote is very specifically Christian in the original context, I believe it applies to all of us, no matter what our religion is (or even is not). It is my belief that we all want to feel connected with the greater good, and feel at peace.

His use of the term ‘sanctity’ here is describing the state of grace which can be found in giving up our willfulness, especially when things cannot be changed. He also believes it can be found in suffering bravely that which is unavoidable.

The quote, as excerpted, is about finding peace and grace everywhere around us. Whether it is laughing off an insult, or smiling at a stranger, peace and grace surround us.

The opportunities for peace and grace are not hiding deep in a cave or on a remote mountain top. It is everywhere, if we but look for it, and act once we find the opportunity.

Why is seeking peace and grace important?  Continue reading →

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Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.

Posted on 17 June 2013 by

Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it. – Thomas Fuller

Even our four legged friends know this quote. But then, they only have one definition for the word love, right?

Even our four legged friends know the meaning of this quote. But then, they only have one definition for the word love, right?

What does that mean?
This quote, in my mind, is about how someone who is in love reacts to both absence and pretense of their loved one. This quote helps me define who is, and who is not, truly in love.

The quote starts with the reaction in absence. The quote says this sharpens love, or helps you better understand exactly what it means to you. Some people do this, others allow their hearts to wander.

It concludes by considering what happens in the presence of their love. The quote says it strengthens the love, or helps make the bonds stronger and more durable. Some people do this, others just go through the motions.

By using this quote as a form of measuring stick, it can be a little easier to see if you (or your partner) are truly in love, or just in passion. There is a difference, as I imagine many of you know.

Why is understanding the word love important?  Continue reading →

Posted in affection, caring, freedom, humanitarianism, justice, love | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.

Posted on 16 June 2013 by

Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. - Dalai Lama

We all make ripples. What type of ripples do you make?

We all make ripples. What type of ripples do you make? How do they influence others?

What does that mean?
I like this quote, because I have seen it in action. It says that when we do something, there are consequences. These consequences spread like the ripples from a small stone dropped into water.

Who knows what these ripples will do. Have you ever been at a fork in the road, and been unable (or unwilling) to chose between them? I know that I certainly have.

And then, something happens, usually something small, and you select one option over the other. You have been hit by a ripple from a stone dropped by another.

Your actions also cause ripples. How have your actions had an impact on those around you, those you know? And how many other people you may only have briefly met?

These are the far-reaching consequences. Something you did may be related to a friend who relates it to another, and pretty soon, your ripples are on another continent. But are they beneficial ripples?

Why is being a positive influence important?  Continue reading →

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That is never too often repeated, which is never sufficiently learned.

Posted on 15 June 2013 by

That is never too often repeated, which is never sufficiently learned. – Seneca

Memorize by rote, or learn the pattern? Which works better for you?

Memorize by rote, or learn the pattern? Which works better for you?

What does that mean?
Let’s start by unwinding the negatives and reversing the halves. That brings us to “That which hasn’t been learned, hasn’t been repeated often enough.” In short, I believe this quote is the basis of the phrase “repetition is the foundation of learning” (also said of skill).

Let me say that again. But seriously, how many times do you have to do something before you really get it? Yes, some things are easier than others.

But the things you have trouble with, you usually go back and get the information repeated to you again. And again. Until it sinks in, and you understand.

In that way, we learn. From the youngest of kids to us old folks, repetition has a place. Hopefully it’s not the only tool in the box. It is fairly certain, though, if someone isn’t getting it, they probably weren’t paying attention when it was said the first time.

Why is figuring out your best learning methods important?  Continue reading →

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Don’t fall into the trap of prioritizing a busy life over a truly fulfilled one! Make the choices that have deeper meaning and life is sweet.

Posted on 14 June 2013 by

Don’t fall into the trap of prioritizing a busy life over a truly fulfilled one! Make the choices that have deeper meaning and life is sweet. - Tony Robbins and here

Eating an apple, while juggling knives, while balancing on a board on a drum on a table, while performing a comedy act, while wearing a tutu. Whew! Busy or fulfilled?

Eating an apple, while juggling knives, while balancing on a board on a drum on a table, while performing a comedy act, while wearing a tutu. Whew! Is he busy or fulfilled?

What does that mean?
Quick! What do you need to get done? Are you filling your schedule with a list of things which you “need to do” or are you focusing on the things which truly make a difference in your life and the lives of others?

To me, that is what the quote is about. Are you busy or are you fulfilled? If you don’t think about it, it’s really easy to end up busy. Most of us are busy at work. Yes, you have to do the paperwork, but does that really help the company? Sometimes yes, sometimes it’s just keeping you busy.

By choosing to do the more fulfilling things rather than just keeping busy, you will have a much more rewarding life. Realize, though, that you may not always have a choice.

Work is one of those places where you have to do what is assigned to you. But if you can find a better way, you might want to mention it to someone, and help everyone out.

Why is carefully managing your time important?  Continue reading →

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Great wealth and contentment seldom live together.

Posted on 13 June 2013 by

Great wealth and contentment seldom live together. - Anonymous

Wealth, looks like it. Contentment, that looks good too. It can be done, but it takes the right attitude.

Wealth, it sure looks like it. Contentment, he looks good on that count, too. It can be done, but it takes the right attitude. Do something about discontent, don’t whine.

What does that mean?
To me, the key to this quote is the word seldom. Not never but seldom. There are people who have been able to amass great wealth and remain contented, but that is not the general condition.

The truth of the quote is seen daily in the newspapers and tabloids around the world. Whether it’s sports figures, politicians, industrialists, or movie celebrities, those with great fortunes are often found to be rather discontented. Celebrity marriages that last less than a used car warranty is just one example.

To me, this isn’t a warning against wealth, but a caution regarding the things you do once you attain some level of wealth. When you have it all, what is your next goal? When you can buy anything, where do you find happiness? These are some of the questions which often accompany the idle rich, and is a basis for the quote.

Why is learning to be content important?  Continue reading →

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