Ask yourself, “What do I feel I need to have to signal how very important I am?” Is it an expensive car? A job title that makes people look at you in awe? A Rolex watch? A trophy wife, wealthy husband, or child who attends an Ivy League school? The latest information on a controversial topic? The most salacious piece of gossip? A caustic attitude that intimidates others? A terrible childhood trauma that left you with no self-esteem?
Personal Development
The problem is that we’re focused on problems rather than tapping into our courage!
While it’s great that we’re more self-aware than we used to be, the so-called talking cure hasn’t actually cured us of our fear . . . nor has it shown us how to live a life of courage……..Should people be honest?
Ask anyone, “Should people be honest?” and of course their answer will be yes. It has to be! Saying no is to endorse dishonesty, which is like coming out against literacy or childhood nutrition—it sounds like a moral transgression. But the fact is, there are often good reasons not to be honest. When it comes to interacting with other people in a work environment, there are times when we choose not to say what we really think. This creates a dilemma.
I need a needle so that I can put people together…..
“It is reported in the life of a great Sufi mystic, Farid, that a king came to see him. He had brought a present for him: a beautiful pair of scissors, golden, studded with diamonds – very valuable, very rare, something unique. He brought those scissors to present to Farid. He touched Farid’s feet and gave him the scissors.
Farid took them, looked at them, gave them back to the king, and said, “Sir, many, many thanks for the present that you have brought. It is a beautiful thing, but utterly useless for me. It will be better if you can give me a needle. Scissors I don’t need; a needle will do.

The king said, “I don’t understand. If you need a needle, you will need scissors too.”
Farid said, “I am talking in metaphors. Scissors I don’t need because scissors cut things apart. A needle I need because a needle puts things together. I teach love. My whole teaching is based on love – putting things together, teaching people communion. I need a needle so that I can put people together. The scissors are useless; they cut, they disconnect. Next time when you come, just an ordinary needle will be enough.”
– Osho
Tough times never last, but tough people do. – Robert H. Schulle
75 Reminders for Tough Times
- You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
- Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
- You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
- Nobody is perfect, and nobody deserves to be perfect. Nobody has it easy. You never know what people are going through. Every one of us has issues. So don’t belittle yourself or anyone else. Everybody is fighting their own unique war.
- Crying doesn’t indicate that you’re weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you’re alive and full of potential.
- No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. (Read Unstoppable
.)
- Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

- Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Let it go.
- Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. Start small. Start now.
- Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
- Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.
- You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
- Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
- You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.
- Give up worrying about what others think of you. What they think isn’t important. What is important is how you feel about yourself.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/07/17/75-reminders-for-tough-times/
This is your awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it… when in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out: ENOUGH! Continue reading
The Four Agreements
Rooted in traditional Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements as taught by Don Miguel Ruiz offer steps toward personal freedom and a life of peace, grace, and unconditional love. The Toltec strived for mastery of awareness through personal discipline. The agreements are simple but profound; here is the essence of each of them:
The advantages of growing old
A legend tells of a man who used to carry water every day to his village, using two large pitchers tied on either end of a piece of wood, which he placed across his shoulders.
One of the pitchers was older than the other and was full of small cracks; every time the man came back along the path to his house, half of the water was lost.

For two years, the man made the same journey. The younger pitcher was always very proud of the way it did its work and was sure that it was up to the task for which it had been created, while the other pitcher was mortally ashamed that it could carry out only half its task, even though it knew that the cracks were the result of long years of work.
So ashamed was the old pitcher that, one day, while the man was preparing to fill it up with water from the well, it decided to speak to him.
“I wish to apologize because, due to my age, you only manage to take home half the water you fill me with, and thus quench only half the thirst awaiting you in your house.”
The man smiled and said: “When we go back, be sure to take a careful look at the path.” The pitcher did as the man asked and noticed many flowers and plants growing along one side of the path.
“Do you see how much more beautiful nature is on your side of the road?” the man remarked.
“I knew you had cracks, but I decided to take advantage of them. I sowed vegetables and flowers there, and you always watered them. I’ve picked dozens of roses to decorate my house, and my children have had lettuce, cabbage and onions to eat. If you were not the way you are, I could never have done this. We all, at some point, grow old and acquire other qualities, and these can always be turned to good advantage.”
– Paul Coelho
Is it time to step back, and, take a long view of life and reevaluate priorities ?
In high school, I had read a story by H. G. Wells about a child who wanders down an unfamiliar street and spots a door in a plain white masonry wall. He opens it and discovers a garden where everything is welcoming and full of peace – a place where he belongs. The next day he tries to go back, but the door has disappeared. Continue reading
Book Recommendation – The Quarter-Life Breakthrough
When I read Adam’s book , I learned that:
Intentional Experimentation is not a waste of time when it’s done with the purpose of getting closer to your true self.
We grow by the questions we ask ourselves like: What contributions do I want to make to the world?
There’s no more linear career path, only a breakthrough career mindset where you figure out your next steps as you go aligning your actions with your purpose and surrounding yourself with people holding you accountable to your goals.
No matter how bad things get, there are always people willing to help out if we have the courage to ask
Meaningful work it’s all about doing work that reflects your interests and allows you to share your gifts to help others living in alignment with your purpose surrounded by supportive communities.
Life is a never ending journey but the time for intentional learning, experimentation, and action is now.
If you feel stuck knowing you need to make a change but are afraid to take the leap, then you should read this book. It will give you the hope and much needed courage to start living your life through intentional experimentation.


