Inspiration Archives

One of my favorite adults to spend time with as a child was my grandfather. I followed him downhill to the barn, across the pasture, into the garden, inside the chicken house. He talked and I listened. One of the life lessons I learned from him is that even if you live to be 110, it's brief. This is becoming truer to me as I have recently reached my 60's and remember him. What kind of footprints do I want to leave here on this Earth? Those who are critically ill or terminally ill teach us so much about life…

Have you ever wondered what keeps you from doing what you know to do to keep healthy and happy? Why don't we exercise regularly when we say we will? Why don't we eat an abundance of vegetables and fruits, even though the evidence shows it helps us tremendously? Why don't we meditate, when we know it would reduce stress, strengthen our immune systems, increase our intelligence and efficiency, and even slow down aging? In fact, only 5% of those who study meditation actually continue to practice it regularly! One day I asked a doctor friend who works with heart patients,…

My wall is adorned with several quotes, many of which are my own. "Embrace today! Release yesterday!" is my favorite. It's a simple way to remind me to enjoy this life as it is. The heart which harbors ill feelings is a heart that is hardened. It's a heart that can't experience the greatness and love that surrounds it. That's no life to live. Forgiveness seems to be one of the hardest behaviors for us to practice. We refuse to forgive those who have hurt us in fear of being weak or unintelligent. True unconditional forgiveness doesn't mean you're less…

Find what makes your heart sing and move mountains to do it and then continue to do it. Each one of us has a life calling... that passion for which we know deep down we've been uniquely made. Some of us cheat the world by not finding out what that is and not fulfilling our dreams. My mother always told me, "If you don't use the gifts you've been given, you'll lose them." Do everything you can to uncover what it is you were meant to do and then plow ahead with the courage to do it... And since it…

When you're ready to do something challenging in your life, don't go it alone. Even if you're able to accomplish whatever it is solo, do this: take names. Take the names of great teachers to help you get there, and friends to bring along for the ride. Then, when you get to where you're going - which you're much more likely to do when you take names - you'll have lots of friends to celebrate with you! I call my work Kick Butts, Take Names. The focus is on tobacco - that's the buttkicking part - but the more important…

B.J. Palmer said, "genius is not property of few, it is buried in all." Have you ever had a "stroke of genius?" They are those moments when everything is right in the universe, your heart is full of love and for that instant in time you feel content. Living a life that is full of purpose helps create more of these perfect moments so that your life is a continuous stream of joy, love, and contentment. We are all created through innate intelligence and this inherent wisdom persists with us throughout our lives. It guides us when we are lost…

What has truly inspired me the last five years of my existence has been to find a way to bring more Love into our world, both my Love and that of others. The more that I Love, it seems the more I am Loved. The whole of existence is to be the Love that we are. We seem to have lost our way as a species, but this is mostly due to ignorance, not because we are bad people. I know I was lost for forty-nine years and then one day I was not. This change has led to a…

Question the status quo and ask more questions, dig deeper and fight harder, to inspire more, to laugh louder and to smile bigger and brighter than ever. Live into your premise, find your purpose and begin to rejoice. Don't accept being ordinary, set goals, visualize happiness and become extraordinary. Look at every problem in your life and see it as an opportunity to grow and develop. Believe that everything in life happens for a reason and focus on shifting your mindset and investing in your business and your family but most importantly, invest in yourself. It is critical to know…

You have unlimited choices and potentials in your life. So, when you face a "crisis," take it as an opportunity to grow and it will take you to the next level of abundance. In the Chinese and Japanese languages, the word "Crisis" is written with two words: Danger and Opportunity. As the Principle of Yin and Yang teaches us, everything has two opposing facets: Negative and Positive, or Good and Bad. And it is up to you to focus on Negative or Positive aspect of life. In other words, the crisis (or issue or problem) that you are facing right…

It is such a blessing to share this experience called life, with our family, friends, mentors and peers. They each contribute to our growth and understanding of who we are, and to the world around us. The memories we share in those moments of joy and happiness, are the treasures that hold us through the tough days we all must face. And through it all, it helps to remember that we are all here to be of service in one way or another. Wake up each morning and, in your heart, feel truly grateful that you can breathe. Start the…

In our deepest spiritual moments, we've all sensed that an extraordinary transformation is possible—a radical realignment at the deepest levels of our being that would not only liberate us from our personal suffering but would infuse our lives with a sacred, cosmic sense of meaning, purpose and wholeness. Yet, in the face of life's challenges, it's easy to lose touch with this deeper sense of potential, and even begin to doubt that such a lofty possibility really exists. I want you to know that the highest possibility you've glimpsed, the most glorious potential you've sensed is not a figment of…

Many of us are confused as to how to get our life completely in balance and in harmony. It all begins with a commitment to work on ourselves. Some of us get so caught up in daily life that it can become monotonous and robotic. There has to be a way to shift out of this, make some amazing changes, and move forward with enthusiasm. The good news is that there are numerous ways. Sometimes, one small shift and your entire life can change in enormous and amazing ways. If you can say that you have harmony in all areas…

If you could have all of your dreams come true, what would your ideal life look like? I'm talking about much more than just the job you want, it could be family life, relationships, or any of the things that would be a part of your happiest, most secure existence. It may seem like an easy question but for the majority of people I work with letting themselves dream seems to be the hardest part of growing personally or professionally. When I ask a simple question like, "What would you like to do?" it is usually met with either "I…

It ought to be easy to forgive. However, forgiveness is hard and difficult. Forgiveness is a choice. Forgiveness is there for you at any moment. You may really want to forgive someone or yourself, but how does a person begin to forgive? First think about what forgiveness means and what it does not mean. People have a lot of misgivings about forgiveness. Some think they can't forgive because it's "too difficult". The hurt may be too deep and the offense may seem unforgiveable. The offender may not deserve forgiveness. Some find forgiving impossible to do. The anger can be so…

Never give up on yourself. You are, and always will be, the most important person in your life, for your life would not exist without you! You are capable of anything. In order to attain any accomplishment, you must believe that you are worthy of achieving it! Everything in your life can assist you in some way, but if you focus on the have-nots, then you will always be wanting for more. Shift your focus onto your innate worthiness. Worthiness does not have to be achieved or bestowed upon you; your worthiness is already there, because it is an integral…

There are countless individuals all over the world who dread getting older. They may even fear that it will ruin their lives. Goodness knows, that's how I felt for years! As soon as I realized that transforming this negative mindset was the only way to insure life-long youthfullness, I got to work! No way, did I want my fears to determine my destiny. Attitude is a very powerful force in controlling our lives. We know how important it is to maintain a positive attitude in all areas of life. Who hasn't experienced discouragement and depression when faced with daunting challenges?…