Inspiration Archives

By Gail Lynne Goodwin. Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved surprises. Many times I start my day by asking the Universe to surprise and delight me that day... and to make it so outrageous, that I'll know that my request was answered. It always works for me but rarely in the way that I think it will. Knowing that I was going to hike through the snow in Glacier National Park today, I put in my request this morning, for something that would make me smile. I had expectations of a beautiful rainbow amidst the snow, of…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. The simple, honest answer is no. You may experience a sense of happiness or temporary happiness but it won’t last. Connected closely with beauty are five things that you think will make you happy, but in the end really won’t. In no particular order, they are: Fame. Studies show nothing is more stressful for a human than when their goals are tied to the approval of others. Particularly when those "others" are an enormous crowd of fickle strangers holding you up to an unrealistic ideal built by publicists, thick makeup and heavily Photoshopped magazine covers. Wealth.…

By Gary Goldstein. Although I had been writing off and on since college, it wasn't until I published my first book, Jew in Jail, in 2004 that I really felt like I had accomplished something. The fact that I penned it while behind bars was increasingly instrumental in helping me regain my self-esteem and self-confidence, which had sunk to an all-time low when I was first arrested back in 1998. These days, I go around delivering motivational and inspirational speeches on recovery from addiction at drug treatment programs, hospital detoxes, jails, schools, or anywhere people are either still sick and…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. Here are six keys to achieving more love and happiness in your life. Know the phrase "If you can't say anything nice, don’t say anything at all"? Compliment people on their strengths and where they are succeeding in life. There are plenty of people who are telling someone that they have faults, but how many people are telling them something positive? Be optimistic. The realistic 0optimist is the person who knows that there will be trials to face, but that in the end we will somehow make it through. Remember how to be funny, even silly.…

By Gail Lynne Goodwin. One of the things that I love most about Sir Richard Branson is that he's know for saying YES to most things. In fact, his board affectionately calls him Dr. Yes. But sometimes saying “Yes” isn’t easy, as it makes us step outside our comfort zone. About a week ago I received an invitation from my daughter to run a half-marathon late this year. I am not, nor have I ever been a runner. I doubt that I could run a mile right now if I tried to. I'll be 55 years old this October. I…

By Stanley Popovich. We all have to deal with fear and anxiety in our life. Our fears and anxieties can reduce our self-confidence and help prevent us from getting what we want. One of the ways to help manage your fears is to develop some goals and then focus on reaching those goals. Developing goals will help you manage your fears because goals help us not to focus on our fears. For instance, let’s say that you have to finish your report for work by the end of the week. If you focus on reaching that deadline, this will distract…

By Richard Hill. One of the oldest admonitions of ancient philosophers is to "know thyself." To know who you are today, you need to know where you came from. And that's part nature and part nurture. The DNA you inherited from biological ancestors is the nature. The people who powdered your butt and raised you to adulthood provided the nurturing. Your unique combination of nature and nurture is the hand you were dealt. Learn to accept it and don’t waste any more time wishing your life started out differently. It’s what you do from today on that’s most important. Find…

By Lisa Cypers Kamen. Let go of what? You need to let go of old baggage - that is, the emotional things we carry around with us for days, weeks, months or even years. Has a co-worker said something in the last day or two that upset you? Did your parents say something five years ago that you can’t seem to let go of? Did your best friend say something last week that you can’t seem to forget? Most stuff we carry with us is negative and has to do with the pain another person caused us, but sometimes it…

Sometimes, life just gets you down. Whether you're a mom dealing with the drudgery of wiping noses and serving snacks; an artist who doesn't know quite where to turn; or someone trying to learn how to break free of depression, anxiety, or grief, it may be time to seek out an inspirational author for some wise advice. I've compiled a list of books that are sure to inspire you, and reviewed them so you can choose the one that's right for your individual situation. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are Ann Voskamp In this…

By Jessica Mast. During my life, I have found we learn the most through experience. When I was 25 years old, my husband of two and a half years passed away on his 28th birthday. After I experienced this unexpected tragedy in my life, I found I could either let it drag me down the path of despair or choose to learn from it and discover how it would be used for my future. I chose the latter. Here are some lessons I learned that hopefully will enable you to not only survive a trial but also find greater purpose…