Lessons Learned by Oprah Winfrey

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession.

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always." (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.)

A Touching Story

Image by --Tico-- via Flickr

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud

He was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take-care things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible.

It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Conquer Inferiority

• Formulate and Stamp permanently on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding.
• Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal powers comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.
• Do not build up obstacles in your imagination.
• Depreciate every so-called obstacle. Minimize them. Difficulties must not be inflated by fear thoughts.
• Do not be awestruck by other people and try to copy them.
• Remember: Most people despite their confident appearance and demeanor (behavior, conduct), are often as scared as you are and as doubtful of themselves.
• 10 times a day repeat these dynamic words...
• "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
• Make a true estimate of your own ability, and then raise it 10%.
• Believe in your own God-released powers.

Source: Norman Vincent Peale in "The Power of Positive Thinking"

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God won't ask...

• God won't ask what kind of Car you drove; he'll ask how many people you drove that didn't have transportation...
• God won't ask the square footage of your house; he'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home...
• God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet; He'll ask how many you helped to clothe...
• God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability...
• God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it...
• God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend...
• God won't ask in what in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors...
• God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character...
• God won't ask why it took you so long to seek salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven and not to the gates of hell... 

~Unknown

“I am” Affirmations

Image via Wikipedia

I am alive

I am healthy

I am happy

I am connected with God

I am protected and safe

I am a good person

I am beautiful

I am strong

I am competent

I am intelligent

I am loving

I am energetic

I am enthusiastic

I am generous

I am forgiving

I am free

I am relaxed

I am courageous

I am trusting

I am caring

I am smart

I am creative

I am productive

I am thankful

I aspire ...

Image by jsymmetry via FlickrMay every being remain happy.

May there be no enmity, immorality or pride.

May the virtues prevail in all.

May there be no perils.

May there be no drought.

May there be no illness.

May everyone live in peace.

May there be compassion every where.

May no one speak malice.

May we always remain to be a responsible citizen.

By developing the understanding the nature of sustances, I develop courage to face adversity.

I do not fear...

Image via WikipediaI do not fear bad or good wishes.

I do not fear money loss.

I do not fear death.

I do not fear to walk on the virtues path.

I do not fear the perils.

May I never compromise in my virtues for fear anything.

My Feelings...

Image via WikipediaMy feelings of friendliness for all.

My feelings of sympathy for the poor and miserable.

My feelings of indifference for the ill-virtued.

My feelings of praise, appreciation for people with virtues.

May I always look at good qualities of others and not their follies.

I Revere

Image by Christolakis via FlickrI revere 'God' who dissolved the bondage's of Affection for worldly desires, feeling of hatred, indulgence in pleasure of body senses;

I revere 'God' who has in his experience known the universal truth;

I revere 'God' who has shown the path of Moksha, ultimate happiness, to all;

I revere 'Monk' who has no material desires, who practice virtues within oneself and equanimity towards all.