SHORT QUOTES & QUICK INSPIRATIONS

a collection by J.D. Darwin, ARIS   Home
"When walking through the "valley of shadows," remember, a shadow is cast by a light." ~ H.K. Barclay

BUTTERFLY

" Miracles rest not so much upon faces or voices Or great healing powers coming to us from afar off, But upon our perceptions being made finer so that, for a moment, Our eyes can see and our ears can hear what there is about us always. " Willa Cather

PUPPY

" Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to. " Alfred A. Montapert

BRIGHT FLOWER

" Make your own destiny, Don't wait for it to come to you, Life is not a dress rehearsal! " Source Unknown

BIRD

" Success is to stand in the presence of God unashamed. " Source Unknown

WHITE SEAL

Our eyes were put in the front of our heads, so we look to where we are going not to where we have been. Author Unknown

Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandberg
"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." Mother Teresa
"We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over." Aneurin Bevan (1897)
"Life is not what you expect. It's what you don't expect that makes life worth living." Lauren Cairns
"I am convinced that attitude is the key to success or failure in almost any of life's endeavors. Your attitude - your perspective, your outlook, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about other people - determines your priorities, your actions, your values. Your attitude determines how you interact with other people and how you interact with yourself." Carolyn Warner
"Paint a portrait of life to be proud of that could not be sold for all the money on earth. Hang that portrait in your mind and understand its ever presence. Reflect on every brush stroke that makes all the mountains and valleys and rivers and skies the most beautiful in the land. Share your portrait with others but beware their brushes. Select only those whose brush will add to the beauty and structure of your masterpiece." Chris Ensor
"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer." Leo Buscaglia
"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without it we can't practice any other virtue with consistency." Maya Angelou
"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles." Og Mandino
"Happiness, at best, is an illusory goal. It is not a destination; it is a manner of traveling. Happiness is not an end in itself. It is a by-product of working, playing, loving, living." Haim Ginott
"Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness." Bertrand Russell
"It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today." Robert J. Hastings
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are ... Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in my pillow, or stretch myself taught, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return." Mary Jean Iron
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." Margaret Mead
"Whoever you are, there is some younger person who thinks you are perfect. There is some work that will never be done if you don't do it. There is someone who would miss you if you were gone. There is a place that you alone can fill." Jacob M. Braude
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr.
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa
"The world has a lot of love around, just so few vessels to put it in." Author Unknown
"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and Earth will have to pause and say, Here lived a great sweeper, who swept his job well." Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Winner!

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." ~ Larry Bird

What employers seek in their employees

  • Ability to listen and communicate
  • Creativity and adaptability for problem solving
  • Self-control, confidence, and motivation
  • An ability to work well with others
  • Desire to make a contribution
  • Competence in reading, writing, and math.

Little Things Make A Difference

According to Daniel Goleman, author of "Emotional Intelligence," many professionals don't know that the social skills they display on the job are as important to their success as their daily achievements. In fact, many people are not promoted because of their lack of polish. With social skills, little things do make a difference to the overall impression you make. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Stand when someone walks over to greet you.
  • Give a firm handshake.
  • Always display a sense of self-confidence, even when you don't feel it.
  • Ask informed questions to show your interest in someone else and his or her work.

Mixing and Mingling 101

Unfortunately, for those of us who dread the "M" word -- "mingle," jobs often require us to practice our conversational skills at parties or other group events. Try these suggestions to help you feel at home in a room full of strangers:

  • Start by approaching people who are standing alone. It's often less awkward to begin a conversation with one person than to break into an ongoing one. Also, the loner will be eager to talk with you since you've already made the first difficult move.
  • Treat everyone you meet as if he or she is a VIP. Nothing is more flattering than being admired or complimented. Be warm and genuine in your attention and comments.
  • Be sincerely interested in what others have to say. In turn, others will perceive you as more interesting.

Think Aloud To Build Trust

According to a recent study by the Meninger Institute, distrust is rampant in today's companies. Employees are distrustful of coworkers, bosses, and even their companies. While it may be difficult for any of us to change this on a macro level, we can work to improve conditions in our particular work environment. It may sound too easy to be true, but to be trusted, we only have to be trustworthy.

What can we do on a daily basis to help our colleagues trust us?

  • Try thinking aloud.
  • When you're with work mates, talk with them about your and other company projects.
  • Don't take rejection or other negative comments personally.
  • Offer positive and constructive responses.

Being open with others and not reacting in a sensitive way helps others to see that they can trust and rely upon you for productive feedback. Over time, don't be surprised if the ideas generated keep improving!

Think 'Outside The Box'

How we do our work is often so deeply embedded in us that we can't see alternatives. When we are having problems at work with productivity or solving problems, for example, Harvard University's Leslie Perlow advises that we need to examine different perspectives. Identify closely held assumptions about work, and then step back and challenge them. Is this really the way your work needs to be done? Then begin to brainstorm alternatives.

Many times, problems at work are driven by our dissatisfaction in being unable to manage and balance our whole lives. When we start to think about alternatives, solutions often turn out to be in both our best interests as well as our employer's. Everybody wins!

Control Interruptions By Taking Some Quiet Time

Constant interruptions can be a huge hindrance to getting projects finished. Some workplaces are particularly volatile, causing problems for just about everyone and making products late. If your workplace is like this, try introducing "quiet time" (time when no one can interrupt you, except for real emergencies) into your day or week. Select a time in your schedule that you can stick to without change. Confirm with your boss, and then announce the time to your colleagues and employees. You may even suggest that your boss makes quiet time a department routine.

Dealing With Stressful Jobs

Many people think they have to solve all the really big problems in their lives and have the perfect job before they can be truly happy. Unfortunately, more of us have troublesome and even stressful jobs that daily challenge our peace of mind. Can we be happy despite problems at work? Richard Carlson, author of "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff," advises that true happiness is really a product of our attitude, not our circumstances.

To be content despite what's going on in your life or on the job, try these techniques:

--Don't let negative thoughts blur reality. Challenge the validity of all troublesome thoughts.

--Don't buy into a bad mood or someone else's negative thoughts. If you feel down, refocus your attention on something more positive and postpone major decisions until you're in a more optimistic frame of mind.

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