Inspiration for the Mind, Body & Soul
A BLOG DEVOTED TO SHARING POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING MESSAGES FOR THE HUNGRY HEART
“How would your life be different if…You stopped allowing other people to dilute or poison your day with their words or opinions? Let today be the day…You stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey through your day without attachment to the validation of others”
― Steve Maraboli
Today, choose to be free of caring about what the world thinks of you. Choose to be free of letting other people’s words and opinions define you. Live your truth and your truth alone.
“Life is funny. Things change, people change, but you will always be you, so stay true to yourself and never sacrifice who you are for anyone.”
― Zayn Malik
One of the most important lessons you must learn is to never compromise who you are for anyone – including for a job, a significant other, a family member, or a friend. It is so hard to stay true to yourself when you have outside influences and voices trying to change you and criticizing you when you try to say no. But it is at these times when you are facing immense pressure to behave in a certain manner that you must find the strength and courage to not give in and to not sacrifice who you are. Stand tall in your convictions and always listen to your inner voice.
“Forget yesterday – it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow – you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift – today.”
― Steve Maraboli
As you close out another week, let go of all the negative that happened on Monday, Tuesday, etc. It’s done. You can’t go back and change any decisions or actions, so why carry it into tomorrow? In the same breath, try to hold back from stressing and worrying about tomorrow because it hasn’t happened yet. So, every time your mind drifts, try to refocus it back to the present because this moment right here, right now is what matters. You are in control of this moment and it is truly a precious gift not to be wasted.
“The person in life that you will always be with the most, is yourself. Because even when you are with others, you are still with yourself, too! When you wake up in the morning, you are with yourself, laying in bed at night you are with yourself, walking down the street in the sunlight you are with yourself.What kind of person do you want to walk down the street with? What kind of person do you want to wake up in the morning with? What kind of person do you want to see at the end of the day before you fall asleep? Because that person is yourself, and it’s your responsibility to be that person you want to be with. I know I want to spend my life with a person who knows how to let things go, who’s not full of hate, who’s able to smile and be carefree. So that’s who I have to be.”
– C. JoyBell C
It is true that the person you will spend time with the most is yourself. So, you better love the company you keep. You must contemplate the type of person you would like to wake up to. Who do you want to spend time with? And then you must strive to be your highest self at all times. Check the pettiness, jealousy, hatred and self-loathing at the door. Embrace compassion, learn to forgive and let go – be a free spirit. And become someone you would be honored to walk hand in hand with through this journey we call life.
Life has no remote….get up and change it yourself!”
― Mark A. Cooper
If at any point in life, you get tired of the the show playing…then get up and change the channel. No one else can do it for you. You have to decide when you’re tired of watching reruns and repeat episodes that make up your life and then make some changes.
“It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on.”
― Steve Maraboli
We all make mistakes. This is an inevitability in this life. Sometimes things are going to go horribly wrong. The key is not to continually beat ourselves up about things we cannot change. We must constantly remind ourselves to only look back at past mistakes and regrets for the amount of time it takes to learn from them, then we must forgive ourselves and move on.
“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.”
― Steve Maraboli
Do not let your past mistakes and regrets define who you are today. We all make bad decisions and regret choices we’ve made, but it is important to remember that this does not have to shape who you are going forward. Look back on your mistakes and struggles, learn from them, then let them go and make the conscious choice to make different decisions today going forward.
By Corin
“When we start letting people into our gated community, we lavish attention on them since they’re one of the few. We go out of our way to make our newly minted friend feel special. But if we notice that they’re not returning our attention with the same amount of care, we feel taken for granted.
Next comes the small conversations like, I know you didn’t mean to do this on purpose, but you hurt my feelings doing these things and not doing these as stipulated in Addendum 1, 3, 4a and 666. Those small conversations become more frequent.
We feel better being so generous in our forgiveness of our friends’ little foibles, but our friends are wondering how many more Addendums there are. Friends start treading lightly so they don’t break another Rule that’s part of our value system. They can only be themselves as long it doesn’t break our rules. Is it any wonder our friends choose to move on to less restrictive relationships?”
Relationships are hard to navigate. We all know this. But what we forget is that we often cause our relationships to be much more difficult and strained than necessary. Unconsciously, we put restrictions and conditions on those around us and when they come up short then it becomes a case of blame being cast on the other person for not being a good enough friend, partner, etc. When in reality we need to look in the mirror and take a hard critical look at our actions before casting stones. And each person should take time today to reevaluate close relationships and honestly assess what unwritten conditions have been attached to them. Then work to let go of those unhealthy restrictions and have this same open dialogue with those who are important to you. And together you can work to move forward with a bond that is truly strong enough to stand the test of time.
“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.”
― C. JoyBell C.
I believe we are each our own worse enemy. You say you’re stuck because of your circumstances- job, friends, significant other, society, etc. But your circumstances are merely obstacles and roadblocks placed in your path . . . and it is you and your choices alone that prevent you from moving past them. The only thing stopping you from moving forward is yourself.
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
― Gautama Buddha
I truly believe there are two fundamental lessons each of us must learn before we can experience pure joy and happiness in this life. We must learn to unconditionally love and accept ourselves – imperfections included. When you unconditionally love and accept yourself, there is this inner calm and peace that envelopes your soul like a protective shroud. You are no longer afraid to be alone with just your thoughts and you radiate love to everyone near. Burdens you have carried for so long disappear and you are free. Free of self-recrimination. Free of self-doubt. Said simply, you are free to break from the chains that bind you and learn what it means to fly with your own wings.