Mastery

 

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Laugh at Life
            

Self-Discipline

 

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Laugh at Life
            

Master Yourself

 

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Laugh at Life
            

Mastery of Yourself

 

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Laugh at Life
                

Mastery of Your Thoughts

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Laugh at Life
                

Mastering Your Life

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

Further reading: How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Live Your Inspired Life

Master of My Fate

Master of My Emotions

Laugh at Life
                

Mastery of Life

Only one who devotes himself to a cause
with his whole strength and soul
can be a true master.
For this reason mastery demands all of a person.
- Albert Einstein

How different our lives are when we
really know what is deeply important to us,
and keeping that picture in mind,
we manage ourselves each day
to be and to do what really matters most.
- Stephen Covey

Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts.
If you don't control what you think,
you can't control what you do.
Simply, self-discipline enables you
to think first and act afterward.
- Napoleon Hill

The full measure of a man is
not to be found in the man himself,
but in the colors and textures that
come alive in others because of him.
- Albert Schweitzer

A happy life consists not in the absence,
but in the mastery of hardships.
- Helen Keller

Further reading: Living Your Inspired Life

How to Choose Your Life Purpose

Master of My Emotions

Master of My Fate

Meaning of Life

What Matters

Laugh at Life

Life is...

Success

Living Your Inspired Life

The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Life was meant to be lived,
and curiosity must be kept alive.
One must never, for whatever reason,
turn his back on life.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak.
Strong convictions precede great actions.
- Louisa May Alcott

To know even one life has
breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

One thing I know: the only ones among you
who will be really happy are those
who will have sought and found how to serve.
- Albert Schweitzer

Please share my short video Living Your Inspired Life with your friends. The short URL is jlhuie.com/v1

Further reading:  How good things really are

Enjoy the journey

Rattlesnake of the Mind

Being Strong Quotes

Compassion Quotes

Encouraging Quotes

Quotes about Being of Service

Quotes about Success

My Quotes about Life

Your Greatest Life

This above all, to thine own self be true.
- William Shakespeare

For me, the message of this inspiring William Shakespeare quote is to be true to your own values - to live an honorable life. This quote does not in any way promote being self-centered and greedy.

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.
- Joseph Campbell

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves
and our own self-preservation,
we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
- Joseph Campbell

Reputation is what other people know about you.
Honor is what you know about yourself.
- Lois McMaster Bujold

Honor True Self
Forgive with Compassion
Receive ALL of life with Thanksgiving
CHOOSE with Thoughtful Consideration
Dream with Powerful Vision
Act with Bold Courage
Dance with a Light Heart
Relax in the Arms of Spirit
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading:

Eight Rules for Living Your Greatest Life

Living Your Inspired Life (video)
 
The Eight Points of Simply An Inspired Life

This above all, to thine own self be true. - William Shakespeare

This above all, to thine own self be true.
- William Shakespeare

What is it to truly live? How does one live a meaningful life? What is the role of service in a meaningful life? What is the nature of a joyful life?

Take some time in a quiet place to contemplate the balance between being of service - both to this generation and to generations yet unborn - and renewing your vitality with play and celebration. Without play, one becomes old and dry. Without service, life becomes unsatisfying.

Further reading: What is Honor? Is there a place for Honor today?

The Eight Points of Simply An Inspired Life

It's a Party - Simply An Inspired Life

Today is your day to dance lightly with life,
sing wild songs of adventure,
invite rainbows & butterflies out to play,
soar your spirit, and unfurl your joy.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

What is Honor? Is there a place for Honor today?

What is Honor? Is there a place for Honor today?

When I Honor myself, I am confident of my being, and I am gentle with myself. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

What images come to mind when you visualize Honor? Medieval knights jousting for the hand of a fair maiden? Sir Walter Raleigh laying his magnificent cape in the muddy street so his lady's feet don't get soiled? Soldiers riding off to war to defend the "honor" of their country?

A working definition of Honor is, "respect or esteem that has been earned." Contemplate that for a moment. It would be very special to earn the respect and esteem of our family, our friends, our co-workers, our community, wouldn't it? If anything, it is of even more moment to honor yourself. Those who are successful and happy earn their own self-respect and self-esteem.

As most of you know, Honor is the first Point of Simply An Inspired Life. Occasionally, I doubt whether Honor was the best word to choose to summarize the first Point because the concept of Honor is so uncommon today, and I often refer to "self-respect" or "self-esteem" when I am briefly describing the quality that gives meaning to our lives. However, there is much more to Honoring yourself than simply having self-respect and self-esteem.

Honor also connotes a sense of nobility. If I Honor myself, certainly I respect myself and value my life, but there is more. When I Honor myself, I am confident of my being, and I am gentle with myself. I have nothing to prove to anyone else or to myself. My value is unquestioned.

In the Honor chapter of Simply An Inspired Life, I discuss the risk of confusing Honor with self-importance - "pride" in it's biblical sense. Ego is the "shadow" - the dark side - of Self-Honor. There is probably no human virtue that does not have a shadow side. The shadow of generosity is meddling. The shadow of serenity is complacency. I address the subject of shadow emotions in Simply An Inspired Life, but let me emphasize the importance of never diminishing the value of a quality or emotion based on the negative effects of carrying that virtue to excess.

If you doubt the virtue in self-honor, remember what the flight attendant says, "Put your own oxygen mask on first." You are of no use to anyone else if you have not taken care of your own needs first - this includes your own emotional, as well as physical, well-being. In addition, your greatest value to your children, your family, your friends, and your community is the example you set, leading a great life that inspires those around you to emulate your being.

The quality of Honoring yourself, respecting yourself, valuing your purpose, your life-work, your very being, is a prerequisite to the other Points of Simply An Inspired Life. Before you can forgive others, you must be a person whose forgiveness matters. Before you can have gratitude for your life, you must believe that your life has value. Before your choices have value, you must feel that you yourself have value. Before you can dream a great dream for your future, you have to believe that your future matters. Before you can build positive habits of resolve and commitment, before you can begin to live the Japanese proverb, "Fall seven times, stand up eight," you must believe that your life matters. Before you can celebrate your life, you must Honor it. And, before you can feel unity with, and Honor toward, Spirit and all creation, you must Honor yourself to feel worthy of that unity.

It is wonderful to feel one's purpose, one's value, one's confidence and self-respect - that is, one's Self-Honor. But, how to achieve Self-Honor?

To summarize the Honor chapter of Simply An Inspired Life, there are two paths, belief and action...

Begin a daily practice of affirming the Honor of being yourself:

I Honor My True Self - I grant myself the Honor of being ME. I am unique in all time and space. I am beyond perceived scarcity, obligation, and the need for approval. I am Honored that Spirit has chosen to create ME.

Whether or not you are already able to fully feel the emotions and motivations as genuine, LIVE the other seven Points of an Inspired Life. It is somewhat like what Thich Nhat Hanh says about a smile, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." LIVING the Eight Points of an Inspired Life brings them into being. In particular, living the other seven Points, creates the Self-Honor that is essential to becoming fully engaged in living an Inspired Life.

Read The Eight Points of Simply An Inspired Life

The Eight Points of Simply An Inspired Life

The Eight Points of Simply An Inspired Life are the core values that form the basis of our book Simply An Inspired Life - Consciously Choosing Unbounded Happiness in Good Times and Bad by Jonathan Lockwood Huie and Mary Anne Radmacher.

Eight Points of An Inspired Life - Keys to Happiness

• HONOR for true self. • FORGIVENESS for self and all. • GRATITUDE in everything. • CHOICE with open mind and heart. • VISION with powerful intention. • ACTION with bold courage; • CELEBRATION with joy; • UNITY with all creation.

The Eight Points of An Inspired Life work together to enable us to take charge of our life and make intentional choices for joyful living.

Consider making these Affirmations of an Inspired Life a part of your daily expression of intent:

• HONOR - I Honor My True Self
• FORGIVENESS - I Forgive Myself and All Others with Compassion
• GRATITUDE - I Receive ALL of Life with Thanksgiving
• CHOICE - I CHOOSE with Open Mind and Open Heart
• VISION - I Dream with Powerful Intention
• ACTION - I Act with Bold Courage
• CELEBRATION - I Dance with a Light Heart
• UNITY - I Am One With Spirit and All Creation

Here are extended versions of these affirmations.

HONOR: I Honor My True Self - I grant myself the Honor of being ME. I am unique in all time and space. I am beyond perceived scarcity, obligation, and the need for approval. I am Honored that Spirit has chosen to create ME.

FORGIVENESS: I Forgive Myself and All Others with Compassion - I forgive everyone, especially myself, for all actions and all inactions throughout my entire life. I accept that no one else has ever been to blame for either my joy or my suffering. The entire cause of all my joys and all my sufferings is my own emotional response to the events of my life, and I am committed to consistently distinguishing between my feelings about events and the physical occurrence of those events. I declare that everyone who has ever played any role in any of the events of my life is entirely without fault.

GRATITUDE:
I Receive ALL of Life with Thanksgiving - I have gratitude for EVERYTHING that has ever occurred to bring me to this moment. I give thanks for the joys and the sufferings, the moments of peace and the flashes of anger, the compassion and the indifference, the roar of my courage and the cold sweat of my fear. I accept gratefully the entirety of my past and my present life.

CHOICE:
I CHOOSE with Open Mind and Open Heart - I renounce all assumptions and expectations, and I declare that I will thoughtfully consider all possibilities. I will CHOOSE with courage, awareness, consciousness, and compassion toward all.

VISON: I Dream with Powerful Intention - Opening my mind to Spirit, I trust my intuition to deliver powerful visions of my inspired future, and I empower my intent to transform those visions into reality.

ACTION: I Act with Bold Courage - Taking inspiration from the powerful vision of my future, I boldly set sail with courage and intent. I hold my course with focused attention and relentless commitment, as I weather the storms of life.

CELEBRATION: I Dance with a Light Heart - I play with life, laugh with life, dance lightly with life, and smile at the riddles of life, knowing that life’s only true lessons are writ small in the margin.

UNITY:
I Am One With Spirit and All Creation - I give thanks for the unity of all creation and for EVERYTHING that has brought me to this moment. I release my entire being to the gentle nurture of Spirit.

Our book Simply An Inspired Life is NOW in stock at Amazon

It's early. We didn't expect Simply An Inspired Life to arrive until September 1, but it's here NOW. If you pre-ordered your copy, you have probably already received an email from Amazon that your book is shipping to you today. If you have not yet ordered your copy, do it today  Jonathan Lockwood Huie Mary Anne Radmacher Simply An Inspired Life: Consciously Choosing Unbounded Happiness in Good Times & Bad 

UNITY - the eighth Point of Simply An Inspired Life

UNITY - the eighth Point of Simply An Inspired Life

I Am One With Spirit and All Creation - I give thanks for the unity of all creation and for everything that has brought me to this moment. I release my entire being to the gentle nurture of Spirit.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field. I will meet you there. - Rumi

As we light a path for others, we naturally light our own way.
- mary anne radmacher

When the vast cathedral of our being becomes a sanctuary for all creation, we become the face of God.
- jonathan lockwood huie

Feel Unity with Spirit and All Creation
All things share the same breath the
beast, the tree, the man... the air
shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
- Chief Seattle

When I see Spirit in Everything, Peace is at hand.

UNITY ‐ we are all one ‐ the web of life.

You are never alone. Your Higher Power, whatever that means to
you, is a constant support ‐ never hesitate to ask for guidance and
blessing. Remember that Spirit knows better than you what is best
for you, so ask for comfort and affluence rather than the affections of
a particular person or a higher paying job. Whatever your
circumstances, and however often you may have felt rejected, there
are many people in this world who live in the tradition of the "Good
Samaritan." When troubles weigh upon you, do not hesitate to find
and rely upon these people ‐ they are far more numerous than you
think.

Know Unity With Spirit: There are as many ways to connect with
Spirit as there are people ‐ each of us has our own way to receive
strength and serenity from the Infinite. Your life will be happier if
you acknowledge that you are not alone, become open to that
presence, and create ritual to celebrate your connection. You may
feel your bond with Spirit at the Lord's Supper, in Songs of Praise, in
Calls to Prayer, in Meditation, while doing Yoga or Qigong, or while
walking in the woods. However you connect with Spirit, do it today.

My wish, today, for each of you is Joy, Honor, acceptance of diversity,
and Unity with Spirit and All Creation.

May your spirit soar throughout the vast cathedral of your being.
May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity.
May your heart sing sweet lullabies of timelessness.

CELEBRATION - the seventh Point of Simply An Inspired Life

CELEBRATION - the seventh Point of Simply An Inspired Life

I Dance with a Light Heart - I play with life, laugh with life, dance lightly with life, and smile at the riddles of life, knowing that life's only true lessons are writ small in the margin.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Celebration has many different outfits but she always wears the same beautiful dancing shoes. - mar

The beauty does not live out there; the beauty's in my eyes. - jlh

Today is your day to dance lightly with life. It really is. today is your day to dance lightly with life, sing wild songs of adventure, invite rainbows & butterflies out to play, soar your spirit, and unfurl your joy.

Smile. Today would be a wonderful day not to take life so seriously. Today may end up the way you prefer ‐ and it may not. Happiness is not about being a winner ‐ it's about being gentle with life ‐ being gentle with yourself. Let life be a dance, and choose the kind of dance you want for today ‐ perhaps a gentle loving dance.

"Life is not supposed to be fair." ‐ jlh There is a secret wisdom-of-the-ages that holds the key to breaking our cycle of self-imposed suffering. The secret wisdom is, "Life is not supposed to be fair."
v This is not sad news. This is GLORIOUS news! Life is not broken. Nothing is wrong. God has not failed, died, or gone on vacation. The world is working perfectly. We just misunderstood. Somewhere along the way, someone got the idea that life was "supposed" to be "fair," and all the trouble started ‐ expectation, disappointment, resentment, anger ‐ a whole cycle of suffering that began with the belief that life is "supposed" to be "fair."

If you still think that life is supposed to be fair, read National Geographic or watch Animal Planet. Humans are not exempt from the nature of life.

We admit to our children at a fairly young age that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause are fairy tales. Why not prevent immeasurable suffering and confess to our children at that same age that life is not supposed to be fair?

Life is NOT "Supposed to be Fair": Know that there is no single way that life is "supposed" to be. Demanding that life meet our expectations is a sure fire recipe for a miserable existence. Life is a game with no rules. Life just happens to us regardless of our best intentions. Our only path to happiness lies in being open to receiving whatever life throws at us ‐ with Gratitude. Have NO Expectations of life.

Life is a constant opponent, and an overpowering adversary if attacked directly. The successful and happy ones dance lightly with life ‐ a parry here, a feint there ‐ always engaged, but never in the direct line of life's heaviest blows.

Dance Lightly With Life: Life does not have to be a serious undertaking. You will make mistakes, you will feel regrets, and eventually, you will die ‐ so what? Happiness comes from dancing lightly with life ‐ playing hopscotch on the river of life ‐ leaping gracefully from joy to joy while laughing at the threats of calamity ‐ even laughing hysterically at our human frailness when we do fall into the muddy torrent.

The moment you start seeing life as nonserious, a playfulness, all the burden on your heart disappears. All the fear of death, of life, of love everything disappears. - Osho

ACTION - the sixth Point of Simply An Inspired Life

ACTION - the sixth Point of Simply An Inspired Life I Act with Bold Courage - Taking inspiration from the powerful vision of my future, I boldly set sail with courage and intent. I hold my course with focused attention and relentless commitment, as I weather the storms of life. Live a Life of Bold and Courageous Action Inspired by Powerful Dreams. - jlh Choose with no regret. - mar

Begin Today, and Again Tomorrow

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.
- Helen Keller

Every day is a day to take action. Whatever your choices, take action on those choices. Taking no action is equally a choice, just not a choice made from awareness. Make conscious choices, and take action on those choices - Today.

VISION - the fifth Point of Simply An Inspired Life

VISION - the fifth Point of Simply An Inspired Life I Dream with Powerful Intention - Opening my mind to Spirit, I trust my intuition to deliver powerful visions of my inspired future, and I empower my intent to transform those visions into reality. Vision stands on the shoulders of what is actual to get a better view of what is possible. - mar

Powerful Dreams Inspire Powerful Action - jlh

I am the call. From far beyond this life, I hear the call. From place beyond all place, I feel the call. From time before all time, I know the call. From one before all ones, I am the call. - jlh We are called. We are all called. We are called from beyond all place and time, by a power beyond all power. When you close your eyes, let your shoulders sag, and spread your arms wide, you can feel the call. The call says "You are here for a reason. Your life is important." The caller remains anonymous. We refrain from asking for a name. God? Our Ancestors? Gaia? Random biochemistry? Questions aside, focus on the message "There is a purpose to your life. Find your purpose."

CHOICE - the fourth Point of Simply An Inspired Life

CHOICE - the fourth Point of Simply An Inspired Life I CHOOSE with Open Mind and Open Heart - I renounce all assumptions and expectations, and I declare that I will thoughtfully consider all possibilities. I will CHOOSE with courage, awareness, consciousness, and compassion toward all. Wake up to profound perspective that allows me to celebrate the choices of my moments, of my life. - mar

Say NO to the demands of the world.

Do we ever stop to ask ourselves WHY we "need to do" something? What is the "need," and on whose authority has the need been established? We disrespect ourselves and our free-will whenever we say that we NEED TO DO something. - jlh Everything we do is a choice! In every instant, we are making a choice about what we will do in that instant (as well as a choice about what we will think in that instant). We may choose to turn off and shut down our conscious attention, and allow the autopilot of our habits and instincts to make our choices, but they are still choices. I have no need to conform to the stereotypes others have defined for me. - jlh Your spouse says "You need to go to the grocery store today," and you say "I need to go to the grocery store today," or perhaps you say to yourself "I need to get a divorce." Look at all the "need to's." Who says so? There is no inherent "should," "must," or "need to" here. There are choices and there are consequences. The consequence of not going to the grocery store today may be eating peanut butter sandwiches or sleeping alone tonight, but there is no "need to." 

GRATITUDE - the third Point of Simply An Inspired Life

GRATITUDE - the third Point of Simply An Inspired Life

I Receive ALL of Life with Thanksgiving - I have gratitude for EVERYTHING that has ever occurred to bring me to this moment. I give thanks for the joys and the sufferings, the moments of peace and the flashes of anger, the compassion and the indifference, the roar of my courage and the cold sweat of my fear. I accept gratefully the entirety of my past and my present life. Yes. As the evening beckons with the promise of tomorrow... may your gratitude rise up and with strength answer, "yes." - mar

Gratitude for Rainbows & Butterflies

Our "Rainbows & Butterflies" are the small miracles of our life - the little things that are so easy to overlook, yet so awe inspiring when we take a moment to notice and to pay attention. Give thanks for the rainbows, for the butterflies, for all God's creatures - large and small, for the bright blue sky and the soft fog and the gentle rain, for the tree veiled in the season's first frost, for the baby's laugh, for the touch of a hand and the whispered "I love you."