Stories and Inspirations, Inspiring, Motivating, Dreams, Thoughts On, Zen, Quotes

We have received many of these quotes and inspirations from clients, friends and students around the world. As often as possible, credit is given to the original author of this work. We regret the occasional omission of authorship.

Stories and Inspirations:

Your Life Dreams

Your Life Dreams pull you in the direction of who you are capable of becoming. Without them, you'd begin to "wither on the vine". Tapping into your Life's Dreams means connecting with your Spirit - the REAL part of you. Instead of "more money, bigger house, big job, lots of stuff", being connected with your Life's Dreams gives you a deeper sense of passion and fulfillment (things money can't buy).

Your Life's Dreams come from your Higher Self. Goals on the other hand come from your left brain in its attempt to make things better, "fix things", etc. In stressful times like these, we need to nurture our Life's Dreams even more than when times are “easy". Remember, your Dreams are like a newborn child - they need love, attention, nurturing and compassion - from your Heart.

Ghandi once said, "Become the change you seek in this world" What is is that you seek? Peace? - then feel peace within yourself - Now - in this moment. Don't wait for Peace to happen - you’re the one that starts it - so just be it - be Peace. Share peace with people you speak with. Go to sleep at night being grateful for the peace you already have.

The ancient Hawaiians teach us to be grateful for all things. Instead of hoping wishing or wanting, Hawaiian wisdom helps us connect with that which already is. Instead of chasing after your Dreams, take time to nurture their seeds that are already within you - right now as you read this.

There Comes a Time

There comes a time when you take a stand. A time comes in your life when you finally get it…When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out – ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. Like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate, or approve of who or what you are…and that’s okay. (They are entitled to their opinions) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or don’t do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and it’s not always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace.

The Water Pots

A Water Bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of it’s accomplishments, for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it’s own imperfection, and miserable it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the Water Bearer one day by the stream. I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take aech person for what they are and look for the good in them.

The Seven Wonders Of The World

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder --that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

The Power of the Mind

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged...it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ...just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories.

The Invitation
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tip of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
yours or mine,
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Opening The Invitation
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Harper Collins (2004)
ISBN: 0-00-200785-1

Self-Observation

In order to make progress in any aspect of life, it is essential to develop your willpower and your personal strength. Often, however, when you decide to develop your willpower, you may resolve to do dramatic things, but this can actually cause problems for you, because if you cannot yet do what you resolve, then you will find that your strength and your willpower are being damaged rather than developed.

If you sincerely want to develop personal strength and willpower, you should first learn to keep yourself open and be an observer of yourself until you observe that your willpower has become dynamic. Instead of making such dramatic resolutions, simply make yourself open to observing yourself and decide to experiment in observing yourself.
by Swami Rama,
The Art of Joyful Living

Making a difference

One day a man was walking along the seashore. He noticed that during the night that many starfish had washed upon the shore. Enjoying the morning sun and cool sea air, the man strolled for a mile along the sand. Far off in the distance he saw a small figure and as he drew closer he noticed that it was a child. The girl was methodically picking up starfish from the shore and tossing them back into the surf. The man paused for a moment, puzzled, then asked, “Why are you throwing those starfish?”

“If I leave these starfish on the beach,” she replied, “the sun will dry them and they will die. So I’m throwing them back into the ocean because I want them to live.” The man was thoughtful for a moment, but then he motioned up and down the miles and miles of beach. There must be millions of starfish along here!” he said.How can you possibly expect to make a difference?”

The young girl pondered the man’s words for a moment, then she slowly leaned over, reached down and carefully picked up another starfish from the sand. Pulling back, she arched the starfish gently into the surf. She turned to the man and smiled “You may be right,” she said, “but I made a difference for that one!”
From the Film “Holy Man” starring Eddie Murphy.

Freedom

You may live in a free country, yet in your inner life you may not be free. Real freedom means to be above thoughts and the mental world. It means becoming the master of your mind. It is being able to think and accept into your mind only the thoughts of your choice, and when there is no need to think, you just stop thinking.

Only when you are free from the compulsion of thinking you become free. You switch off the engine of your car when you arrive to your destination, because there is no necessity for it to keep on running. Why not do the same with the mind?

Imagine a state when mind is calm with not a ripple of a thought. In this state you become conscious of your inner self and know who you are. You feel your inner power. Happiness, which is inherent in each one of us, emerges when the walls of thoughts are removed. In this state there is no compulsion to think.

With the help of concentration, meditation, detachment, calmness, and the ability to filter and sift thoughts, without getting involved and swept by them, it is possible to reach and live in real and TRUE FREEDOM.
Written by Vernon Howard, get inspired by www.thedailyguru.com

Women of Strength

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape...
but a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything...
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her...
but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future..
but a woman of strength realizes that life's mistakes can also be
unexpected blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face...
but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

I can handle anything that life throws at me... I may not be able to
handle it well, or correctly, or gracefully, or with finesse, or
expediently...but I will handle it.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we
might as well dance!

Growing Good Corn

There was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves. So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all. The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.
Author Unknown

Poverty and Wealth

Once Wealth and Poverty approached a merchant and introduced themselves as Goddesses. The merchant offered his salutations to both of them and said: "May I know what brings you to my humble tenement?" The Goddess of Wealth said: "We want you to judge and tell us as to who is more beautiful between us two?"

The merchant was in a fix. He knew he was between the devil and the deep sea. If he were to declare wealth as more beautiful than poverty, poverty would curse him. If he were to declare poverty as more beautiful, than wealth, wealth would forsake him. However, he regained his composure and said: "I have great respect for you both. Would you please act according to my instructions? Then only I can judge properly." The Goddesses agreed. He said: "Mother wealth, would you please go to the entrance (gates) and walk into the house? Mother, poverty! Would you please walk from here towards the gates? I can have a good look at you both, from near and far." The two Goddesses did walk as the merchant wished them to. Then the merchant happily declared: "Mother wealth! You appear very beautiful when you enter the house. Mother poverty! You look very beautiful when you leave the house!" The Goddesses appreciated the wit and wisdom of the merchant. The Goddess of wealth happily stayed in his house while the Goddess of poverty cheerfully walked away.

When a serious problem confronts us, if we look within and think calmly, a ray of hope and light will beam forth and show us the way.

The Greatest Lie Ever Told
By: Jason M. Garcia

You've said it. I've said it. It has been the scapegoat for inaction for hundreds of years, and will continue to be so for years to come. This brief saying, only three words in length, will be used by everyone except you, because you are about to learn the truth; the truth behind the saying..."I am lazy."

I am here to tell you that there is no such thing as being lazy. Everything you do, every action and thought, is motivated. You are not too lazy to mow the lawn, you are just more motivated to sit on the couch. This simple idea is extremely important to reaching your goals and achieving your dreams.

Everything you do, whether it be action or inaction, is carried out because you have decided, consciously or subconsciously, that greater benefits will be derived from that choice.

Using this knowledge you now know the secret to getting things done. You now know how to accomplish anything you choose, how to become exactly who and what you want to be. You are now in possession of the secret to achieving amazing wealth, extraordinary health and a happiness enjoyed by only a handful of people around the world.

The secret is this: to achieve anything, you must perceive that the benefits of chasing your dream are greater than the benefits received by doing nothing.

It may seem simple, but every day millions of people prove how complex it really is.

As you begin to see that you are doing what you are doing because you have deemed those choices to be the most beneficial for you, you begin to realize how much power you have in your life. Possibilities will begin to open up for you, opportunity will appear where before you found only obstacles.

Take whatever it is you want to achieve and build a list of benefits in your mind. Next, take the opposite action, most likely not doing what you want to achieve, and build your mental list of benefits for that choice. For example, if your desire is to write a book, you may use as your benefits:

To get motivated to write your book you simply have to keep building your list of benefits until you think taking action outweighs not taking action. How do you do this? By overloading the choice to follow your dreams, by using tips and tricks to help you create a winning attitude, develop your desire and remain persistent until you are successful.

You can do anything you want to do. You can be anything you want to be. You can have everything you have ever dreamed of possessing. Simply tip the scales in favour of taking action and you will enjoy the sweet taste of success.

We Made It!
We've made it! We've made it!

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 50's, 60's, and 70's probably shouldn't have survived. Our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint, which was promptly chewed and licked. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine to play with pans. When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just thongs and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle - tasted the same. We ate dripping sandwiches, bread and butter pudding and drank fizzy pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle or can and no one actually died from this. We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.

After running into stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us all day and no one minded. We did not have Play Stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No 99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet chat rooms.

We had friends - we went outside and found them. We played elastics and street rounders, and sometimes that ball really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learnt not to do the same thing again. We had fights, punched each other hard and got black and blue - we learned to get over it. We walked to friend's homes. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate live stuff, and although we were told it would happen, we did not have very many eyes out, nor did the live stuff live inside us forever. We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them. Congratulations!

Left Brain Right Brain!

Left brain, right brain…separate and distinct…or simply requiring a conscious connection. See if you can do this…While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. If your foot changes direction and it seems that there's nothing you can do about it, here is an area where you can use practices of mind and body mastery to create unity between left and right hemispheres of the brain…connecting left and right sides of the body as well.

Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental,
To reach out for another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing the self,
To place ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk loss,
To love is to risk rejection,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try at all is to risk failure,
But risk we must, because the greatest hazard of all is to risk nothing,
Because those who risk nothing…
Do nothing,
Have nothing, and
Are nothing.
Author Unknown

Recent Message from the Hopi Elders

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in the right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
Push off into the middle of the river,
Keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do,
Our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
The Elders
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation

Donkey Therapy

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw. As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles are a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

A Message from George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.
George Carlin

Working With God:

A farmer purchases an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields are grown over with weeds, the farmhouse is falling apart, and the fences are collapsing all around.

During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!"

A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's like a completely different place -- the farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there are plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows.

"Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!"

"Yes, Reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!"

Good Karma
by The Dalai Lama:

Our Deepest Fear
by Nelson Mandela

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is 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, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make 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 own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

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Zen Story; It Will Pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"

"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.

A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'

"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

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