Beginning Within

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world." What we see in sports players are individuals who refuse to play it small. There's a deep yearning within each and everyone one of us to do the same.

Optimism isn't a fantasy hope for a better future. Optimism must be grounded in the reality of your circumstances. US Navy Admiral Jim Stockdale taught this in what has come to be called The Stockton Paradox.  

We have all been violated after sharing a piece of our inner world. We must not let that stop us from sharing our true selves with others. This is the only path to deep and meaningful relationships.

Trying to warm up the outside world on a freezing cold day would be very foolish. Warming ourselves would be the wise thing to do. Trying to change someone else is just as foolish. Changing ourselves would be the wise thing to do.

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "This is not what I signed up for." This statement comes from a perspective of entitlement. The more we embrace a life of responsibility over a life of rights, the happier we become.

With everything that happens in life, we can choose how we experience the event or we can let the event determine our experience. This is powerful! While the objective event will remain the same, our experience of the event is a choice we make!

We all struggle with keeping our resolutions. Learn the secret to becoming more committed to your resolutions.

How much effort does it take to be cynical? Hardly any. How much effort does it take to trust? A lot. Cynicism is easy and destructive. Trust is difficult and constructive.

Don't focus on the dark. Learning how to be the light in any given situation. The light will automatically dispel the darkness. How can you be the light? By having a perspective that enlightens the situation.

"What is your primary reason for wanting to do this?" This vital question will let you know if what you're about to begin will serve you well or not. Often, we confuse our primary purpose with a secondary one and the implications can be costly.

Responding to sexual harassment with repercussions is too little, too late. If one person has already been violated we've responded too late. We must prevent the violations from happening in the first place. We can do this if we're ready to change the social norms we've become accustomed to. Our human weaknesses need stronger boundaries to protect ourselves.

We all tell ourselves that if only ... our lives would be much better. What is your if only? Will you let that lead your life, trying to get that if only? Or will you realize what you do have and what you've been endowed with and bring that to fruition?

Genuine encouragement is a rare commodity. Learning to provide it is highly valuable. Truly standing by another's side in their time of need isn't accomplished verbally. It's accomplished by actually being there for the other.

The more we resist something the more it persists. What we must come to realize is that behind our resistance is everything we're looking for. We only need to find the courage to stop resisting. Instead of thinking you're right, begin asking, "How do you know you're right?"

Imagine going through your entire life and never finding the courage to show up as the real you. This is my fear. Real courage is taking off our masks, not putting them on.

Often, being right is so wrong. Approaching relationships through the paradigm of right and wrong is often destructive. There is a deeper value we must be focused on, getting along.

In part 2 of this deeply insightful interview with Rabbi Manis Friedman of http://www.itsgoodtoknow.org/, we discuss the one thing children need more than anything else from their parents and whether there is a value in pursuing spirituality. This is part 2 of a 2 part interview. Enjoy!

In this deeply insightful interview with Rabbi Manis Friedman of http://www.itsgoodtoknow.org/, we discuss identifying our core challenge as well as one thing you can do to improve your relationships. This is part 1 of a 2 part interview. Enjoy!

Dancing is one of those areas where we can often see how much resistance we have to comfortably expressing ourselves.  

Joy is synonymous with boundless. The power of letting go is entering a state of joy!