“He who deliberates fully before taking a step will spend his entire life on one leg.” ~Chinese Proverb
I’m not going to put myself out there.
I’m afraid to fail.
I’m afraid to succeed.
What are they going to say about me?
What if I’m not good enough?
What if they laugh at me?… Read More
“Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do” ~Dhammapada
During the past couple of months I have been the recipient of some not so favorable reviews from a couple of music blogs regarding an album I recently released.… Read More
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao Tzu
I was around twelve years old as I sat in the career day presentation. I can’t remember one word that was said. It might as well have been the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons speaking in that esoteric adult language.… Read More
“The grass is always greener where you water it.” ~Unknown
I’ve had this theory about life for a while now, ever since I embraced simplicity three years ago.
Life, a good life, a life well lived, is about maintenance. It isn’t chance or luck or fate (though I believe in those things, and in magic too); it’s about doing the work to create the life you want, and doing it over and over and over again.… Read More
“The grass is always greener where you water it.” ~Unknown
For a while there, I was a little peeved with the world. I’ve just recently snapped out of it, and I just want to sing and dance and share this message with everyone: Stop waiting!
Last year, after living through some profound experiences—travelling extensively, soul searching, attending incredible life-changing events, shedding massive masks, overcoming huge obstacles, and deciding to change the course of my life completely—I came back to my life, to my home, and sat back and thought to myself, “This is what life is about!”
I was on a snowball effect high of massive changes.… Read More
“Be honest with yourself, and you will find the motivation to do what you advise others to do.” ~Vince Poscente
What if you could only tell—and more importantly, only believe—the truth? Not the half-truth, the white lies, or the other grey in between, but the pure, beautiful, and unadulterated truth.… Read More
“Before someone’s tomorrow has been taken away, cherish those you love, appreciate them today.” ~Michelle C. Ustaszeski
As tough as it sometimes feels, change and loss are woven into life. We cannot live a full life without them.
Although both can be painful, they push us into a greater understanding of what matters in life, and they can help us become clearer about who we are since they provide a platform for substantial growth.… Read More
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” ~Pema Chodron
For the past three weeks, I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to move to Korea for a year. Some days, I’ve completely made up my mind to take the trip. I get excited about teaching myself Korean and spend hours and hours online learning about the culture.… Read More
Since Tiny Buddha launched in 2009, I’ve written hundreds of “Tiny Wisdom” blog posts. In the beginning, I kept these short and peripheral.
Over time, I started putting more of myself into them and giving them a lot more love and attention. Suddenly, these posts became far more popular than I ever thought they’d be.… Read More
“Every calling is great when greatly pursued.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
It’s me. The one who keeps talking to you about that thing. That project. That possibility.
I know you think you couldn’t be the one for the job, but honestly, if you weren’t the one for the job, I wouldn’t have come to you with it.… Read More
“Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.” ~Walter Anderson
I recently ran across a chat site called “Why Grow Up?” Their tagline reads:
“Why Grow Up? Why be responsible? Why act mature?
Why play by rules?… Read More
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill
Thirty-plus years ago, when I was applying to college, one of my friends used to say regularly, “We’ve gotta get involved with more extra-currics.”
He was talking about extracurricular activities. His (and our) interest was to build our “resumes” to enhance our attractiveness to college admissions officers.… Read More
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” ~Pema Chodron
When working toward a goal becomes difficult, it’s hard to know whether to push or take a rest.
In my early twenties, living 3,000 miles away from home as a live-in nanny in a very different lifestyle became very stressful.… Read More
“Life is the sum of all your choices.” ~Albert Camus
Ever wondered what might have been?
Ever thought about where and who you’d be if only you’d done something differently, gone somewhere else, chosen something or someone else?
Probably so, if you’re like most.
But have you ever imagined where you might go and what you might still become, with the choices you yet have left?… Read More
“As for the future, your task is not to foresee it but to enable it.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A month ago, I was at a crossroads. I was unhappy with my job, I no longer wanted to be living at home, I was tired of being three states away from my boyfriend, and I was sick of feeling unfulfilled.… Read More
“A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.” ~Proverb
I’m a “recovering perfectionist.”
I make perfect plans. At times, when I’m really working on my plans, I forget to live my actual life. Because I’m planning. Perfectly.
I had my first strategic plan when I was 10.
“Be a really, really good girl.… Read More
“Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” ~Joseph Campbell
Several years ago, I learned about a month-long silent retreat designed to incorporate extended periods of meditation, three-times-daily hatha yoga sessions, and in-depth self-inquiry practices. The moment I heard about it, my heart literally jumped out of my chest and I knew I had to be there.… Read More
“When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find ways to do it.” ~Dr. David Schwartz
Fifteen months ago I was in a rut. A rather large rut actually. The recession was well and truly in full swing and I was up to my eyeballs in credit card and loan debt.… Read More
“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” ~Benjamin Disraeli
I used to get paralyzed with fear in the face of any load of work.
Suffering from crippling depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and severely low self-esteem, I’d find so many thoughts battling me, making it hard to take action:
“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.” ~Unknown
Standing, getting crushed on the metro at peak hour, I look around and my heart sinks. I’m surrounded by sullen faces, their eyes focused intently on games on their iPads and smart phones.… Read More
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