Our Protected Refuge

The wise man in the storm prays God,
not for safety from danger,
but for deliverance from fear.
It is the storm within which endangers him,
not the storm without.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me
- Psalm 23

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

There is beauty and serenity in the eye of the storm.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Whatever the challenges that actually confront any of us on a given day, the potential threats are always far greater. There are always an array of catastrophes overhanging our lives - wars, terrorists, hurricanes, earthquakes, escaped murderers, child molesters, and maybe a runaway asteroid. In comparison with what "could" happen, our lives are rather serene.

Rather than worrying about the continuous stream of potential threats, let us give thanks for our blessing of living in the eye-of-the-storm - our protected refuge from the terrors of fearsome dangers just outside our lives. 

Today's affirmation: I walk today's march with courage.
I create today as my celebration of life.

Further reading: Serenity in Times of Crisis

Life is Not Fearsome

The Storm of Life

One Step, Another Step

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao Tzu (Chinese Proverb)

Today... maybe I can take one step
on that profoundly complex path to peace.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

The first step towards the solution
of any problem is optimism.
- John Baines

A little simplification would be
the first step toward rational living.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Further reading:  Faith is taking the first step

One Step Forward

Working Toward a Better World

One More Step

Overcoming Frustration

Our fatigue is often caused not by work,
but by worry, frustration and resentment.
- Dale Carnegie

It is hardly possible to build anything,
if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail.
- Lech Walesa

Fatigue makes cowards of us all.
- Vince Lombardi

All that is necessary to break the spell
of inertia and frustration is this:
Act as if it were impossible to fail.
- Dorthea Brande

Further reading: How to Think Positive

Attitude is Everything

Feeling Stuck?

Be Boldly Decisive

Finding Your True Self

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?
- Yiddish proverb

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
- e. e. cummings

Don't go through life - grow through life.
- Eric Butterworth

The most difficult phase of life is not when no one understands you,
it is when you don't understand yourself.
- Anonymous

Today's affirmation:
I follow my own star and my own inner compass.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: Your Intuition is Your Guide

Be Simply Yourself

The Inner You

More Understanding, Less Hate

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
- Matthew 7:1

Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it's someone else's witch being hunted.
- Walter Kirn

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
- Lao Tzu

Further reading: Keep the Golden Rule

Love your enemies - Jesus

Three Wise Monkeys

Judge Not