Tag: courage

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

Think Back, Move Forward

We talk a lot about living in the present moment because the past is gone and the future isn’t here yet. Of course, thinking back on past mistakes and successes helps you make better decisions in the present and propel you toward a better future. But how far back should you think? Are memories from …

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"Existence is no more than the precarious attainment of relevance in an intensely mobile flux of past, present, and future." - Susan Sontag

Embracing the New

To live is to be in an ongoing state of change. Nothing is ever the same. Nothing is static. Everything is moving. Everything is in flux. We can hold on to the familiar for a little while, especially if it aligns with our life path. But at some point, we’ll have to let it go …

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"I never made any sacrifices; I made choices." - Greg Searle

Make Choices, Not Sacrifices

In general, you can go through life feeling subject to your circumstances, or you can feel empowered to dictate your destiny. Either way, you face the same final fate. The big difference is how you think, feel, choose, act while you’re alive. So, ask yourself: Do I want to feel proud and empowered most days? …

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"It seems that fighting is a game where everybody is the loser." - Zora Neale Hurston

Ignoring Isn’t Igrnorant

A lot of people value combat. Even in daily disputes. But combat consumes a lot of energy and doesn’t guarantee desirable outcomes. And just like judging or gossiping, anytime we combat others, we’re representing ourselves – not necessarily the situation or another person. When we yell, curse, throw, punch, or smite, we show the world …

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"I choose to live, not just exist." - James Hetfield

Pursue or Pivot?

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether to stay on a path or get off and reroute. Whether the road ahead is dreary, bright, promising, or unclear – the choice to move forward can be paralyzing. So, how do you decide? How you do know which path is the right choice? Well, you don’t. All you can …

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"The ability to forgive is one of man's greatest achievements." - Bryant H. McGill

What Is Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is not about making someone say “I’m sorry.” It’s not about hanging our heads in shame or lamenting our wrongdoings. It’s not about who’s right or wrong, who’s better or worse. Most day-to-day experiences do not require such a strong emotional emphasis. In fact, they require the opposite. They require us to let go …

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“Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.” - James F. Byrnes

What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?

It’s easy to allow fear to control our lives. But when we live out of fear, we don’t experience love and joy. See, fear is rooted in “not-love.” And thinking, deciding, and acting based on “not-love” is just not worth it. Being afraid has no value in many day-to-day experiences and leads to insecurity, anxiety, …

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“For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.” – Winston Churchill

Practical Optimism

You don’t have to be happy and positive all the time. But you don’t have to be a grumpy ol’ grump either. There’s a way to balance optimism and practicality. It’s rooted in acceptance and responsibility – knowing you’ll always be exactly where you need to be with whatever you have at hand; and being …

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"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Prove to Yourself

You are capable of more than you allow yourself to believe. Everything you’ve ever heard, been told, seen, done, not done – it’s all been bounded. We don’t always mean to, but we tend to create boundaries around our capabilities and then live like we’re surrounded by a moat filled with lava. But that’s all …

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“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” - Walter Anderson

Action Is an Antidote for Anxiety

We worry, worry, worry. Then something happens, or nothing happens, or things happen differently than we thought. Then we worry some more. But worrying is not productive and doesn’t help alleviate the problem or change the future. If you can’t seem to get your thoughts in line and settle your nerves, try taking action. Not …

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