Richard Carlson: It's the recognition that other people's problems, th...

The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low.

Richard Carlson

mood grateful lows

The ill effects of thought come about when we forget that thought is a function of our consciousness.. an ability that we as human beings have. We are the producers of our own thinking.

Richard Carlson

self-help consciousness thinking

The next time you find yourself in an argument, rather than defend your position, see if you can see the other point of view first.

Richard Carlson

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People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have.

Richard Carlson

thankful thank-you happiness

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. Thich Nhat Hanh If you gathered up all the fearful thoughts that exist in the mind of the average person, looked at them objectively, and tried to decide just how much good they provided that person, you would see that not some but all fearful thoughts are useless. They do no good. Zero. They interfere with dreams, hopes, desire and progress.

Richard Carlson

zero dream letting-go

When your goal is to build people up, to make them feel better, to share in their joy, you too reap the rewards of their positive feelings. The next time you have the chance to correct someone, even if their facts are a little off, resist the temptation. Instead, ask yourself, "What do I really want out of this interaction?" Chances are, what you want is a peaceful interaction where all parties leave feeling good. Each time you resist 'being right,' and instead choose kindness, you'll notice a peaceful feeling within.

Richard Carlson

party self-esteem kindness

The first step to becoming a more peaceful person is to have the humility to admit that, in most cases, you're creating your own emergencies. Life will usually go on if things don't go according to plan. It's helpful to keep reminding yourself and repeating the sentence, "Life isn't an emergency".

Richard Carlson

peaceful creating humility

If someone throws you the ball, you don't have to catch it.

Richard Carlson

balls choices ifs

Rather than being afraid to ask for help, remember this: When you ask someone to help you, you are actually doing them a tremendous favor by giving them an opportunity to feel needed.

Richard Carlson

helping-others opportunity giving

It seems that we have it backward in our society. We tend to look up to people who are under a great deal of stress, who can handle loads of stress, and those who are under a great deal of pressure.

Richard Carlson

stress life people

Wholeness or health is our natural state. The nature of healing involves removing obstructions to this natural state and bringing individuals into alignment with themselves and their world. Free of these obstructions, an individual's innate intelligence and self-regulating capabilties will guide him toward a state of well being.

Richard Carlson

self healing world

Make living your life with absolute integrity and kindness your first priority.

Richard Carlson

priorities kindness integrity

Nothing helps us build our perspective more than developing compassion for others. Compassion is a sympathetic feeling. It involves the willingness to put yourself in someone else's shoes, to take the focus off yourself and to imagine what it's like to be in someone else's predicament, and simultaneously, to feel love for that person. It's the recognition that other people's problems, their pain and frustrations, are every bit as real as our own-often far worse. In recognizing this fact and trying to offer some assistance, we open our own hearts and greatly enhance our sense of gratitude.

Richard Carlson

gratitude pain real

Retirement can and will be a glorious time in your life. You'll love the freedom and ability to try new things. It's a new phase of life; a chance to be a beginner again.

Richard Carlson

beginners trying retirement

You can't have a better past.

Richard Carlson

sadness past

Noone knows exactly where thought comes from, but it can be said that thought comes from the same place as whatever it is that beats our heart.. it comes from being alive.

Richard Carlson

heart life thinking

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.

Richard Carlson

stress relaxation inspirational

Ask yourself this question, will this matter a year from now?

Richard Carlson

not-giving-up bad-ass letting-go

Every day, tell at least one person something you like, admire, or appreciate about them.

Richard Carlson

appreciate appreciation inspirational

True happiness comes not when we get rid of all of our problems,but when we change our relationship to them, when we see our problems as a potential source of awakening, opportunities to practice, and to learn.

Richard Carlson

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It's the recognition that other people's problems, their pain and frustrations, are every bit as real as our own - often far worse. In recognizing this fact and trying to offer some assistance, we open our hearts and greatly enhance our sense of gratitude.