Quotes That Inspire
Do you have a collection of inspirational quotes that you have discovered during different phases of your life? I do. Depending on what I am going through, I either dust some off or I go on a mission to discover a new quote that will guide me through a current challenge.
I waste precious time “pasandome peliculas” about what happened or what the future holds. My mind can be dramatic! The Calm app, which provides guided meditation has helped me live in the present, but so does repeating this quote: “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha
Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If you are no longer getting good results, then it might be time to evolve, innovate and look for a different process or solution.
When you are a role model or in a position of leadership you might not realize how much you can impact a person’s life. Writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou knew this: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Actions can speak louder than words. A former assistant used to call me La Profesora. More than my teachings, I hope he was inspired by my actions. To paraphrase William Arthur Ward, “The mediocre mentor tells. The good mentor explains. The superior mentor demonstrates. The greatest mentors inspire.”
There are a few quotes that speak to the way I feel about my American life and Latin roots:
Nelson Mandela said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Emperor Charlemagne said, “To speak another language is to possess another soul.”
I say, “To speak to my brain speak English, but to touch my soul speak to me in Spanish.
Something I am constantly working on is my reaction to what others say or do. To paraphrase Charles Swindoll, an evangelical Christian preacher, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. I believe the single most significant decision I can make daily is my choice of attitude. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”
I have always told my kids, “Try new things, meet new people, and visit new places to grow and discover who you are and what you love.” How will you ever meet the man you fall in love with or find the signature dish you love to eat or cook if you do not try new things?
Finally, when things get tough, I repeat the Serenity prayer: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
What quotes help you get through tough times or inspire you to forge ahead? I hope my favorites get added to your collection!