Inspirational living

The famous motivator Dale Carnegie in one of his book said,

“Did you ever see an unhappy horse?

Did you ever see a bird that had the blues?

One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” True words of wisdom. It gives us a subtle message. It implies that many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. Happiness is not something that is attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Let’s play the game of life with the aim of being happy and spreading happiness.

Playing The Game

Life is a game with a glorious prize,

If we can only play it right.

It is give and take, build and break,

And often it ends in a fight;

But he surely wins who honestly tries

(Regardless of wealth or fame),

He can never despair who plays it fair -

How are you playing the game?

Do you wilt and whine, if you fail to win

In the manner you think your due?

Do you sneer at the man in case that he can

And does, do better than you?

Do you take your rebuffs with a knowing grin?

Do you laugh tho’ you pull up lame?

Does your faith hold true when the whole world’s blue?

How are you playing the game?

Get into the thick of it - wade in, boys!

Whatever your cherished goal;

Brace up your will till your pulses thrill,

And you dare - to your very soul!

Do something more than make a noise;

Let your purpose leap into flame

As you plunge with a cry, “I shall do or die,”

Then you will be playing the game.

It’s so important to live in the present moment. We need to remind ourselves that this very moment is the only one we know we have for sure.

Breathe. Let go. Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. What we need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring us to this very moment. And this is the moment we can choose to make everything new. Right now.

Let’s relish a poem which emphasizes the need of enjoying the present moment.

A Motivational Poem - Moments in Life

There are moments in life when you miss someone

So much that you just want to pick them from

Your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one, which has been opened for us.

Don’t go for looks; they can deceive.

Don’t go for wealth; even that fades away.

Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to

Make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go;

Be what you want to be, because you have only one life

And one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,

Enough trials to make you strong,

Enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything;

They just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past;

you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone

Around you are crying.

Don’t count the years-count the memories………..

: - By Author Unknown

We humans tend to find comfort zone. It makes us feel comfortable and secured. We often forget to venture out of this comfort zone. And the cost we pay is, missing out on new experiments, new experiences of life. But the truth is, we can only grow if we are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when we try something new. It has been said that, “If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness”! How true! We must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.

Let’s read out this wonderful poem depicting the need of getting out of our comfort zone.

My Comfort Zone

I used to have a comfort zone

Where I knew I wouldn’t fail.

The same four walls and busywork

Were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,

But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.

I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.

I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,

But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.

I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,

I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone,

Afraid to venture out,

Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.

Reach for your future with a smile;

Success is there for you!

: - By Author Unknown

A famous proverb says,”The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.” How true! One can never afford to sit on past laurels. Achieving success is relatively easier that maintaining it. At the same time, it’s also important to achieve success in the profession one loves. Then only one would be able to enjoy one’s own success. It has been rightly said that, “it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.” This statement truly drives home the point.

 After all, the entire motive for becoming a success is to experience joy and self-satisfaction as one move towards his goals. Our own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. And that resolution has an inherent element of totally engaging ourselves towards excellence. One of the most important single ingredients in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people. Being personable is a key element to accomplish the respect of others. It’s really important for one to be able to get along with as many different types of people as possible. By doing so one will find it much easier to get the support when one is attempting to lead others to the promise land

So many times, we come across difficult situations which at first, seem tough to get away with. We feel like quitting so that we can escape. But those who are strong willed stay on. They try to solve the impossibilities by being positive and optimistic.

It has been said that, character is not made in crisis, it is only exhibited. A good life is made of good character, prayer and motivation. Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be!

So let’s never quit, no matter what the situations are!

Don’t Quit

(A classic motivation poems)

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill;

When the funds are low and the debts are high;

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;

And you can never tell how close you are;

It may be near when it seems afar.

So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -

It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.

-Anonymous

We all want to spend life our own way. That’s why it has been said that, “There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way”! This also implies that, we are more likely to succeed if we have fun in what we are doing. Success is not about wondering “what if” scenario. Rather, it’s about pursuing our goals with a firm belief in ourselves that we would not fail. Once we start doing a little more each day than we think we possibly can, the road to success becomes much easier to tread upon.

Always Keep Your Dreams Alive

(One of the classic inspirational poems)

Now is a time for you to celebrate …

the accomplishment of A dream you have worked so hard to realize.

You have shown So many people how special you are.

Now is the time to begin to pursue the next path,

to reach out for the Next star,

and to achieve the things that are so important to you.

Always keep your dreams alive.

And keep them coming true.

Anything and everything in this world is possible to achieve. We all have the ability to attain all that we set our sights on. All famous history figures have always maintained that, “Believe in yourself as you possess the internal drive to realize all of your desires. If you consign yourself entirely to the things you want and sustain the vigor to follow through, you will succeed in reaching your goals”.  

Only we possess the strength within ourselves to be victorious. It is not what surrounds us or who persuades us that creates our success. In fact, it is our own resolve and drive to be the greatest that prompts us to the greater heights. It’s all about doing a little more each day than what we think we possibly can. 

Let’s follow this simple mantra and see our life turning into a joyful experience. 

Dance,
As though no one is watching you

Muhammad Ali once said “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-Muhammad Ali once said “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” 

How true! How poignant! Success makes a person champion. And how we define success? Isn’t it’s simply a matter of doing what one does best and not worrying about what the other fellow is going to do? Yes, success is nothing but largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go! True champions always hang on and true champions always have that will which makes them stand apart from the ordinary crowd. 

Let’s ignite that will in our souls.
Let’s cherish a heady mix of desire, dream and vision!
Let’s share one the most classic motivational poems I have ever come across.  

 The Will To Win

 If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and
Your sleep for it  

If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry
And cheap for it  

If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it, 

 If gladly you’ll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose all your terror of God or man for it, 

If you’ll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity, 

 If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,  

If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You’ll get it! 

– Berton Braley