“I was studying a river recently (the Pigeon Forge River in Tennessee to be precise) and realized for the very first time that the beautiful sounds the river was making were the result of obstructions (mostly rocks but occasionally logs) in the river’s flow. Thus, no obstructions, no beautiful music. I then began to wonder if it is possible for you and I to make beautiful music without our own obstructions (problems, setbacks, disappointments and tragedies). Somehow, I don’t think so.”
“Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece – by thought, choice, courage and determination.”
“The question: ‘Why is there poverty?’ is not a very good one. Two better questions are: ‘Why are some people affluent?’ and ‘Why are some people still poor while others have managed to escape poverty?’”
“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things in line with your principles and that can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.”
“The proper aim of education is to promote significant learning. It entails development. Development means successively asking broader and deeper questions regarding the relationship between oneself and the world.”
“While too much or the wrong type of anxiety (free floating) is unhealthy, a certain amount of the right type of anxiety (focused) is both necessary and useful for a well rounded life.
“One of the most interesting aspects of human decision-making is the fact that we are very often completely oblivious as to what is influencing our decisions. These influences are occurring outside of our conscious thinking and are to be found in what is called our ‘adaptive unconscious’.”
“Most anxieties can be relieved by taking specific actions. For example, a person with OCD may obsess (and therefore experience anxiety) about washing their hands. They can, however, relieve their anxiety by simply washing their hands. ‘Free floating anxieties’, on the other hand have no such remedies and are therefore the worst type of anxiety that a person can experience.”
“One of the most reliable means of reducing the amount of frustration in our lives is to train ourselves to want only that which is in our power to obtain. If we allow ourselves to want that which we are unable to obtain then we will inevitably experience frustration.”
“To every man there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which could be his finest hour.”
