Wisdom and inspiration are all around, peeking out from behind the reeds.. Here are ten thoughts that came to me in just the last two months from books or on the Internet. Some are from famous people; others just ordinary folks on social media.
- “Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on.” – Linda Dilworth
When you see someone who is old, or disabled, or in poverty or crazy, that is not their whole story. Often, if we knew the whole story, we would be amazed and moved.
- “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”– Edith Wharton.
We don’t always feel up to spreading light in the world, but we can reflect the light of others. I guess I’m doing that here.
- “If you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession.”– Lao-Tzu.
That’s what all the teachers say. You only find wisdom and enlightenment when you stop looking and realize they’re already within you. I don’t think this is actually something Lao-Tzu wrote, though. Someone else came up with this phrasing and attributed it to Lao to get more attention. Why do we need an authority figure to validate our own wisdom?
- “Worse than telling a lie is spending your whole life staying true to a lie.” – Robert Brault.
Yes! Most of us are living not just one lie, but a whole bunch we’ve been told by society, about who we are and what our life is supposed to be. When you realize the truth about yourself, your whole life opens up.
- “How do we know our fear of death isn’t like the fear of a youth who has run away from home and now can’t find his way back?” Chuang-Tzu.
It could be that the part of us that dies is the part that feels all the pain, and what is left will be blissful. Of course, we have no way to know, but that’s why I say, we all go to Heaven when we die. And if you practice, you can get to Heaven while you’re alive.
- “Wherever you have friends, that’s your country. Wherever you receive love, that’s your home. Whoever gives you love, that’s your parent.” – Tibetan saying.
As quoted by the Dalai Lama.
- “We are all fragile creatures. And it is because of that weakness, not in spite of it, that we discover the possibility of true joy.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
I need to think about this one some more. I have found that as I become physically weaker, I have more access to joy, but I’m not sure that’s what he means.
- “The problem with assumptions is we never know we’re making them” – Robin di Angelo.
Once you’ve got a belief, it changes your perception of the world to reinforce itself. We start with different beliefs and pretty soon we have different facts to support them. You’ll never know you’re seeing the world through a questionable assumption unless you ask. Keep questioning your beliefs.
- “The most beautiful people are those who have known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths…Beautiful people do not just happen.”― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Is this you? When you’re suffering, remember where it might be taking you.
- “We are all creative. We are creations ourselves and live in an inherently creative universe. Creativity is our natural state.” – Shiloh Sophia
This is definitely you. Don’t hold yourself back.
If you’re willing, please share cool thoughts that have come into your life.
Good News! Book 3 of The Inn by the Healing Path: Stories on the Road to Wellness, is now available at almost all e-book retailers. It’s called The Book of Letting Go and has seven powerful stories of different kinds of acceptance, forgiveness, nonattachment, nonjudgment, emotional and physical release. Wisdom comes from sources including Sufism, Taoism, the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, and the Bible, among others.
At Smashwords (Set your own price) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/694768 Or at most other e-book retailers. Search for The Inn by the Healing Path: Stories on the Road to Wellness. Book 3: Letting Go
See at Kindle, $2.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAQ9A54
I especially resonated with #8. As a scientist I am constantly reminding both myself and my colleagues to question our assumptions; a necessity in personal and professional spheres.
Here’s one I just saw, from Benjamin Franklin: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are. “
We are certainly being given ample opportunities to work for justice of late — by now we are nearly all affected.
Donna, if Franklin was right about that, I’m afraid justice will never be served. Not in this world at least.
David, I see so many people rising to stand for justice right now — very much for those outside of their own immediate identify group for instance. I think there is room for plenty of optimism.
I’m definitely going to share some of these, especially the one about assumptions.
Liz
Happy belbelated birthday Aisha.
Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)).
What a joy to have stumbled upon you and your lovely blog. I’m enjoying the science you share, and the wisdom too — the perfect combination 🙂