Inspiration Archives

No one on his deathbed ever said "I wish I'd spent more time at the office." Don't get me wrong. Work is a wonderful thing. It can be very fulfilling and can provide meaningful service to others. But personal relationships are the most important things in our lives. It's through relationships with others that we learn about ourselves, about how to make choices, how to self correct, how to grow and develop, how to contribute to the human community, how to turn dreams into reality. And listening is the most important behavior in those relationships. Really listening. This requires using your eyes and your…

Our time here is short. The average human life lasts only 650,000 hours. It was a lesson I learned in 2005, when my father collapsed from a heart attack. After his sudden death, friends wrote letters saying how he'd supported them, made them better people, and I thought... What will friends say when I'm gone? What am I doing that matters? And then I volunteered in six countries around the world. That journey changed my view of life. I learned that there's power in small gestures. In many Third World countries, parents will send their kids to school - rather…

There's a phrase that says "when one door closes, another door opens." The image conjures up a sense that somehow you are at the mercy of a string of corridors - much like a maze - and the success of your path will be determined by someone (or something) either allowing admittance into certain areas or flatly refusing your petition. However, this may not at all be the case. What if we were to discover that the doors were something we could open and close ourselves - or better yet, they were all simply illusions? Modern day consciousness research is…

One definition of enlightenment is, "no problems." I like this. At first it seems simplistic, but the more you think about it, the more its wisdom is revealed. Everyone desires to be healthy and happy, and as I get older I am beginning to believe that it is easier than we think. There's an enormous amount of confusion, guilt and dysfunction surrounding how to take care of ourselves. This, I believe, is reinforced by industries that profit from our ignorance. There are only two dietary and lifestyle choices - either we choose to live, and act accordingly, or we choose…

Bullying is a problem that affects too many people and it needs to stop. To those being bullied, know that it's ok to talk to someone: a parent, friend, trusted adult, teacher, sibling or anyone else that you feel safe with. Even if you're scared at first, it will pay off in the long run. I believe it's important for everyone to be themselves. Other people need to accept you for you and not someone you're trying to be. The world would be really boring if we were all alike, but think of how wonderful it is with so many…

In today's culture of instant gratification where everything is available at the touch of a button and success is measured in viral terms, we tend to dismiss anything that doesn't result in instantaneous, mega success. So what happens if your dreams appear too big, too difficult or too impossible to attain? I am a dreamer and I believe that everyone who has a dream should pursue it and discover the possibilities that exist in the process. A dream, that "strongly desired goal or purpose," usually applies to something better than what you have. You live in a shack and dream…

Sometimes the uncertainty of life can seem to be a bit of a challenge. Existing in an environment where you may have little to no access to things like excessive amounts of money or material wealth may make you question the meaning of your very existence. But, I want to tell you not to worry. One of the most motivational and memorable messages from a sermon that I can remember came from the following seven words, "You have everything you need to succeed." These quoted words were (and still are) music to my ears, and have since stuck like glue…

Feel your feelings. If you're a person who tends to numb or stuff your feelings, know that doing so just puts you in bondage to your feelings. Those emotions won't just disappear because they are ignored. They won't remain hidden away just because they were stuffed. Feelings come out in other ways. Whether through destructive behaviors, health problems, emotional outbursts at inconvenient times, or something else, they make themselves known. Learn healthy ways to express your emotions. Whether it be through doing something creative, punching something soft, venting to someone, or something else, find ways that are a good fit…