The Journey...

I just thought I would pass this great post along! Enjoy.

Cheers,
Adrian

Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian

Dr. Mani is a heart surgeon, an internet entrepreneur and a founder of the Children's Heart Foundation, which saves the lives of underprivileged kids.

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A dream fuelled by purpose, fired by passion and followed with persistence will definitely change the world. ~Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

If I had five minutes to tell my daughter what I believe to be the success of living happily, this is what it would be...

Have a dream. It may be lofty or small - but it should be yours. And it must do two things. It should make you happy. And it should be of value to others.

Live your dream with passion. Passion is the energy that fires the spark of your desire, fans it into a glorious flame, and shows off your radiant brilliance.

Pursue your dream with determination. Believe with all your heart that it will come true, no matter how remote or difficult or impossible it may seem at the moment.

Dare to be different. Throw off the shackles of what is 'regular' or 'conventional' or 'accepted' - and follow your heart. Yes, it is often scary, unnerving and terrifying to give up the familiar and the secure to follow your dreams. It takes a lot of courage. Find it.

Feel gratitude. Wake up every morning feeling thankful for all the things you have - even the ones that, until now, you've taken for granted. Think about those who do not have those things.

Also, be a little crazy. Have a little fun. Let that little child within you come out and enjoy itself every now and then.

Have a personal philosophy that directs all that you do. Mine is a simple four-word mantra... "Be Kind. Help Others."

And in the end, have no regrets. We are all human, and therefore imperfect. We will always make mistakes. And that's ok. Yes, things could have been better. But they also could have been worse.

The only question you must ask yourself is this: "Did I do my best?"

I hope your answer will be "Yes, I did."

That's all that matters.

Beeaje Quick

Beeaje is among the most eclectic and creative artists and thinkers of our century, and is dedicated to inspiring others through his many artforms.

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Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can't buy what is popular and do well. ~Warren Buffett

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

in•spire (ĭn-spīr')
v. in•spired, in•spir•ing, in•spires
1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion.
3. To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence.
4. To breathe life into.
Honoring that "feeling"...

There is a bountiful spectrum of inspiration to draw from in life. One way to channel inspiration is from the divine influence within us, commonly delivered in the form of a feeling. Each one of us gravitates to colors and smells we like, or do we? It's no secret that we are heavily influenced by marketing, economics, and cultural upbringing, so it might be fair to contest that our natural inspiration can become manipulated, arresting our core development. I use my own experiences to illustrate this point.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to become a cartoonist, but a teacher said that cartoonists usually possess an aptitude for drawing, and since I had no discernible ability, I was encouraged to do something else. Then I boldly announced I would become a writer! Another teacher concluded that I had very poor language skills and offered a similar contention: "Writers usually possess a facility for words, and you are an immigrant with poor language skills." This teacher suggested a career in restaurants as a waiter.

I did work in restaurants for many years during my youth and became a great waiter, but I still harbored a deep feeling to become something more than that.

My observation about life is that society only nurtures APTITUDE, and is very resistant to give a person with a feeling an opportunity to develop that calling if they do not possess immediate ability. This deep feeling you have is discouraged as a mere whim and replaced with a focus on something productive you can do today. The establishment does not want to foster a feeling you have for something with no apparent skill in because it is not immediately productive to make a living now. There is nothing wrong with developing your aptitude into a career, however, I believe this can be a riddle, a distraction to lead you away from developing something deeper within the self that has not yet been given a chance to come into its own might. After all, there is a growing trend of bright people graduating from college who decide to go back in search of deeper satisfaction from that original feeling they abandoned long ago.

For many years, I was flogged with a lot of dispirited criticisms and less than enthusiastic comments about my writing efforts and my child-like illustrations. Heedless, I continued exploring and nurturing my inner feeling and then, on one ordinary day, a man who bore the likeness of Jim Morison awakened me.

Steven Tyler from Aerosmith was recording an album near an art café I created to house my art in Hollywood. He would often visit, and he encouraged me to continue making more of these gentle works. Steven went on to sample some words from my inspirational buffet in his album and he thanked me by writing a forward for my first book.

Eventually, I was privileged to sell my child-like drawings and writings at Sotheby's and Christies and invited to participate in world-class art shows where my illustrations and pithy writings were praised for their honesty and charm. These days, the evolution of that original feeling [I did not abandon] has become a series of inspirational books readers take in with joy, and distinguished writers like Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Mark Victor Hanson and Debbie Ford have complimented with their kind endorsements.

What I impart to people today is quite simple: if you come to my house and I see you have an incredible aptitude for playing the drums, I will ask, "is there any other instrument you have a feeling for but no aptitude? The harp you say - but you were told you sucked? Why don't you sit before the harp, take your hat off, stay a while and see what happens..."

Take care everyone!
Adrian

Patricia Varley

Patricia is an international speaker, trainer, retreat and seminar leader, as well as a sought after business and life coach.

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell

If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

"Know thyself" and "To thine own self be true" are old but wise quotes that have been very important, sometimes painful and transformative and liberating lessons for me. A key technique in knowing myself that is vital to making life decisions that are aligned with being true to myself is developing, listening to and then trusting my intuition. Over and over again I continue to discover that my inner voice, what I call my intuitive knowing, or Divine Guidance, is always right. The problem I have had is that my head often overrides my gut feelings, that deep knowing in my belly and body, that is directing me towards what is right in my life. My head talks loudly, sometimes screams, my gut is quieter and more subtle. My heart also wants to be heard but often is more emotional.

To have my head, heart and gut in sync is not always easy or possible. The more centered I am in myself the more clear I am.

The key is when I take the time for myself to get quiet in my mind, I can actually hear and feel my intuition. Making the time for quiet with myself and then acting on my deep inner knowing is a lesson I keep learning over and over again. Part of the lesson valuing and making the time to get quiet, self care, listen and reflect in my busy life. This lesson is often painful as I know better. I am an awakening, conscious, spiritual woman. When I do not listen the lessons get more and more painful. Looking back and reflecting I can see that from the beginning I was giving the right direction, did not listen and thought I knew better from my head and felt better from my heart. Each time the stakes get higher until I finally get it! TRUST my Self (Higher Self), even when it may not make sense rationally or emotionally! I am committed to living an authentic life, working relating in integrity. My true integrity comes from within, taking the time to listen, weighing all the options and then choosing with courage.

My work as a coach, facilitator and retreat and seminar leader is "Reinventing Success from the Inside Out" by "Reclaiming Our Wholeness". Our wholeness is our unique, one of a kind, inner essence, our heart, intuition and gifts to the world. It takes courage to know and love and acknowledge yourself, in spite of what and who the world and others want you to be. When we reclaim and accept our inner self and inner life, and balance it with our outer expression and relationships, we in the flow of Divine Grace. We create and relate with more ease, trust and live our potential. My lesson is to trust, know and love myself and continue to reinvent my life as a model of success from the inside out. In the coming year I continue to commit more deeply to myself and make choices that support my integrity. This is a step in self-love. If I do not do this for me no one else will. Your brilliance is remembering that "THERE IS ONLY ONE OF YOU IN ALL OF TIME!" You have a responsibility to shine for yourself and what and who you are meant to be in the world.

We each have a purpose. Allow yourself to live your dreams. Have the courage to be your own best friend and act on what you love and who you are! We are all diamonds in the rough, some facets rougher than others, some more brilliant, yet still diamonds.

Have patience with the process of shining and the world will be brighter for it! You are worth it!!