Like a lot of people on the internet, I love to collect quotes. Right now I have a file on my laptop filled with my favorite quotations. Something about quotes can lift you up, make you think and sometimes just make you smile.
Inspiration comes in many forms. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“If you want to reach a goal, you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.” –Zig Ziglar, Motivational Coach & Speaker
This says it all in one sentence. A little bit of law of attraction, positive thinking and big kick in the rear to get you going. Looking to move on to a new job, or start a business? Or are you contemplating a world-shaking life change? I’m a firm believer in writing down your goals to make them real. But you also have to have a vision.
See your goal in your mind. Feel it, taste it, experience it before it actually happens. I’ve done this on many occasions and I can tell you from personal experience, it works.
“But the reality is we all have nerves and moments of insecurity. We all wonder at times ‘What am I doing here? What is going on?’ But If I said to myself that I’m only going to show up, or speak or be visible when I’m perfect, I would never get out of bed.” -Kerry Washington, Actress
Good advice for those of us who believe that people on the red carpet have it all together all the time. It’s easy to give up on our dreams when we think that we’ll never get to the highest heights. Or we believe people who are celebrities have some special “somethin-somethin” that makes them winners without effort.
Everyone has doubts. It’s just that some people are stopped by them, and others aren’t.
“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins to not just tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms.” -Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek
Since I am a Star Trek fangirl, I had to add this one. If he hadn’t followed his dream (and he had a lot of opposition to it) what would’ve happened? His vision of the future has fueled many a writer to step out into the unknown.
Not only that, but it was also a vision where everyone was included. That’s particularly powerful if you’re someone who has received subtle (and often not so subtle) messages to the contrary. Your dreams matter. You have a voice. Use it.
“When people show you who they are, believe them.” – Maya Angelou, Writer & Actress
Years ago when I was in corporate, I worked for someone who I felt was not to be trusted. I’d seen him behave in one way with one group, then lie about it in front of my coworkers. However, most of my coworkers believed the illusion, and were reluctant to see him as he was.
It took a while, but they finally did see the truth. What took so long? I’ll never know. But I think that once we form an opinion–based on our own filters–we hate to be proven wrong. So we’ll hold on to our story of who we think someone is, and overlook their behavior.
There’s an old saying, “actions speak louder than words.” Like a lot of old sayings passed down, it’s true. Living a life of purpose requires that you have the courage to be about it, not just talk about it.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” -Rumi, Poet & Mystic
When I left corporate and went into coaching, I was desperate to get everyone to see they could do that too. I made it my mission to show people they could leave their jobs and go into entrepreneurship. But what I found out was we have our own paths to walk.
Unfortunately I was convinced that I had THE way. Not true. Changing the world has to start with us individually. By changing myself, I can have an effect on the world around me.
When you decide to live a purposeful life, you are also having an effect on your family, your friends and your community. That’s how we change the world.
Image courtesy of twobee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
