Inspiration Archives

4 Ways To Become The Captain Of Your Life

1. Get it started, then get it right... Dreaming of something is one thing, but taking action is quite another. It took me more than 15 years to gather the skills, strength and courage to start Venissimo Cheese. And when I did, it sure wasn't perfect. But the sheer adventure of building something from scratch was the most incredible experience of my life. Of course I love what we have become (we're continually striving to get it right). But I truly treasure the memories and exhilaration of getting there. Wouldn't you rather lie on your death bed thinking, "I'm glad…

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- Whatever you focus on is what you get – negative or positive – so why not focus on the positive?
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Making the Most of Your Vulnerability

Nothing can ever prepare you for the shock of seeing yourself for the first time after having your breasts removed. Standing in front of the mirror slowly removing the bandages knowing that the breasts that you had for 50 years are not going to be there. And even more so you can never be prepared for having your eight year old son standing there with you, looking on with wonder. However, there he was seeing my chest with stitches going across each side where there once was a breast and nipple. And, out of the mouths of babes as they…

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- Mankind is lazy until something catches his heart.
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Awakening the Heart

When my wife was pregnant with our daughter, I anxiously anticipated her arrival with thoughts of what kind of perfect father I would be. I thought of all the wisdom I had gathered, all the stuff in my brain I could teach her, all the perfect lessons she would learn form the vast knowledge I had accumulated. In the hospital it was a trying wait. Shortly after they cut the umbilical cord from a harrowing and difficult birth, and after the neonatal trauma team had checked her out, a nurse called me over to see my new born child. I…

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- Each and every one of us is a greater and infinitely more positive force than any circumstances we can encounter.
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Choose to Create Your Dream

One of the most important things I've learned from life, is that I'm a powerful creator... and so are you. Our creative power is alive in our imagination. When you imagine the worst, you create the emotion of worry. When you imagine the best, you create the emotion of hope. We do this all day long, or emotions and imagination working in tandem, most of us never even realizing it. Every time you say I AM, you are using your imagination as you declare the image of what you believe yourself to be in that moment, and then you experience…

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- Fear is expensive, love is priceless: choose wisely!
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From Tragedy To Transformation

I have experienced a life-changing event that almost killed me. I would like to share some lessons I have learned that continue to guide me on my journey through life. Overcoming Obstacles We are all presented with obstacles everyday in many different forms, some big, some small. Obstacles can test and push you and everyone around you to their absolute limit. As with any experience that you have in life, your perception can make all the difference. If you look upon the obstacle as a devastating tragedy that you will never recover from, that is exactly what it will be.…

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- When we create without judging ourselves or the result of what we are creating, we are standing in the face of destruction and defying it.
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Take Back Your Inner Freedom

As a psychotherapist and wellness speaker for 35 years, I have been fortunate to have learned many lessons about life from the many people who have shared their innermost thoughts with me. Certain lessons that I have learned time and time again, and they have helped shape my understanding of life. These insights have helped me tremendously both personally and professionally in helping others. Life has a way of teaching us lessons that no one ever could. Although of course there is a place for teaching others, all too often we want others in our lives to change so much…

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- We think we are seeking the light but the light is always seeking us.
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Finding the Good Even When Things Get Bad

Learn to love yourself. Once you love you, it opens you up to all different types of experiences in this world. Whatever you focus on is what you get, so why not focus on the good and the positive? Do your very best to live love and kindness and not in the Ego. When we live in our ego, life is complicated and distorted. If you want to experience everything fully, let go of your ego. Forgiving is key. Without forgiveness, you will stay stagnant. Remember when you forgive someone, it is for you, not for them. You are not…

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- The power is not through the intellectualization, but through the experience!
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Turn Goals Into Promises

Turn important goals into heartfelt promises! Some years ago, when I was thinking about writing a book about the seven habits of SUCCESS and FAILURE, I shared many of my ideas with my mother, Virginia Hope Butler. I explained the concepts and how I thought this book would provide a guide for people who felt stuck, disempowered, and unable to make positive changes. She encouraged me to complete the book. The book was still unwritten when my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. As her conditioned worsened, I decided to promise to her that I would finish the book, get…

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- The greatest asset in life isn’t money, it is time. Be sure to cherish it before it runs out.
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Choose Laughter, Not Drama

The previous Inspirational Luminaries on this site are a tough act to follow. They have clearly already covered the spiritual essentials, so what could I possibly offer that would be new or different? Many years ago, a workshop leader's response to my perpetual misery and unusually high aptitude for suffering was to advise me to "Spend six months in Disneyland and watch Saturday morning cartoons every week." He was trying to cure me of taking the drama of my life too seriously. There was my answer: humor! There is a distinct dearth of mirth on these pages. Zero laughter from…

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- Give with no expectations.
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Finding Daily Moments of Joy

Life is about the journey, not the destination. If you believe this deeply, in the marrow of your spirit, you will treasure each day and take ownership of your time. This means that every day should hold moments of joy and hope for you; your job is to figure out how to usher such moments into your life on a daily basis. For me, this means writing in my journal as a gentle way to enter the day. I go into my study, cup of tea in hand, pick up pencil and notebook. Usually, both have been selected with care.…

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- Listen better, judge less and forgive more.
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9 Wisdom Keys for Creating Possibility

Growing up, I always asked why people do the things they do, to learn their mindset. Your mindset creates your moods, attitudes and habits. I developed the following nine wisdom keys for feeding your mindset with possibilities & positiveness. 1. If you reveal who you truly are, you will attract the people who will most complement your life. Life is short and unpredictable. Don't waste another minute on the people, places and things that don’t make you happy. You are the one thing you cannot run away from, no matter what your passion, vision or inner talent is. Don’t worry about what…

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